Eastern Promises Is A Thing Of Beauty in 4K
Wherever David Cronenberg makes a movie with Viggo Mortensen, magic happens. A History of Violence is my favorite Cronenburg film, but this is a close second.
Vincent Cassel is the embodiment of evil as the son of Armin-Mueller Stahl, the boss of the Russian mob. I first was made aware of him as an actor was Brotherhood of the Wolf. He’s great as a bad guy, but I would be happy to see him in a good guy role.
Kino Lorber has once again done a spectacular job with this release. My only complaint is that the releases are pretty skimpy on special features.
This disc makes up for it with the stunning picture. The colors are darker in this film so it’s important that this 4K release looks beautiful.
The colors are really important for seeing the mood. If you notice the majority of scenes with Naomi Watts are brighter, as much as London can during the time this was filmed.
The scenes with Mortensen and the rest of the Russian mafia are all dark, which adds to the feeling of misery and bloodshed.
If you’ve never watched this, go ahead and buy the film today. This release is simply beautiful. I hope that you feel the same.
Synopsis:
Visionary filmmaker David Cronenberg (Scanners, The Fly) and muse Viggo Mortensen (The Indian Runner, Green Book) follow up A History of Violence with another acclaimed joint effort, the mesmerizing Eastern Promises. Mortensen delivers an Oscar-nominated performance as Nikolai, a ruthless and mysterious Russian who has ties to one of the most dangerous crime families in London. His carefully maintained existence is jarred when he crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts, Mulholland Drive, King Kong), a midwife who has come across potentially damaging evidence against the family. Their unusual relationship sets off an unstoppable chain of deceit, death and retribution. Brilliantly written by Steven Knight (The Girl in the Spider’s Web) with terrific supporting turns by Vincent Cassel (Black Swan) and Armin Mueller-Stahl (Music Box), this brooding and provocative masterpiece is “no ordinary crime thriller, just as Cronenberg is no ordinary director” (Roger Ebert). Top-notch cinematography by Peter Suschitzky (Figures in a Landscape, Dead Ringers).
Here are the specs for this release:
Watch the trailer:
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