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Eastern Promises
Eastern Promises Image
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Metascore
82 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 156 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen
  • Summary: The mysterious and charismatic Russian-born Nikolai Luzhin is a driver for one of London's most notorious organized crime families of Eastern European origin. The family is part of the Vory V Zakone criminal brotherhood. Headed by Semyon--whose courtly charm as the welcoming proprietor of the plush Trans-Siberian restaurant impeccably masks a cold, brutal core--the family is tested by Semyon's volatile son and enforcer, Kirill, who is more tightly bound to Nikolai than to his own father. But Nikolai's carefully maintained existence is jarred once he crosses paths at Christmastime with Anna Khitrova, a midwife at a North London hospital. Anna is deeply affected by the desperate situation of a young teenager who dies while giving birth to a baby. Anna resolves to try to trace the baby's lineage and relatives. The girl's personal diary also survives her, which is written in Russian; thus, Anna seeks answers in it. Anna's mother, Helen, does not discourage her, but Anna's irascible Russian-born uncle Stepan urges caution. He is right to do so: By delving into the diary, Anna has accidentally unleashed the full fury of the Vory. (Focus Features)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    The actors and the characters merge and form a reality above and apart from the story, and the result is a film that takes us beyond crime and London and the Russian mafia and into the mystifying realms of human nature.
  2. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Glenn Kenny
    100
    One of Cronenberg's subtlest, most insinuating pictures, and one of the highlights of the year so far.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Dorian Lynskey
    60
    Mortensen shines but a contrived, issue-driven plot destabilises what could have been a great Russian gangster movie.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 90
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 90
  3. Negative: 17 out of 90
  1. LuciD.
    10
    This is for an educated audience. (not for a supposed 8-year-old niece that can write a script about Russian organized crime as noted in a non-critical bashing review) The mind-set is for the R rating, maturity and international crime solving group. Viggo Mortensen received a long deserved Oscar nom for his ability to get into his character's skin on this one. Well worth the watch and will put you on the edge of your seat; as well as open-a closed mindset.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. KenC
    5
    Again the critics are out to lunch. While the film was an interesting look at the Russian Mafia - it seems to wallow in it's own violence that at times seems pointless. Watchable, but not particularly well done.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JamesL.
    2
    The biggest disappointment of the year. This film hides its lack of a plot, character development, and a script behind several scenes of graphic violence. Not worth renting much less paying to see!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 90 User Reviews

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