Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Vincent Cassel star in this David Cronenberg's thriller concerning a London midwife who unwittingly stumbles into a clandestine Russian sex trafficking ring. An unidentified Russian teen has been rushed to a London hospital after going into labor. Though midwife Anna Khitrova (Watts) does manage to deliver a healthy baby girl, the newborn's mother dies tragically during delivery. But the deceased mother's secrets did not die with her, because she has left behind a diary. Determined to ensure the newborn is placed with her rightful family, Anna attempts to read the diary and discovers a business card for a local restaurant therein. Upon visiting the restaurant Anna is greeted by kindly owner Semyon (Mueller-Stahl), who generously offers to translate it for her. But Semyon is not what he appears to be, and before long Anna begins to fear that the child could be in great danger. Semyon admits to Anna that the diary contains information about his son Kirill (Cassell) that could land the volatile offspring in jail despite the fact that Kirill is at heart a good person. As the truth begins to unfold and Anna begins to believe that Kirill and his driver Nikolai (Mortensen) - an ambitious driver seeking to ascent the ranks of the notorious Russian mafia - mean the baby harm, an underworld storm begins to brew that could consume all involved. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Damaris D. (Erinyes) from CPE GIRARDEAU, MO wrote on 9/28/2008...
3 of 5 member(s) found this review helpful.
I don't know what movie those other reviewers were watching but it can't have been Eastern Promises.
Viggo Mortensen completely makes this movie. I could not take my eyes off of him. He is absolutely incredible. Yes the movie is extremely violent. It is about russian gansters. I imagine that being in the mob is actually worse than anything the movie makers could have made up. I didn't think the plot was cliched. It seemed as real to me as any other ganster movie.
Well worth the time. Really good stuff!
Leigh P. (Leigh) from DECATUR, GA wrote on 11/11/2007...
3 of 6 member(s) found this review helpful.
Cliche-o-rama! This plot was about as original as a college art student dressing in all black. The characters had potential, but all were flat - none had any depth. The fight/murder scenes were *very* intense and probably worth the movie view. But...you have to put up with Vincent Cassel, whose face is slowly morphing into a praying mantis; and a plethora of Viggo Mortensen nude shots. You'd think his manhood was the star of the film - it was more entertaining to watch than the characters, anyway. Definitely, definitely not Naomi Watts' best work.
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