|
| Movie Review: A History of Violence Alternate Title: Deception is Reality
Story: Is violence in all of
us? Who is that person sitting next to you on the couch? What would
you do if faced with imminent life threatening danger? Director David
Cronenberg is back with a vengeance. His treatment of this
John Olsen screenplay based on a graphic novel (an
important thing to remember as the source material) by John
Wagner and Vince Locke is nothing short of
genius. Tom Stall is your everyman living in Smalltown
USA with a loving wife and two beautiful children - or is he? When faced
with two killer thugs who enter his diner he suddenly turns rabid and
heaps bagfuls of anger on them. He becomes Mr. American Hero and his
face is blasted across the TV screens. No good deed goes unpunished
could have also been an alternate title because poor Tom gets more than
he bargained for when his face becomes known. I can't really tell you much more about the plot
or I would be a spoiler and I would NEVER do that. Suffice it to say,
I was not sure what was coming next and was thoroughly entertained by
this powerful, well acted, brilliantly directed film. If you like your world turned upside down mixed
in with a bit (okay, a lot) of violence, check out this film. Try to
keep your analytical mind outside the door and just enjoy the performances,
the cinematography and the direction. And keep in mind that the source
material was a graphic novel. Acting: Everyone was terrific. Viggo Mortensen,
Maria Bello, Ed Harris and William Hurt blew
me away.
Predilection: None.
Critters: Thankfully, none.
Opening Titles: The opening sequence is a slow moving
typeface over middle America as two psychopaths roam free to main.
Theater Audience: A handful of hopefully nonviolent
theater goers.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 1
Squirm Scale: I should really have been squirmed
from all of the violence, but surprisingly, I was not.
Predictability Level: I was not sure where this film
was headed. Sometimes it reminded me of that 50's film, Suddenly,
with Frank Sinatra and at other times it reminded me of High Noon
(a very dark, High Noon).
Drift Factor: Nary a moment to drift.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Why not?
Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. For some
other David Cronenberg films, try renting: Crash,
M. Butterfly, Naked Lunch, Dead Ringers, Scanners , The Fly and the
Dead Zone.
Length: 90 minutes.
LOBO HOWLS: 9
|