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Plot:
Tom Stall is living a happy and quiet life with his lawyer wife and their two children in the small town of Millbrook, Indiana, but one night their idyllic existence is shattered when Tom foils a vici...( read more 
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Meet Other Fans
Recent Reviews
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MCT:November 18, 2008Is a very good movie.
It has a good story line, and a good amount of violence. hence the name. hehe.
plus, VIGGO MORTENSEN!
ilovehim. -
MCT:November 15, 2008
"No good deed goes unpunished."
Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) has a simple country life, running a diner in a small Indiana town and living in a house surrounded by fields. But it all changes for him when two maniacs step into his diner and he is forced to defend his customers and himself. In the media frenzy that follows he gets a visit from a trio of Philadelphia mobsters led by a magnificent Ed Harris. These man insist that Tom is a mafia killer who had been in hiding for the last couple decades.
A History of Violence is filled with suspense and mystery and seems like a hybrid between a Hitchcock film and a Frank Capra film. It's kind of like It's a Wonderful Life in Hell. Stall is never really threatened outright, yet he is. David Cronenberg delivers a tightly packaged thriller that could have been packed with another hour to give it a David Lean feel, but he doesn't and makes a film that is smoother than what other directors would have done.
You may go in expecting Death Wish, but this isn't your typical, cliched film. It's a surprising piece that works well with its material and its cast. -
MCT:November 12, 2008
This one wasn't bad, as a matter of fact it was pretty good. Even better than expected. Viggo Mortensen saves the flick with what I thought was a sterling performance. Likewise Ed Harris was at his usual best, even though this character was a bit darker than he usually plays. I thought William Hurt's portrayl of "Joey's" brother was adequate, but not quite what we have experienced in the past from this gifted actor.
The supporting cast was good and the entire storyline was very intriguing. I mean a dual life of two totally different lifestyles, it's everybody's fantasy. -
MCT:November 6, 2008
Tightly made, and certainly left me thinking. I think it could have been fleshed out just a bit more.
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MCT:October 31, 2008
Strong cast in sofa-glueing movie.
Enjoyed William Hurt very much again after somewhat more sloppy characters in The Village and in The King.
So good points for him in this flick.
Ed Harris is - as always - Ed Harris.
Don't you go changing that now, Ed.
Great story of deception, dragging you along in the search of that thin line between everyday reality and that which was believed to be the past.
Refreshing view also on american family-life.
You won't get hurt watching this one. -
MCT:October 21, 2008
Normal people linked together by violence. Interesting premise with a sexy lead man (Mortensen). Not for the shallow minds.
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MCT:October 12, 2008
Interesting film.Its pretty slow paced but its still a very good film.Ed Harris is wonderful as usual.The nose smash was brilliant.
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MCT:October 6, 2008one of the films i can say that was better then the comic great cast and the first minutes makes you wonder where this film is going and the ending....just great and william hurt is just awsome you gotta love the way he says his last line "oh.... jesus joey..." just the way he puts it proves he should of gotten some kind of award for it
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MCT:October 2, 2008
The first Cronenberg - Mortensen collaboration, and my personal opinion says it even surpasses the big and daring "Eastern Promises".
What's really astonishing is the naturalism of the caracters that really makes you feel for them, and on the other hand, the way the story unfolded, hence the changes that affected Tom's son, and his relationship with his wife.
The violent scenes were extremely good, but nowhere near the famous turkish bath sequence (E.P.) -
MCT:September 30, 2008
Overrated, but still a captivating movie that could have gone on a little longer. Very good performances from the entire cast.
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MCT:September 16, 2008
Yeah, this was good. Not perfect, and I am not sure if its going to make it to my DVD collection, but nonethelss I still liked it.
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MCT:September 16, 2008
One of the best movies in the last five years. Everyone is amazing. The tension, the violence, the desperation can be felt when watching this film. Everything in this movie is done so well. The ending is so perfect, it's inconclusive, heart-breaking, and hopeful all at the same time.
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MCT:September 16, 2008
I thought this was a very realistic film, especially how it showed the characters dealing with the situations they faced. Good performances especially from Ed Harris. However i didn't really understand this film at all and the ending was rather ambigious, kind of leaving it open to interpretation.
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MCT:September 16, 2008
In a small town Tom Stall becomes a town hero when he is attacked by serial killers in his restaurant and saves his friends. But little does he know that his past catches up with him when he is shown on the news for saving his friends.
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MCT:September 14, 2008
Best movie I've seen in a while.It's true to its name but unlike alot of violent movies,this one actully has an intresting plot even if it is a little over the top.
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MCT:September 10, 2008Based on the popular graphic novel, A History of Violence is certainly just as exciting and intense as the comic.
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MCT:September 8, 2008
Edie Stall: My husband does not know you. He wouldn't know you, somebody like you.
Carl Fogaty: Oh, he knows Carl Fogarty all right. He knows me intimately. - See? This isn't a completely dead eye, it still works a bit. The problem is, the only thing I can see with it is Joey Cusack, and it can see right through him, right through your husband, Edie, see what's inside him, what makes him tick, - he's still the same guy, he's still crazy fucking Joey! And you know it, don't you?
Usually the export on explicitly violent sci fi thrillers and horror movies, director David Cronenberg steps into a different type of film, featuring a small town man, possibly the victim of mistaken identity.
Viggo Mortensen stars a local man, Tom Stall, who may or may not have a dark past. He lives in a little community with his family, consisting of his wife played by Maria Bello and his son and daughter.
An attempted robbery at Tom's diner, which would have resulted in the deaths of several innocents by two vicious men, results in Tom becomeing a local hero.
Soon a gangster with one messed up eye, played by Ed Harris shows up, thinking Viggo to be a different person than he says he is.
His family becomes very concerned. Bello's character doesn't know what to think and plays it well. The son also gets his own subplot that stays true to high school situations and his home life causes a lot of concern.
Tom Stall: In this family, we do not solve problems by hitting people!
Jack Stall: No, in this family, we shoot them!
Eventually William Hurt comes in the film for a short time as another gangster, but also gives a great memorable performance.
Richie Cusack: How do you fuck that up?
The violence in this movie is handled intensely, there isn't anything cool about how the action goes down here, people are shot or beat up and they stay down, and the camera shows us how graphic it is.
The score by Howard Shore also does a good job with keeping the tone and playing with the themes of the film.
In addition, the film wisely doesn't play completely dark. There are a number of moments of levity and elements playing up the idealized version of small town life. Many films are certainly better when they don't remain dead serious about themselves.
The best aspect of this film is Viggo Mortensen. He immerses himself in this role that is very tricky when dealing with the true nature of the mystery surrounding who he really is.
A very good movie, dealing with identity and choice.
Edie Stall: I know that my husband is Tom Stall, that's what I know.
Carl Fogaty: Yeah? Why don't you ask "Tom" about his older brother Ritchie? Ask "Tom" how he tried to rip my eye out with barbed wire, and ask him, Edie, how come he's so good at killing people. -
MCT:September 1, 2008
It was good. Quite concise. The violence is graphic and gut-wrenching yet relevent and not ott. Though I did think that the film was drawn out a bit in order to increase the length of the film. Good performance from Viggo Mortensen.
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MCT:August 29, 2008
Challenging, Forceful....A History of Violence compels due to the director's skilful approach and outlook to violence, the nature of it and why human kind has become so apt at committing it. Mortensen shines at the softspoken Tom Stall who behind the harmless, wouldn't hurt a fly exterior, may harbour a mysterious past after he singlehandedly thwarts an attempted robbery on his diner. Bello parallels Mortensen as his wife who doesn't know what to think, Hurt is terrific in a short albeit dynamic role who carries enormous significance to the story (without leaking key plot details) and Harris gives a nifty performance as a shady gangster who begins to suspect Stall of being someone else from his past after all the controversy. Bearing a beating-induced cataract, Ed Harris smolds icy professionalism as the crime boss. Cronenberg's swansong, he uses clever techniques to tell a powerful tale with important messages.
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MCT:August 29, 2008
Why is this movie my all-time favourite? For starters, it has an entire package of genres, yet it never feels like it's trying too hard to appeal to everyone. David Cronenberg elevates a pedestrian graphic novel adaptation into sheer brilliance, and casting my favourite actor in the complex lead role, along with a ridiculously talented supporting team, puts it over the top. A fun thriller on the first viewing, and a subversive and twisted drama on the second, third, and thirtieth round, cleverly disguised as a shiny studio venture.
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MCT:August 24, 2008
I couldn't believe why I havn't seen this earlier. Its a great piece of film making. I decided to watch this first, and Im still undecided on the Mortensen and Cronenberg pairing, but I think Eastern Promises might lay the doubts to rest, the trailer giving a good preview, that I went out and bought this DVD. I mean, Mortensen was nominated for Best Actor for 2007 Oscars, but the movie itself did collect a swag of awards. So best to to watch the movie where this partnership began.
Im not disappointed, and glad Cronenberg didn't drag this movie out, the beginning was slow. It did pick up pace after the introduction, which did lay the foundation of Mortensen's family man image, though I wasn't expecting the hardcore violence - yeah I know what the title says, but yeah it was graphic enough to keep you interested... plus the mystery of figuring out the truth until the pivotal moment when it is revealed.
Cronenberg's is very interested in the psychological side of things... plus obviously he has a penchant for blood and gore, and creating a dark aura or environment which plays on the character's emotions and fears. I guess what we need to know is that Cronenberg's movies really bring out the basic human instincts, which are anger, hate, fear and bloodlust... its quite obvious in this flick.
Other than that, its simple yet genuine in a way that it doesnt try too hard, but the movie walks on its own path, the actors and crew laying the foundations which support it, a great example of teamwork on a movie.
Loved Ed Harris and William Hurt, hated it when Harris made an early exit, but whaddya gonna do?? ^___^" -
MCT:August 15, 2008
This was just stunning! The plot had me on the edge of my seat...this movie is one that grabs you and has you shocked when it ends.
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A History of Violence Recent Reviews
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Comments
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GoodPossumposted 362 days ago -
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the only good thing about this movie is the con artists who manipulated you into enjoying it.
posted 684 days ago -
What are you people talking about? This movie is excellent. The ending is perfect.
posted 747 days ago -
Most films of similar genre are the same story told differently. History Of Violence is really good, delivering its brutal action sequences in brutal detail without warning. Viggo Mortenson is great at portraying a character that is changing from one man to another, putting his family through multiple traumatic experiences. Although the ending was a bit inconclusive.
I would definately reccomend you see this at least once. If you dont like it fine. I dont really care. What am i your babysitter?
Justins Best Bit: A punk mongrel school bully getting utterly pummeled into the ground.posted 823 days ago -
I thought this movie was craptacular. It was really long, drawn out and boring. Some of the plot was kind of stupid too.
posted 868 days ago -
I thought this movie was awesome. Tho the ending was kinda disapointing to me, but I loved this movie.
posted 894 days ago
