Not Coming to a Theater Near You
You know him?”
“Not socially. His name’s Jaws, he kills people.
Underwhelming, considering the talent involved. I went in expecting this film to be methodically paced rather than peppered with moments of surreal body distortions, as is Cronenberg’s custom; I knew there’d be no exploding heads or vaginal stomach gash, no leg-length stitching or oozing bubbling man-bug, and I was fine with that, because Cronenberg is such an expert cerebral filmmaker. Only half the movie is what we see; the rest is what we think we see, and why, as exemplified by Videodrome.
None of his perceptual playground, though, is utilized in Eastern Promises. Yes, there are still distortions of the flesh, represented by Nikolai’s inked skin, but we’re never led into Cronenberg’s usual dance. The film, while exceptional, feels wholly incomplete; Nikolai’s sudden moral turnaround seems forced and synthetic, and the “twist” feels almost blasphemous. (Plus, you would think with such a highly mobile network, Semyon or Kirill would have been tipped off at some point to this revelation, considering it happens on a balcony in full view of passers-by.) Still, Cronenberg’s eye for visuals is as strong as ever—Eastern Promises marks only the second time a director has used two little girls to thoroughly creep me out—and Armin Mueller-Stahl’s turn as the bloodthirsty patriarch is decidedly astounding.
by Adam Balz | Source: Focus Features 35MM Theatrical Print
02 Oct 2007 12:25 PM | Submit Comment
