 Tagline: Tom Stall had the perfect life... until he became a hero. (Stored in the old DVD Case) Likeable family man and smalltown diner owner Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is living his life, minding his own business. Then an act of heroism puts him on all the news channels, and certain people take notice - Made men from Philly who are dead sure Stall is the ex-mob assassin they want to find and whack. Mistaken identity? OR is Tom actually a stone-cold killer? Director David Cronenberg (They Fly, Eastern Promises) ramps up the tension in a fierce, convulsive, thought-provoking thriller that also stars Maria Bello, Ed Harris and William Hunt (an Academy Award nominee and Los Angeles and New York Film Critics Award winner for his powerful performance). You won't be able to look away. Storyline: This is the story of a mild-mannered man, named Tom Stall, who becomes a local hero through an act of violence, he lives a happy and quiet life with his lawyer wife and their two children in the small town of Millbrook, Indiana. But one night their idyllic existence is shattered when Tom foils a vicious attempted robbery in his diner. Sensing danger, he takes action and saves his customers and friends in the self-defense killings of two-sought-after criminals. Heralded as a hero, Tom's life is changed overnight, attracting a national media circus, which forces him into the spotlight. Uncomfortable with his newfound celebrity, Tom tries to return to the normalcy of his ordinary life only to be confronted by a mysterious and threatening man who arrives in town believing Tom is the man who wronged him in the past. As Tom and his family fight back against this case of mistaken identity and struggle to cope with their changed reality, they are forced to confront their relationships and the... Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com} Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Kenneth Brown, February 11, 2009 -- Confession time. When I first saw A History of Violence in 2005, I didn't enjoy it at all. Maybe I was distracted by the row of rowdy teenagers in the back of the theater, maybe I was expecting something different from organic-horror director David Cronenberg (Videodrome, The Fly, and Naked Lunch, just to name a few), or maybe I was simply in a foul mood. Whatever it was, I left the theater shaking my head and wondering what went wrong. But a funny thing happened to me on the way to 2009... I came to appreciate the film's understated themes, naturalistic performances, and meticulously-crafted script. It began with a single scene that lodged itself in the back of my brain and developed into an uncontrollable urge to give the film another shot. Not only did I finally see what so many others had seen before me, I realized its story was more challenging and relevant than I had ever given it credit for being. Since those dark deluded days, I've found the time to watch A History of Violence five times and I've loved it more with each viewing. It occurs to me now that I wasn't simply wrong... I was out of my mind. Based on the 1997 graphic novel of the same name, A History of Violence tells the deceptively straight-forward tale of a small town local named Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) who stops a robbery and kills the perpetrators in the process. As he humbly attempts to shrug off the subsequent cries of "hero" from his friends and neighbors, his aw-shucks demeanor is put to the test when a disfigured out-of-towner (Ed Harris) appears and insists that Tom is secretly a hitman from Philadelphia named Joey Cusack. Tom's wife (Maria Bello) and son (Ashton Holmes) support him at first, but slowly begin to question his identity regardless of how often he proclaims his innocence. When the accusations and attacks eventually invade the Stall household, Tom decides to head for Pennsylvania and confront the source of his sudden woes: Richie Cusack (William Hurt), Joey's brother. Cronenberg cultists may be surprised by A History of Violence -- in many regards, it doesn't even feel like it belongs in his canon. Instead of concentrating on surreal bio-organic monstrosities worming their way into existence, he offers a trio of faceless villains in the form of mistaken identity, unwanted exposure, and cyclical consequence. Along with screenwriter Josh Olson, Cronenberg seems to ponder the likelihood of maintaining one's sense of self in an increasingly interconnected society where secrets are a fading commodity. As Tom faces his past, present, and future, we're left to consider whether he's a hypocrite in hiding or an average everyman trapped between chance and circumstance. Even when the mystery of Tom's identity is finally settled, he's forced to deal with the unintended fallout of his actions. Confronted with violence that only begets more violence, he fights to prevent chaos from seeping into every aspect of his life. But regardless of his efforts, his son is affected at home and school, his marriage begins to crumble, and his community is unsure of how to embrace a hero responsible for bringing blood and death to its doorstep. Even his most intimate moments with his wife are infected by the untapped rage pulsing beneath his timid exterior. To that end, Mortensen, Harris, Bello, and Hurt deliver stunning performances that showcase the subtleties of the film's delicately-constructed story. Mortensen continues to impress me more and more with every role; the casual flicker of his eyes and the slightest twitch of his mouth is made with specific intent. His movements and intonations are used to mold a human being out of the character set before him. Likewise, Harris is a delight, chewing scenery and gleefully dragging Tom out of his shell. A slick accent fuses unspoken threats with his scowls and his deliberate delivery gives the central mystery its momentum. Bello is a godsend; a talented actress who combines vulnerability and assuredness into a wide range of desperate reactions. Her character is arguably the most compelling protagonist and she takes advantage of every second of screentime. And Hurt? While he doesn't show up until the third act, his presence can be felt from the very beginning. When he finally appears, his breezy command of his environment and everyone in it makes his character the culmination of everything Tom fears. I know there are people out there who consider A History of Violence to be a plodding, overrated bore -- I know, I was one of them -- but a close examination of the film's honest character interactions and unexpected plot developments reveal it to be something different... something wholly unique. Don't be fooled into thinking its methodical characters are simpletons, that its carefully orchestrated plot is overly simplistic, or that its story is standard genre fare. Cronenberg and Olson's foray into small town life is a calculated study of our precarious existence and the ease with which violence can permeate and infect every corner of our lives. As a humble convert to its fold, I have to admit A History of Violence is a refreshing breath of air in a genre that's been suffocated by tiresome cliches and predictable plots. Cronenberg has once again proven himself to be a master filmmaker... even when venturing into unfamiliar territory. Alas, the film's Blu-ray debut is a bit hit-or-miss. While it offers an excellent lossless audio track and a generous collection of compelling special features, it includes a problematic video transfer that's drowning in DNR and edge enhancement. The overall picture quality renders the BD superior to the previously-released DVD, but I'm sure it could have looked much better. Even so, fans of the film will find the disc's reasonable price-tag and positive attributes outweigh any such technical issues. If you haven't seen A History of Violence, give it a chance. If you've already been swayed by its nuanced wiles, toss your old DVD aside and pick up this high-def upgrade. (Based on Comic Book) -- (DC Imprints) Cast Notes: Viggo Mortensen (Tom Stall), Maria Bello (Edie Stall), Ed Harris (Carl Fogarty), William Hurt (Richie Cusack), Ashton Holmes (Jack Stall), Peter MacNeill (Sheriff Sam Carney), Stephen McHattie (Leland), Greg Bryk (Billy), Kyle Schmid (Bobby Singer), Sumela Kay (Judy Danvers), Gerry Quigley (Mick), Deborah Drakeford (Charlotte), Heidi Hayes (Sarah Stall), Aidan Devine (Charlie Roarke), Bill MacDonald (Frank Mulligan). IMDb Rating (12/14/14): 7.5/10 from 164,985 users IMDb Rating (12/14/11): 7.6/10 from 99,415 users IMDb Rating (06/17/07): 7.5/10 from 39,304 users
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