Scooter Chronicles

Over the weekend Marcia and I watched “Eastern Promises” starring Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, and Armin Mueller-Stahl.

Posted on IMDB by the actual film studio (Focus Features), here is a rundown on the movie:

The mysterious and charismatic Russian-born Nikolai Luzhin (Mortensen) is a driver for one of London’s most notorious organized crime families of Eastern European origin. The family itself is part of the Vory V Zakone criminal brotherhood. Headed by Semyon (Mueller-Stahl), whose courtly charm as the welcoming proprietor of the plush Trans-Siberian restaurant impeccably masks a cold and brutal core, the family’s fortunes are tested by Semyon’s volatile son and enforcer, Kirill (Cassel), 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 (Watts), 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; it is written in Russian, and 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. With Semyon and Kirill closing ranks and Anna pressing her inquiries, Nikolai unexpectedly finds his loyalties divided. The family tightens its grip on him; who can, or should, he trust? Several lives - including his own - hang in the balance as a harrowing chain of murder, deceit, and retribution reverberates through the darkest corners of both the family and London itself.

I have read a couple of reviews after watching the movie that say there were too many clichés in this film. Semyon is the typical, family-loving mafia boss, but is heartless when it comes to business. That Kirill is the typical heir, without a care, into vices, doing things without his father’s permission. And that the story of covering up one’s sins, and taking anyone down to do it, has been done before. My reply: “So what?!” Just like with books and/or other movies, it doesn’t matter if the story has been told before with similar characters, it’s the actual storytelling and end result that counts. And to me, “Eastern Promises” delivered.

As we know already, Viggo Mortensen was nominated for his role in this movie. My opinion is that it was well deserved. The fight scene in the bath house helped his bid, I am sure. And how authentic is character was. (I have worked with three gentlemen that were originally from Russia or the Ukraine, and Mortensen’s accent was dead-on.) His character shows many shades, all subtle, all realistic. Little by little as the movie progresses, you learn more of the inner workings of his mind. It was a great performance.

Cassel and Mueller-Stahl put on a great show as well. Yes, Cassel’s character was clichéd, but there was a soft side to him too that showed up in a few scenes that made his character even more believable. Naomi Watts seemed to be along for the ride in this movie. That’s not to downplay her talent. She’s a very good actress. But I think a lesser talented actress could have fit into the role and not spoiled the film one bit.

The story itself, I thought, was well put together. There were a couple of storylines working together, though minor and not very complex, but it let the characters drive the scenes. And depth of character, especially when well played, will always win out.

It’s a dark film. Though in some respects for a mafia film these days, the violence was tame. However, it showed a real personal side to me which made me enjoy it all the more.