A History of Violence

 

A History of Violence 2005

Director: David Cronenberg

Seen by this director: eXistenZ, The Fly, Videodrome

Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt, Ashton Holmes

Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in

Viggo Mortensen – Green Book, Far from Men, The Road, Hidalgo, Lord of the Rings etc, 28 Days, A Perfect Murder, Carlito’s Way, The Indian Runner, Witness

Maria Bello – The Fifth Wave, Prisoners, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Secret Window

Ed Harris – Cymbeline, Snow Piercer, Copying Beethoven, Gone Baby Gone, The Human Stain, The Hours, A Beautiful Mind, Pollock, Waking the Dead, The Truman Show, The Rock

William Hurt – Humans, Winter’s Tale, Into the Wild, Sunshine, Smoke, The Accidental Tourist

Why? I remember it as good

Seen: Once before. Now 24 August 2024 

Tom (Mortensen) is a small town regular likeable guy, family man, devout Christian and all that. He’s even keen on hot sex with his lawyer wife Edie (Bello). He becomes the local hero by shooting two bad guys who threaten everyone in his diner. Then two other bad guys come to the diner and address him as Joey, insisting he’s hiding from his past crimes.

It’s suspenseful with a believable (maybe?) story which raises some questions and evokes a real roller coaster of emotions. And wow, is Viggo Mortensen good! 

4 * of 5