A history of violence .... (not interested?) with Viggo Mortensen (ha)

[Guest]

[Roz]

It's New Line and the trailer's up

http://www.ahistoryofviolence.com/

[Ed... Van Halen]

Empire gave it a 4 out of 5....its a David Cronenberg film plus Viggo plus Ed Harris....how can it NOT be class??

[Roz]

Really? The trailer didn't seem too strong... well then I'll definitely see it

[Choice of Lúthien]

It opened to very strong reviews and a standing ovation at Cannes this year. There has been lots of praise for the film, Cronenberg's direction and the acting of Viggo and Ed Harris (Maria Bello also to a lesser extent). Critically it's been praised, it just remains to be seen how well it will do with the public.
I of course will be there the first day it comes out here to support Viggo.

[Roz]

Well then I am delighted for him - to be honest things have moved a little slowly for him after LOTR

[paxcards]

It's called A History of Violence, was released this weekend and the main character is played by Viggo (although he plays quite a different part to Aragorn!)
It has loads of excellent reviews in the film mags such as Empire despite not being a big hollywood bluckbuster. I saw it on Saturday and thought it was good - be prepared for Viggo's x-rated sex scenes though!

[Kelly]

I just saw a preview for it last night on TV.  Viggo looks good.  Ed Harris looks really creepy!

[paxcards]

Hey Roz, How come my new thread disappears and gets hidden in an old one? I didnt realise you had started a thread in august on this topic, it must have gone off the page). I know they're on the same topic, but my thread was for opinions now the film's out, and half the fun of posting on these boards is to see the replies you personally get.
Anyway, no hard feelings  - I just feel a bit left-out now!

[Bryanjs14]

The film is good, it is definetly worth seeing...but it is NOT for anyone under 17 (well, I guess it is R....and for a GOOD reason...there is some violence and some REALLY graphic sex scenes) and it is NOT for the squeamish...if you are familiar with Cronenberg you know he is known for some pretty gross special effects. I had two problems with it (and I will not give ANYTHING away) The two children that Viggo has are awful actors, both of them....especially the little girl. My biggest problem was the soundtrack. Music sets the tone, and influences everything from what you think about the character to what you think of know if going to happen. Well, Howard Shore did the soundtrack for this film...which is cool, Viggo and the LOTR Oscar winning composer back together...only problem is, the music sounds SO MUCH like LOTR at some times that I could not get Aragorn and LOTR out of my head. See the film, see if you agree with me. Hopefully I am not going insane. It really REALLY took away from the film for me

On the other hand, Ed Harris has a GREAT part in the film and he plays it PERFECTLY.

[Roz]

It's SERIOUSLY gorry (sorry Jules - ha ha ha) and I really find it very hard to believe the motivation of any of the characters.

OK - Viggo - we trusted his character and then he turns out and he's just lying? I would have made it that he had some kind of amnesia and he'd be looking back into his past and finding out all this stuff he just didn't want to know - and I think that would have been a better way to go.

I didn't believe his wife's character, when she found out about Joey she was immediately and violently sickened by him but then turned on and off to him faster than a lightbulb, especially when he was hardly being violent with her which would'nt make much sense, I just find that very unlikely.

Tom's son was supposed to be wimpy but had a well worked out chest and seemed to have no problem with fighting when he got going... which was just another non sequitur we had to cope with.

I just thought that the characters weren't very well thought out

[sixpence33]

  This movie should have been a lot better. Like Roz said, the characters were not well thought out and not at all like the book. Some books are better left as books not movies.