*CLICK* for bigger, thanks to
hekateriness!! xxoo
*gulp* OMG. Have finally seen Eastern Promises. Words can not express (though I will try) HOW MUCH I love Viggo after this. *pants heavily* And how much I love David Cronenberg for giving us the Viggo goodness we all crave. I think those boys are having quite the love affair. *G* And we are benefiting, oh yes, yes we are. I think David writes slash in his spare time. Or he's reading ours...*snerk*
Just to get it out of the way: Viggo is astounding. Amazing. I hadn't been sure how I would react to the accent and all with me knowing Viggo so well--but he sold me. He embodies this character so well and I love his attention to every detail--the way he instantly tells you about his character just through his posture or the way he sets his jaw or the careful arch of an eyebrow. It's just--Wow. And as ever, he's so good with his hands. Rowrr.
The whole cast was excellent. I'm really getting to like Naomi Watts, and I enjoyed all the scenes with her and Viggo's character. I like that she's feminine but not wimpy--she's got depth to her. Vincent Cassel was phenomenal--a constant struggle of emotions/rage going on there, it was brutal.
As for the movie itself, hubby and I both enjoyed it but thought it seemed a bit short. Like History of Violence, it ends before you're ready. But as I thought on it later, as much as I wanted more, I couldn't really point out anything that was lacking. The story was told, the characters motivations were made clear, there was action, revelations, and a conclusion. I guess maybe it was *too* succinct...heh. I guess it's one of those "leave them wanting more" type of things.
For my money, David and Viggo can go on making movies together forever and ever. Roger Ebert often laments the way adult movies have been castrated in order to make them accessible to the widest possible range of ages and make the most money. So adults are forced to see films that have dumbed-down themes and 2 second hazy sex scenes. I realized while watching this film that I love Cronenberg because he makes adult films. There is sex. There is brutal violence. There is nudity. Homosexual undertones. More violence and more sex. And he mixes in basic titillating stuff with darker stuff and tough questions. So it's thought-provoking and a bit of a turn-on all at once. ;P
I also like that I'm never sure exactly what's going to happen. That's why I like Wes Anderson films, too--because you can just sit there and be carried away by the plot, and you're breathless with excitement because you're really not sure which way it's gonna go.
Final thoughts: I feel overall it's not quite as strong as HoV, but it's a smaller film. More of a vignette of life. The acting is superb, the story engaging, and Viggo gets SO NAKED--I mean, REALLY NAKED. For extended periods of time. No strategically placed chairs or potted plants. No hazy focus. Just...nekkid. And I mean...VERY NAKED. *swallows tongue* The scene is powerful and intense and violent, too, so prepare yourself. It's very raw. *whimper*
P.S. No offense to my love Sean Bean and his yummy arse, but I have to stand by my former assertions that Viggo's arse is even yummier. I am still trembling from the sight of it...arggghhhh...dsfjldsanggngngnngnnnnnhhhh!!
_thud_
~