Eastern Promises: Don't fall for the hype

X-No-Archive:

"Eastern Promises" is the new David Cronenberg film that received very
enthusiastic reviews and the Audience Award at the Toronto film
festival. I don't know what the critics were thinking. As for the
voters, they probably just wanted to support a local. I can't think
of any other reason why anyone would pay this any mind. It's nowhere
near the level of quality of "History of Violence", and even that took
a disappointing turn towards the end.

This underwhelming movie feels more like a filmed screenplay than a
work from a master director, and the screenplay itself is pretty
crude. There are many intriguing things here, and I saw lots of
potential. But it all felt underdeveloped, particularly the
relationship dynamics. All Cronenberg brings to the table is the
occasional violent scene - which are rather repulsive - and a very
dull visual palette. And this dullness appears to affect the
performances as well.

Anyone else see this? Please, what am I missing? :)

atyl <kslccl DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:

[..]

> Anyone else see this? Please, what am I missing? :)

I like it just fine. I thought the performances were right on, the action
sequences exciting and unnerving, and the look into Russian culture,
particularly that of emigres, gave it a lot of welcome flavor. And mind you,
I normally don't try very hard to defend Cronenberg these days. I didn't
even like _A History of Violence_ very much; thought that movie was too
much like a comic book in all the wrong ways (hero having near-magical
powers, one-dimensional supporting characters, cartoony villains, etc.).

--
alt.flame Special Forces
"Astronomers and mathematicians are much the most cheerful people of the
lot... perpetually contemplating things on so vast a scale makes them feel
either that it doesn't matter a hoot anyway, or that anything so large and
elaborate must have some sense in it." -- Dorothy L. Sayers