• |
  • |
  • |
  • |
Go

A History of Violence, 2005

A History of Violence

English

USA, Germany

Rating:7.6
jinni

Profile of A History of Violence

The mood of A History of Violence is bleak, tense, and stylized. The plot centers around criminal's revenge, being haunted by the past, and disorder. It is a thriller, drama, and crime movie. Stylistically, A History of Violence involves twists and turns. In approach, it is serious and realistic. The pacing is slow. A History of Violence takes place, at least partly, in a small town. The setting is Indiana. It happens in contemporary times. A History of Violence is adapted from a comic. The movie is known for being an award winner and critically acclaimed. Note that it includes strong sexual content, strong violent content, and drugs/alcohol.

Summary of A History of Violence

Canadian director David Cronenberg, whose impressive oeuvre includes such disparate works as THE DEAD ZONE, THE FLY, DEAD RINGERS, M. BUTTERFLY, and SPIDER, has made what might be the best film of his career with A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. Loosely based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, the movie stars Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall, a quiet, easygoing family man who runs a diner in a small Indiana town. But when two dangerous criminals come into the restaurant prepared to wreak havoc, Stall turns hero and shoots them both. After Stall's story is blasted all over the media, Philly mobster Carl Fogaty (an excellent Ed Harris) shows up, claiming that Tom is actually former hit man Joey Cusack--and they've got some important business to finish. While Stall insists that Fogaty is mistaken, his family--his wife, Edie (Maria Bello); teenage son, Jack (Ashton Holmes); and young daughter, Sarah (Heidi Hayes)--gets dragged into the danger that constantly threatens to explode. Cronenberg, whose films often deal with the fantastical, the futuristic, and the supernatural, has done a masterly job creating a wholly believable modern world where evil lurks just around the corner. Howard Shore's tense, moody music complements the outstanding acting in a violent, powerful film that is not to be missed.

Details

Language: English
Country: USA, Germany
Release date: 23 September 2005
Runtime: 96 min

Cast and Crew

Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall in A History of Violence
Viggo Mortensen

as Tom Stall

Maria Bello as Edie Stall in A History of Violence
Maria Bello

as Edie Stall

William Hurt as Richie Cusack in A History of Violence
William Hurt

as Richie Cusack

Ed Harris as Carl Fogarty in A History of Violence
Ed Harris

as Carl Fogarty

Photos

Director David Cronenberg on the set of A History of Violence (2005)
Director David Cronenberg on the set of A History of Violence (2005)
Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello in A History of Violence (2005)
Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence (2005)
Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence (2005)
Director David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen on the set of A History of Violence (2005)
Director David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen on the set of A History of Violence (2005)
Ashton Holmes and Kyle Schmid in A History of Violence (2005)
Ashton Holmes and Kyle Schmid in A History of Violence (2005)
William Hurt in A History of Violence (2005)
William Hurt in A History of Violence (2005)

Clips

A History of Violence
A History of Violence: Home Video
A History of Violence
A History of Violence: Theatrical
A History of Violence
A History of Violence: Witness Protection
A History of Violence
A History of Violence: Who's Joey

Critics Reviews

The New York Times
A masterpiece of indirection and pure visceral thrills, David Cronenberg's latest mindblower, A History of Violence, is the feel-good, feel-bad movie of the year.
  • |
  • by: Manohla Dargis
USA Today
Violence is in the spirit of the hardest-hitting film noir offerings from the '50s, but far more explicit. It's also in the spirit of the Western.
  • |
  • by: Mike Clark

Users Reviews

Violence's intimate impact
A History of Violence is a departure from other Cronenberg films I've viewed. I took the title to refer the hidden past of the main character, Tom Stall (brilliantly acted by Viggo Mortensen), who recreated himself in an effort to depart from a...
  • 04.December.2010
  • |
  • by: mov
  • mov rated this movie8/10Great
This is an actor's movie, in that it is a film to showcase a character's evolution and acting skill. Everything is done on purpose. The family is purposefully wholesome to offset the intense, infrequent splash of violence. Viggo Mortensen's only...
  • 20.September.2010
  • |
  • by: Patrick
  • Patrick rated this movie0/10
Likely to see
Not for me

Jinni is best for now in Firefox, Internet Explorer 7 and 8, and Chrome

Part of the page Copyright © Muze | New Releases by Tribune Media Services.

Copyright 2010 Jinni Inc.
jinni message message message
jinni
jinni

smart offbeat funny

In: movies

Copy and paste this link into an email or instant message:

Send this page by email