film: review

> A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (2005)
Executed with perfection.

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Viggo Mortenson, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Written by: John Wagner and Vince Locke (graphic novel), Josh Olson (screenplay)

Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller

Our Rating: 9/10

One of my top movies of the year thus far. The trailer is one of those rare cases where they give you just enough, and, if you know the filmmaker, you know to expect more than the little story they are telling in the previews. I even loved the poster design. They did nothing wrong on this one.

The film opens so subtly, which works great with putting the audience in Tom Stall’s (Mortensen) world. You get an immediate feeling of comfort for that laidback life in small-town America. Contrast that with the early scenes of violence, also handled in such a nonchalant way. And the violence, wow! In a way that couldn’t be farther from glorification, A History of Violence shows the most realistic violence and its after effects I think I've ever seen in a movie. Quick and disgusting, not something you feel great about watching and something the characters onscreen react to believably. I was really taken aback and impressed in the way the violence here is handled.

The sex, whether sweet or violent, was very realistic too. Cronenberg knew what he was doing here and executed with perfection scene after scene.

The acting was amazing. Mortensen, Bello, Harris, and even Hurt - all top notch here. Some great material here for the talent to work with.

My only bit of criticism here is the more formulaic scene when Tom battles Ritchie and his band of thugs. The film raises some underlying questions about how we are affected by fear and violence. Highly recommended.

related links:
A History of Violence - official site

MPAA rating: R
for brutal violence, graphic sexuality, nudity, language, and some drug use

length: 98 minutes