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Overall Rating
 Awesome: 44.81%
Worth A Look: 28.42%
Average: 16.39%
Pretty Bad: 3.83%
Total Crap: 6.56%
16 reviews, 87 user ratings
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| History of Violence, A |
by William Goss
"A Past Tense"
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It’s not short; it’s efficient. It’s not predictable; it’s deliberate. It’s not a thriller; it’s a drama. Then again, in, 'A History of Violence,' a film where the main character may be (unknowingly) two-faced, who is to say the film isn’t as well? David Cronenberg makes a different kind of monster movie, exploring the violent side of human nature with a small family in a quaint Indiana community.Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is living the American dream, with his perfect family in an ideal Indiana community. One night, Tom dispatches a pair of criminals at his diner in a most methodical manner. As news of Tom’s heroism spreads, he is approached by a scarred gangster (Ed Harris), who insists that Tom isn’t quite who he says he is.
As basic as the whole affair may seem, it only amplifies the impact of what matters most. The occasional plot twists are predictable for the most part, and no real surprises are in store. However, the film’s simplicity provides a startling contrast between the brutalities that occurs. Scenes featuring graphic violence or sex retain their full potency against the Norman Rockwell backdrop of small-town life. The whole film revolves around Tom’s act of self-defense, a single violent event that results in, among other things, the collapse of his family. His son, previously cowering from bullies, is now provoked to a stunningly aggressive reaction following the incident. His wife and daughter now fear for their safety when the intimidating gangster shadows the Stall family.
The film brings out career-best performances out of the cast, from Mortensen to Harris and everyone in between. In a film chock full of flawless performances, Viggo Mortensen’s understated family man has something sinister lurking beneath the surface, and all it takes is a subtle gesture to expose his true character. Of most worthy note is the work from Maria Bello as Tom’s devoted, then distraught wife, and newcomer Ashton Holmes as his son, who deserves recognition come awards season.Cronenberg has addressed the multiple meanings of the title: A) the main character’s personal history of violence, B) the history of violence as a means to an end, and C) the history of violence in all mankind. The film itself tackles each layer masterfully, echoing the essence of a thriller, a drama, a Western, and a film noir to a compelling degree. What lies beneath the simple story is a captivating portrait of violence and its effects. Of all the questions asked by 'A History of Violence,' one in particular gets answered in the end: how loud is the shot heard ‘round the world when your world is just a small town?
link directly to this review at https://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=12761&reviewer=409
originally posted: 10/25/05 15:20:29
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USA
23-Sep-2005 (R)
DVD: 14-Mar-2006
UK
N/A
Australia
09-Mar-2006
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