Released in 2007, David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises made its way on to many critic’s Top 10 films of the year list. The film’s subdued blend of gangster intrigue and unflinching realism garnered praise and award nominations in equal measure and now receives a Blu-ray release from Australian label Umbrella. But does it still carry the same resonance?
Well, yes and no. If you’re already a fan, there’s little to add. The Blu-ray extras are interesting and offer some depth into the film’s themes. The ritualistic, symbolic tattooing that decorates the Russian mafia’s bodies is fascinating in its usage, and just talking about Eastern gangsters populating London feels forebodingly prescient. But the film itself is somewhat disjointed.
Whether it is the editing, pacing, or in the script itself, the story meanders with tangential threads left unresolved. There is a twist – of course there is, but we won’t spoilt it here – which remains unexplored, and the way the central plot concludes feels unsatisfying.
Where Eastern Promises does excel, and why the film is inherently watchable, is in the performances. Vincent Cassell is impressive in his unrestrained desperation, Armin Mueller-Stahl broods malevolently in a godfather role that channels Brando in several scenes, and, with perhaps the exception of Naomi Watts’ misplaced midwife, the support is uniformly excellent. But it is Viggo Mortensen who stands out, faultlessly portraying a character who effortlessly conveys a volatile combination of time-served weariness and explosive violence.
If you loved Eastern Promises first time around then this is a worthy addition to your collection. If you didn’t, borrow it from someone who did. This is a good film, but it may well leave you slightly disappointed at the end.
