'A History of Violence' - Unmarked Spoilers

Gemini Cricket · 03-20-2006, 07:21 AM

Has anyone seen this film?

I got it on Netflix the other day and watched it Sat night. Although I enjoyed William Hurt's performance (I likened it to Zellweger's appearance in 'Cold Mountain' - it brightened up dreariness) and thought it contained one of the most well done sex scenes (on the stairs) I have ever seen, I was left feeling kind of blah about this one.

I thought the movie's pace was way too slow and that Viggo Mortensen (though I loved him in LOTR) was horribly miscast. The revelation of the main character's other side was not strong enough, imho.

For some reason, I really liked the ending scene.

I'd give it a C+ in my book. Not a huge fan of Cronenberg.

mousepod · 03-20-2006, 11:13 AM

Couldn't disagree more on this one, GC. Granted, I am a huge Cronenberg fan, but even so I put this one high up there in his oeuvre.

My big question - why did Hurt get nominated and not Ed Harris?

Gemini Cricket · 03-20-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousepod

why did Hurt get nominated and not Ed Harris?

I'm not sure. It seemed that Ed Harris had more screen time.

I'd put this high on the list for his films, too. But I haven't really enjoyed any of Cronenberg's films.

innerSpaceman · 03-20-2006, 11:43 AM

Wow, I LOVED, LOVED, and LOVED this movie. Excellent through and through.

Very comic-book in nature, appropriate to its source. But also relevant and thoughtful. Lots of great sex and violence, all of it fun. Terrific perfs from Ed Harris and William Hurt. (The leads were good, too ... but these two veterans stood out with their gleeful character roles).

I think it's Cronenberg's best film.

Watch it again.

Gemini Cricket · 03-20-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Watch it again.

I think I will.

I guess I wanted to see more of a shift from Viggo when he was revealing his alter-ego. I guess I didn't see enough of a change to satisfy me. Unless that was the point that there wasn't much of a difference...

There were a couple of shots that I wasn't expecting that actually made me wince. I didn't expect to see someone with his nose smashed into his skull nor someone gagging on his own blood and skin after being shot in the face.

I did like the performances of his wife and teen son...

LSPoorEeyorick · 03-20-2006, 06:33 PM

Heh. I wonder: if you gave a list of the entire film history to iSm and I to rate, would we agree on anything outside of classic Disney?

I couldn't stand A History of Violence. Words come to mind: thug, thud, drugged, dragged, ugh. Overacting is another word that comes to mind.

I enjoy Cronenberg from time to time. I just didn't like this one.

03-20-2006, 07:21 AM	#1
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	'A History of Violence' - Unmarked Spoilers Has anyone seen this film? I got it on Netflix the other day and watched it Sat night. Although I enjoyed William Hurt's performance (I likened it to Zellweger's appearance in 'Cold Mountain' - it brightened up dreariness) and thought it contained one of the most well done sex scenes (on the stairs) I have ever seen, I was left feeling kind of blah about this one. I thought the movie's pace was way too slow and that Viggo Mortensen (though I loved him in LOTR) was horribly miscast. The revelation of the main character's other side was not strong enough, imho. For some reason, I really liked the ending scene. I'd give it a C+ in my book. Not a huge fan of Cronenberg.
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03-20-2006, 11:13 AM	#2
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	Couldn't disagree more on this one, GC. Granted, I am a huge Cronenberg fan, but even so I put this one high up there in his oeuvre. My big question - why did Hurt get nominated and not Ed Harris? __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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03-20-2006, 11:43 AM	#4
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Wow, I LOVED, LOVED, and LOVED this movie. Excellent through and through. Very comic-book in nature, appropriate to its source. But also relevant and thoughtful. Lots of great sex and violence, all of it fun. Terrific perfs from Ed Harris and William Hurt. (The leads were good, too ... but these two veterans stood out with their gleeful character roles). I think it's Cronenberg's best film. Watch it again.
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03-20-2006, 06:33 PM	#6
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	Heh. I wonder: if you gave a list of the entire film history to iSm and I to rate, would we agree on anything outside of classic Disney? I couldn't stand A History of Violence. Words come to mind: thug, thud, drugged, dragged, ugh. Overacting is another word that comes to mind. I enjoy Cronenberg from time to time. I just didn't like this one.
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