Eastern Promises

Neutral—I went to see this movie at one of the select theatre locations in my city. It is always a risk when going before a lot of people have had an opportunity to see it and/or review it, and here are a few reasons why: the brutality may be true to life for this type of lifestyle that is portrayed in the film, but it is very graphic. The male characters in the film are all very disrespectful toward women, except the lead character Nikolai, who at least believes he has to “right a wrong” against women. This may be a true depiction of this particular group of people (Russian mafia). Women are constantly violated in this film, which is very offensive. There is a strong female character (portrayed by Watts) who manages to become involved in this dark underworld without becoming tainted or changed. Her character is also not violated or compromised in any way. There is full frontal nudity of one of the main male characters, which is a rare occurrence in any generation of film-making. That was something I didn’t expect. A rape scene was also very disturbing. I found myself ducking and wincing often for various and sundry reasons. The film is basically, dark or 'noirish.'

If you focus on the plot and character development alone, the film has its moments in providing a suspenseful storyline. The actors are very convincing. Good does overcome evil, so to speak in this movie, but not without having to become “one” with evil and beat them at their own game. This is not a film for young or impressionable new Christians.
My Ratings: Very Offensive / 3

Positive—David Cronenberg is dealing with the same issues he dealt with (more effectively) in his last film, 'A History of Violence': Can we be something we are not? Can we re-invent ourselves? Can we be, in effect, our own Gods? In “Eastern Promises” as well as in “A History of Violence” the hero (both times played by Viggo Mortenstern) does try to do each of these things, but instead of creating heaven on Earth he creates the opposite. In every Cronenberg film the line between nightmare and reality is blurred; sometimes so is the line between what is acceptable and what is evil. As mentioned by the reviewer the hero does a good deed for a prostitute, and as the story reveals, probably many a good deed for many a prostitute and for every citizen of London (where the story takes place), but he does have sex with that prostitute, and the story indicates that she is most likely an underage prostitute. He tells his accomplice at the film’s climax; “We do not kill babies.” Yes, he does. Cronenberg’s films may not say it explicitly, but it is certainly implicit: we cannot separate who we are from what we do.

In both movies sexual perversity is a metaphor for personal and professional corruption. In “A History of Violence” the homosexuality had a comic tone: the foppish gangster brother played by William Hurt surrounded by blonde well-coiffed capos was a new and ironic take on what had become stale in movies. Here in “Eastern Promises” the young gangster’s homosexuality (the need to watch his driver engaging in a sex act—the cheek to cheek reconciliations) lacks the humor of the earlier film and is merely sinister—it harkens back to some of the old Bertolucci movies (“The Conformist” or “1900”) in which sexual perversity was equated with personal and especially political corruption. It was stale then and it’s stale now.

The best acting in the movie is by Armin Mueller-Stahl, as the Russian Syndicate’s chief operating officer, a man who is as much at home garnishing a cake with rose petals as he is signing a death warrant for a foe or for a daughter. He is scary but totally captivating. He reminded me of Herbert Marshall in “Foreign Correspondent” or Orson Welles in “The Third Man” or Joseph Cotton in “Shadow of A Doubt”—the best villains are always the nicest ones; the ones that are easy to get close to. The Prince of Darkness would not be so appealing if he weren’t such a gentleman.
My Ratings: Very Offensive / 3½

Positive—I went to see this movie with a friend on a Wednesday night and was not disappointed. Very good acting, a well made movie all together. I think that the rating somewhat exaggerates the film’s content, such as “Bloody and Brutal Violence” and Graphic Sexuality'. The opening sequence takes you by suprise, and yes while it is bloody, there is nothing too graphic for atleast another hour. The shower room scene was was pretty intense and brutal, but thoes are the only two sequences in the entire movie that stand out as very graphic. The sex sequence is for the most part short, but does show some nudity. There are a few f-words, but this pretty much sums up most of the objectionable content. If you can look past these thing and enjoy a movie with a solid storyline and a well written script, I think “Eastern Promises” is for you.
My Ratings: Very Offensive / 5

Positive—[***SOME SPOILERS***]
This is an excellent movie for ADULT AUDIENCES who can properly analyze a film and tell what goes against the Bible and what doesn’t. Much to many parents' relief, this isn’t exactly the kind of movie most kids would find interesting anyway; there’s no action sequences (though there is some strong violence), no pounding rock music (instead we get a wonderfully lush score from LOTR’s Howard Shore), and lots of seriousness and drama (quite a welcome relief after experiencing a long line of mindless blockbusters in theaters).

Nikolai, the main character (played by Viggo Mortensen, also from LOTR), is an honorable man. Of course, he makes mistakes like any normal human being (such as the scene where he has decidedly dubious-consent-sex with a young prostitute), but he rights his wrongs. He doesn’t kill someone when he was ordered to; in fact, he only kills out of self-defense, which isn’t prohibited in the Bible. He also gives the aforesaid prostitute enough money to run away and start a better life.

Anna (Naomi Watts), the other main character, is even more honorable. There is mention of previous cohabitation with a past boyfriend and a baby that was miscarried, but it isn’t depicted in the film.

Kirill (Vincent Cassell) is an off-the-handle sort of person who disrespects women (he was the one who ordered Nikolai to have sex with the prostitute), drinks a LOT, and seems to have homosexual feelings for Nikolai (feelings which aren’t returned). He is a rank, base sort of man, but I felt some pity for him—not enough to excuse what he did, but enough that I didn’t hate him.

[***SPOILERS END***]

Just as a note, the characters are a lot more honorable than those found in our favorite classics, such as “Gone With the Wind” or “Raging Bull.” The actions in the aforesaid movies should offend you more than the ones in these movies, regardless the rating. Look elsewhere on this page for the plot and premise of this film. I’m bad at rehashing plots. Things to watch out for:
*Strong violence. Not at all frequent, but when it comes, it is STRONG.
*Graphic sexuality. Most disturbing is the references to rape.
*Nudity (both sexual and nonsexual). There’s full sexual female nudity in the whorehouse scene, then full nonsexual male nudity in the bathhouse scene (though this male nudity shouldn’t be nearly as big a deal as the other nudity; if it is, reconsider your priorities)
*Language. Not too strong. The F-word appears more times than the Lord’s name in vain, which is a relief, as I find the Lord’s name in vain many more times offensive than the F-word.

That’s pretty much all. Many of you adults can enjoy this film so long as you can properly apply Scripture to it and find the good messages (the messages are predominantly good, by the way). But keep your children away.
My Ratings: Offensive / 5