| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
A |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A+ |
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| Visuals: |
A- |
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Cronenberg Never Ceases to Amaze
by The Critiquer also Ringfan (movies profile)
Nov 23, 2007
6
of
6 people found this review helpful
In this latest thriller from the director of such fare as eXistenZ and A History of Violence, he re-teams with the latter film's Viggo Mortensen he of Lord of the Rings fame. He plays Nikolai a chauffer for a Russian Crime boss Armin Mueller-Stahl living in London.
When a young girl haemmorages and gives birth to a baby girl a London midwife of Russian descent Anna played by Naomi Watts becomes involved in the secrets of the girl's diary and vows to protect the baby from being nabbed.
Mortensen uses a flawless Ukrainian accent that never falters and within a few minutes he becomes the character in his most startling performance yet. Watts is stellar and Cronenberg and the film had better be nominated for Director and Picture respectively. Editing by long-time Cronenberg staple Ronald Sanders is in top form as is the cinematography by Peter Suschitsky and the art direction from Carol Spier another Cronenberg associate.
There are only three major acts of brutal violence common in Cronenberg's films, and there's a brilliant twist at the end that isn't at all telegrphed. Steven Knight's script is also brillaint. Get out to see it now. |
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