Eastern Promises (2007)

Ah I love it too!!!!!
Thanks to Kal for the link!

Ah these are amazing pics!
Thabks Luci
But,can I ask you to romve them in the topic for the EP pics?If we do not have such,would you please make one?

Ah I gptta check what's the problem,girls!!
Hope it will be solved soon!I am sorry for that!

Being the time of year when everything is in review... I have read a couple of good DVD reviews this morning on Eastern Promises.

Here's part of one:

Quote :

From the moment he stepped on screen in "Eastern Promises" (Universal, 4 stars) I was prepared to despise the Russian hood Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen). His predatory look, his sneer, his cold personality, his Russianness - they should have been painfully out of place on a London street and yet, Nikolai swaggers like he owns the block.

He doesn't, though.

It is the cheerful, sophisticated, humble, grandfatherly restaurateur Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl) who is in charge. And his alcoholic, psychotic, needy son Kirill (Vincent Cassel) who executes the dirty work.

So who is Nikolai?

The whole article can be read at Paramuspost.com: http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20071220192126208

Another snippet:

Quote :

Mortensen's character does the skillful cinematic equivalent of an intellectual striptease during the course of this story. Slowly, ever so slowly, bits of my first impression are stripped away, destroyed. In the end, Nikolai is nothing at all like I first imagined, and yet he is all that I imagined.

As an actor, VM must have done one heck of a good job to have so much thought and analysis on the Nikolai character in most of the reviews. So much so that the word 'sequel' keeps coming up. I wonder though - would a sequel be a good idea? And if so which direction should the story take? Any ideas?

I have only seen this movie once. I wanted to wait till the hype died a bit. I think I should see it again before the next 'hype' wave hits which is the awards season. Sadly so often the awards defines movies, put the finishing touches on it like a bow on a gift. This has always bothered me.

Avery interesting interview with David Cronenberg from Wired News can be found here:

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2007/12/body-language-a.html

I hope everyone takes the time to read it.

Quote :

WN: In a way, the pullback of tech within the film hasn't really dampened the impact of its violence, what little there is of it, for the viewer.

Cronenberg: I completely agree. In fact, it's quite the converse. The screenwriter himself didn't have any guns in the screenplay, and I like that, even though it's not completely accurate given the London of today. There was a time when the cops in London prided themselves on never having to carry guns, but that's passé. Everyone there carries guns now, and there is a lot of gunplay there now, as there is everywhere. But a gun is not intimate, you know? Even if you're standing three feet away from someone, you can abstract that person, who is at a real distance from you. But if you have to stick a knife in someone, you're going to feel their blood, you're going to feel their sinews, and you're going to smell their breath. It's a very intimate thing, and you have to be the certain kind of person who can and would do that. In a way, it's actually scarier and has much more impact.

I thought it very interesting about the use of knives, the types, how it is more intimate than a gun in killing a human being. Add to that the vulnerability of a naked being and well you develop shivers up your spine. Ewww...

Thanks Kal
It is nice to read it

One of the many Eastern Promises awards posters floating around but I'm not sure it is authentic. It sure is a bleak looking scene. Whether it is or not, the review caption is authentic from The Boston Globe found here: http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=9314




Check out this site for extra pictures, reviews: http://www.focusfeatures2007.com/

The final paragraph of this Boston Globe review states it very clearly even if I am not happy that EP wasn't nominated for best movie. I don't think the writer is saying that Viggo outshined the movie just that his performance could not be ignored - no how, no way. Not this time!

Quote :

It's hard to leave Nikolai, though, burning a hole in the screen. Mortensen has played a king of Middle-earth and, for Cronenberg, a man with two lives. This is the first time, though, his 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.

I love this pictures.
Viggo was great in that movie, even if I do not love EP, most because it is full of blood.
But Viggo put much emotions there.

This was posted on Perceval Press home page some point this evening:

Quote :

As the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award ceremony is this sunday in London, and the movie Eastern Promises is nominated for Best British Film, I take this opportunity to thank and salute the incomparable David Cronenberg and his entire team for the beautiful professional work done to tell this story. Since our movie unfortunately did not receive (much deserved, in my opinion) nominations for Directing or Best Picture from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars), this seems like an appropriate moment to say goodbye and wish continued good travelling to all involved. Win or lose, this movie is unique and will stand the test of time as a thought-provoking and finely-crafted piece of storytelling. History will show that David Cronenberg has been the rare top-level movie director that has improved from project to project, decade after decade, and never really looked back. There is no director alive in the world today who is working at a higher level technically, artistically, philosophically, or in terms of consistently delivering stories as entertaining as they are unsettling. A master. They do not come along very often, and some of us have taken note. There are many among our actors and technical crew who also ought to have been recognised by the various prize-giving organisations for the excellence of their creative contributions. Their exclusion takes nothing away from their enduring accomplishments. I am proud to represent our team just a little longer. Spasiba! Viggo.

Ah Viggo is he feeling alone in all this attention? If David Cronenberg had a website he would be doing the same - singing the praises of all his team and cheering on Viggo for the Oscars. I like their mutual respect and regard for each other. He seems happy the BAFTA has recognized the film. Go team Cronenberg!

Kaladhar wrote:

This was posted on Perceval Press home page some point this evening:

Quote :

As the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award ceremony is this sunday in London, and the movie Eastern Promises is nominated for Best British Film, I take this opportunity to thank and salute the incomparable David Cronenberg and his entire team for the beautiful professional work done to tell this story. Since our movie unfortunately did not receive (much deserved, in my opinion) nominations for Directing or Best Picture from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars), this seems like an appropriate moment to say goodbye and wish continued good travelling to all involved. Win or lose, this movie is unique and will stand the test of time as a thought-provoking and finely-crafted piece of storytelling. History will show that David Cronenberg has been the rare top-level movie director that has improved from project to project, decade after decade, and never really looked back. There is no director alive in the world today who is working at a higher level technically, artistically, philosophically, or in terms of consistently delivering stories as entertaining as they are unsettling. A master. They do not come along very often, and some of us have taken note. There are many among our actors and technical crew who also ought to have been recognised by the various prize-giving organisations for the excellence of their creative contributions. Their exclusion takes nothing away from their enduring accomplishments. I am proud to represent our team just a little longer. Spasiba! Viggo.

Ah Viggo is he feeling alone in all this attention? If David Cronenberg had a website he would be doing the same - singing the praises of all his team and cheering on Viggo for the Oscars. I like their mutual respect and regard for each other. He seems happy the BAFTA has recognized the film. Go team Cronenberg!

Who won't feel lonely in this big attention?
Or maybe he feels strange, that he was nomintaed and even won an award, but DC..nothing...He maybe feels a little bit guilty.

Stephan Dupuis, who did the tattoos on Viggo and other makeup for Eastern Promises is getting a special award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television for outstanding achievement in make-up design and special award for contributions to the film industry.

Quote :

For Immediate Release CNW

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Announces Two Special Award Recipients

Academy salutes Outstanding Achievement in Make-Up Design and Special Award for contributions to film industry

(Toronto, ON) February 14, 2008—The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced today the names of two
deserving recipients of special awards for the 2008 Genie Awards. Stephan Dupuis will receive the Special Award for
Outstanding Achievement in Make-Up Design for his work in the multi-nominated Eastern Promises. Harry Gulkin will be
honoured with a Special Achievement Award for his ceaseless efforts over the past 30 years in support of the Canadian film industry.

Montreal-based Harry Gulkin is one of the best-known and admired figures on the Canadian film scene. He first came to fame in 1975 when he co-produced Ted Allan's Lies My Father Told Me. An international sensation, the feature garnered him two Etrog Awards (predecessor to the Genies) including the Golden Reel Award in 1976, as well as a best foreign film Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. In 1987, Gulkin joined the film-funding body now called SODEC – Société de dévelopement des entreprises culturelles, Québec where he inspired many in Quebec's burgeoning film business, fostering new talent until his retirement in January 2008.

Dupuis’ Special Award honours his exceptional make-up, prosthetic and tattoo work on actor Viggo Mortensen for the
character Nikolai Luzhin in the film Eastern Promises. For over 25 years, Stephan Dupuis’ skill, creativity and attention to genre have set standards of excellence worldwide. The Montreal-born Dupuis got his start when hired to assist on Alvin Rakoff's City on Fire. Dupuis first met Eastern Promises’ director David Cronenberg while working on Scanners, and won an Academy Award for his work on Cronenberg’s The Fly. Among Dupuis’ impressive film credits are RoboCop, Total Recall, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Cape Fear and Mrs. Doubtfire.

The Special Award for Outstanding Achievement in Make-Up Design was previously presented to Nick Dudman for Beowulf
& Grendel in 2007, Pierre Saindon for Karmina in 1997 and to Jacques Lafleur & Pierre Saindon for Cruising Bar /Meet
Market in 1990.

This is not Mr. Dupuis of course but a team member at least at work on Viggo. Nice work if you can get it eh?



I wonder if Viggo will be at the Genies on Sunday.

Oh well I could never work on Viggo like that I would be just giggling all over myself and he would just think me a complete bimbo and airhead. Which is what I am I think.

A really good audio interview with Vincent Cassel can be heard here:

http://www.filmdetail.com/archives/2008/02/27/interview-vincent-cassel-on-eastern-promises

Click twice.

Mr. Cassel is interesting to listen to not only for what he has to say about the movie and all the roles but to listen to his accent. So much has been made of Viggo's Russian accent but Mr. Cassel had to convert his obvious French accent to sound Russian. I feel he was completely overlooked in this movie. His portrayal of the character of Kiril was about as challenging as that of Nikolai's. How nice that Cassel seemed to be honoured to work with the likes of his colleagues.

The real promise of Eastern Promises?

Here's an interesting review of EP that gives a lot of food for thought. At least for me it does. Interesting how it addresses the spiritual content, the violent content, the sexual content and even the positive elements.

Two things stuck with me one being twice it is mentioned that Nikolai has forced sex with a prostitute and then they call her a woman. Forced? It has always made me curious why the forced sex had to be depicted in the manner in which it was depicted. What was the purpose of this entire scene and specificially the way it was portrayed? This has always been a niggling thought for me from the moment I first saw it.

The other thing that stuck with me was so much is centred around the character of Nikolai that the other characters never seem to materialize in the story in the way they should have. As if they were just backdrop... Anna's story could have been more developed as much as Kirill's. It was as if they briefly touched on their lives but decidedly Nikolai was more important. And what of the young girl Tatiana? I don't know but there is rarely a time when I would think a sequel would be in order after such a great movie as this one with so much potential perhaps in this case a prequel might be best? I can't decide which would be best.

I liked this movie an awful lot no matter what and not just because of Viggo's performance and work but there are huge holes in it. It is as if somewhere along the way something got lost that we were given to expect in the first half hour.

In any case, this review really got me to thinking. No doubt my thoughts won't resonate with anyone else but I just have to voice them as honestly as I feel. This movie would have been so much less without the addition of the relevance of tattoos but still it was as if it changed gears somewhere along the way. I've seen the movie twice now maybe I need to see it again.

Here's the link to the review: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0003405.cfm
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