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poster of A History of Violence
Rating: 7.174/10 by 3245 users

A History of Violence (2005)

An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.

Directing:
  • David Cronenberg
  • Dug Rotstein
  • Walter Gasparovic
  • Jodi A. Tario
Writing:
  • Josh Olson
  • Vince Locke
  • John Wagner
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Sep 23, 2005

Rating: 7.174/10 by 3245 users

Alternative Title:
暴力效應 - TW
폭력의 역사 - KR
Una Historia Violenta - MX
Una Historia de Violencia - ES
Şiddətin Tarixi - AZ
Оправданная жестокость - RU
A History of Violence - US

Country:
Germany
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 36 minutes
Budget: $32,000,000
Revenue: $60,740,827

Plot Keyword: small town, hero, robbery, indiana, usa, distrust, philadelphia, pennsylvania, dual identity, double life, fight, identity, self-defense, marriage, diner, mistaken identity, based on comic, family relationships, irish mob, revenge, mobster, lawyer, attempted robbery, based on graphic novel

Viggo Mortensen
Tom Stall / Joey Cusack
Maria Bello
Edie Stall
Ed Harris
Carl Fogarty
William Hurt
Richie Cusack
Peter MacNeill
Sheriff Sam Carney
Sumela Kay
Judy Danvers
Heidi Hayes
Sarah Stall
Aidan Devine
Charlie Roarke
Bill MacDonald
Frank Mulligan
Morgan Kelly
Bobby's Buddy
Martha Reilly
Shoe Saleswoman
Jason Barbeck
Richie's Thug
Bruce Beaton
Richie's Thug
Neven Pajkic
Richie's Thug
Brendan Connor
Local TV Reporter
Nick Antonacci
Local TV Reporter
John Watson
Baseball Coach
Don Allison
TV Broadcaster
Mitch Boughs
Kid in Diner
April Mullen
Kid in Diner
George King
Hospital Well-Wisher

Gimly

Probably Cronenberg's most mundane work, but that's not even remotely a knock against _A History of Violence_. I hear tell that fans of the comic don't much like this big screen re-telling, but I've never read it, so I'm gonna go ahead and really enjoy it anyway. _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._

CinemaSerf

We start with images of two rather brutal hoodlums who have robbed and massacred the staff at a roadside motel and then sort of follow them into a town where "Tom" (Viggo Mortensen) runs the diner. They stop by one afternoon, intent on causing a bit of mayhem, only to discover that their host is a bit more capable of defending himself than they'd anticipated. Quickly "Tom" is lauded as an hero, and wife "Edie" (Maria Bello) and kids "Jack" (Ashton Holmes) and "Sarah" (Heidi Hayes) are proud to have their dad at home. What he hadn't anticipated, though, is that the publicity would attract the attention of one-eyed gangster "Fogarty" (Ed Harris) who arrives and starts calling him "Joey". Who's "Joey"? Well we quickly find out that nothing is as it seems and we gradually begin to realise that the past always has an habit of catching up with you. This is a violent film, but oddly enough I felt it rather visually tame as the pieces start to fall into place and the arrival of William Hurt signals an escalation that cleverly marries the comically menacing with the somewhat predictable conclusion. There's not a great deal of dialogue here, though not quite on the Clint Eastwood scale, and Mortensen holds it together increasingly well as we move along. It's one of the few films that I feel could have added half an hour or so, just so we get to grips a bit better with the characterisations and concomitant baggage, but as it is - it's well worth a look.


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