Just saw Eastern Promises at the weekend...

[nichomach]

...thanks to the joys of cable, and can highly recommend it if you haven't seen it already. The odd thing is that we're used to thrillers and action movies where the bodies stack up like interest on a store card; I'd say that Eastern Promises is very violent, but only about 5 people die in the course of the film, which isn't that much for 137 minutes of crime thriller. There're no guns, and the violence is committed mostly with linoleum knives. That said, it's extremely visceral - literally.

The performances from Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Vincent Cassel, Sinead Cusack and Jerzy Skolimowski are riveting, Mueller-Stahl's chillingly corrupt and evil old man hidden behind the mask of an avuncular grandfather particularly standing out, but it's Viggo Mortensen's Nikolai that holds the film together. Deliberately morally ambiguous to the end, it's a masterly and authoritative performance, and one that perfectly complements David Cronenberg's direction.

It's an absolute must-see, but be advised the movie earns its 18 certificate (rated R in the US).

[SiM]

I loved it too... so much so, I ordered it on HD-DVD from the states

Still waiting for it to come though 1 month after ordering

[Barakka]

I too loved this film and highly recommend it.

Cronenberg's attention to detail is superb, the portrayal of foreign nationals living in the UK is so carefully executed that he makes it seem effortless. The way they might start a sentence in English, slip into Russian half way through, and end back in Russian again is the kind of detail that would be too much for most directors to care about.

[Skinleech]

Agree on the above - it's only about 90 mins though. Where did you order it from SiM?

[SiM]

Got it from deepdiscount.com (there is a 20% code, google for it, its everywhere). Received it on friday, over a month after ordering!
Can't wait to watch it again... I just gotta reinstall windows on my HTPC and set up HDMI sound first!
TrueHD sound

[Skinleech]

Movietyme are well worth using, I'd rather pay a bit more and get it quicker (though I don't know how much you paid for it?)

I have an analogue 5.1 setup, so a good uncompressed track does sound tasty.

[SiM]

Well it was out of stock, that's why it took so long, and it took about 3 weeks from posting as they use cheapest mail! I would only use them again if they were cheapest by far. I ordered 3 HD-DVDs for under $32... Postage was $9 iirc

[Sk!mD4Rk]

I literally just finished watching this about an hour ago and just posted the dvd back to lovefilm.

Yeah great film. Interestingly, Viggo actually went to Russia and admitted to mixing with some dodgy characters to research the role he played in the film.

[jimborae]

Just got this on HD-DVD today, looking forward to watching it at the weekend.

[SiM]

Just got this on HD-DVD today, looking forward to watching it at the weekend.

from AV Forums?

[jimborae]

from AV Forums?

Yeah, after reading what you and others said about it. Plus I really like Naomi Watts, the Mrs loves Viggo Mortensen and reading a review somewhere said it was a very good transfer in HD. Now quit stalking me