Eastern Promises

Name: Eastern Promises
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 14, 2007
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen

2007

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 331 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 331 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: September 14, 2007 | R

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 masksThe 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

Director: David Cronenberg

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Desson Thomson

Cronenberg's deeper purpose is to pull audiences into an affecting, powerful story about right and wrong. Read full review

Dana Stevens

David Cronenberg's elegant treatise on the metaphysics of violence. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

A superbly wrought yarn set in the milieu of first-generation Russian mobsters in London that is simultaneously tough-minded and compassionate about the human condition, Eastern Promises instantly takes its place among David Cronenberg's very best films. Read full review

Ty Burr

This is the first time, though, his (Mortensen)performance seemed so much bigger than the film surrounding it. That he manages the feat with so few wasted gestures puts him in line with the greats. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

It's an academic meditation in underworld-thriller drag -- a movie that looks about as close to a straight-ahead, down-and-dirty genre entertainment as anything the director has made since his exploding-head horror days. Read full review

Jack Mathews

The first must-see adult film of the young fall. Read full review

Michael Sragow

Eastern Promises is intensely anti-dramatic. Read full review

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User Reviews

LuciD.

Feb 22, 2009

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 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

3 of 3 users found this helpful

JackBurton

Sep 16, 2007

Oh my GOD! A ripoff of The Godfather? This movie was fantastic. There are some pretty brutal scenes though. Really Brutal.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

alejandro970

Nov 27, 2016

A criminal drama with the same effective style of Scorsese and De Palma, supported by brilliant Watts, Mortensen and Cassel. The fight sequence of sauna fits well with Cronenberg lucic style.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Sep 23, 2007

I expected a lot from this, and got it, mostly. The first two acts were awesome, but the third act, I was expecting a little more story development, and it just...ends. (Spoiler: If Nikolai knew he was set up by Semyon, wouldn't he have retaliated in some way? or at least confronted I expected a lot from this, and got it, mostly. The first two acts were awesome, but the third act, I was expecting a little more story development, and it just...ends. (Spoiler: If Nikolai knew he was set up by Semyon, wouldn't he have retaliated in some way? or at least confronted him about setting him up to be killed?) Whatever. It's still one of the best films of the year. I never like Vincent Cassel before, but in THIS, jesus, he doesn't even have to say anything to convince us he's dangerous. The bags under his eyes, the way Cronenberg lights him, all he has to do is stand there to radiate maniacal, barely controlled potential evil. It goes without saying that Viggo Mortensen is riveting. Naomi Watts seems to be marking off a checklist to make sure she works with every important contemporary director - David Lynch, David Cronenberg, Michael Haneke.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MartinB.

Sep 23, 2007

I've always wanted to share my thoughts about movies since I watched Transformers, which in my opinion is one of the best action movies to come out this year. For someone who grew up watching the cartoon, the movie was a dream come true, and I also believe Michael Bay(the director) put I've always wanted to share my thoughts about movies since I watched Transformers, which in my opinion is one of the best action movies to come out this year. For someone who grew up watching the cartoon, the movie was a dream come true, and I also believe Michael Bay(the director) put a lot of us to shame by delivering a worthy product ... but I digress. My intention is to share thoughts on movies I love like the one I just saw, and ones I truly loathe and would gladly request for $9 back...case in point - "The Reaping" "Eastern Promises" is movie directed by David Cronenberg. You may remember him from "A History of Violence". Every one remembers that movie...Seeing Maria Bello in her cheer leader outfit alone was worth the price of admission... then there was the sex scene on the steps. I suggest you rent or purchase it immediately. Back to "Eastern Promises"...The main actors are Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl; I'll get to information about their performances soon enough. Without giving much away, the story is basically about a nurse who unfortunately witnesses a 14 year old Russian girl giving birth and dying during labor. She embarks on a quest to find out more about the girl's family and also have her diary translated. On the nurse's quest of discovery, she ends up getting involved with some really vile people, mainly the Russian crime family - Vory V Zakone. The rest of the movie unravels the mystery behind the dead girl, and eventually the father of the baby.Warning! If you are not a fan of violent movies, you will not enjoy this movie. There's enough extreme violence to make the toughest guy squirm. One scene in the steam room is particularly disturbing to watch. I was impressed by all the actors. Naomi Watts, who I last saw playing the love interest of a mega-sized gorilla, put on quite a performance. Her character is the nurse who drove the story, but this is not a role she'll be remembered for...Armin Mueller-Stahl plays the owner of a restaurant and is also affiliated with the Vory V Zakone. Vincent Cassel plays his crazy son Kirill, who much to his father's chagrin, is also rumored to be gay. The true star of the movie is Viggo, who plays Nikolai, a mysterious driver who definitely wants to move up in the family. His russian is fluent, and his accent is perfect. It's almost hard to imagine him speaking in another accent after this movie. He accent and grammar really did sound like his spoke a Slavic language natively. It was very interesting to watch him play his role so flawlessly. In all, this was a pretty good movie. I believe David Cronenberg and Viggo should make more movies together. They certainly have a formula that works.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Feb 22, 2008

Being Russian myself I cannot say I enjoyed either their English or Russian accents. I appreciate the interest to my country but the fact of exchanging one cliche (involving balalaika, white bears and the same nonsense) to another (slammer country/slave export, etc.) does not seem very Being Russian myself I cannot say I enjoyed either their English or Russian accents. I appreciate the interest to my country but the fact of exchanging one cliche (involving balalaika, white bears and the same nonsense) to another (slammer country/slave export, etc.) does not seem very enlightening. Though the acting was nicely done it's the only enjoyable thing about this film. You maybe want to get used to the odd Russian culture but please remember that this is just another fairy tale.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

HistoryofViolenceSucked

Sep 26, 2007

I walked out of History of Violence because it sucked so bad, so I'm glad I read some of these reviews. Sounds like more of the same. History of Violence, to me, had no character development. I didn't give a crap about any of the characters, and then having to watch a ridiculously I walked out of History of Violence because it sucked so bad, so I'm glad I read some of these reviews. Sounds like more of the same. History of Violence, to me, had no character development. I didn't give a crap about any of the characters, and then having to watch a ridiculously timed, lame sex scene on the stairs was the icing on the cake. I looked around in the theater and was like, "Am I the only one who sees how weak the script and acting are?" I bailed, since you never get back that 2 hours, even if you can't get your money back!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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23	#23 Best Movie of 2007
45	#45 Most Discussed Movie of 2007
39	#39 Most Shared Movie of 2007