Suzy Hutchinson / 26 May 2025 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, Movie

Eastern Promises an unexpected protagonist takes the Oscar for Best Actor 2007

Gangster films are not really my thing but we had to find a compromise for the bank holiday last night and settled on Eastern Promises I’ll admit predominately because of the eye candy of Viggo Mortenson, French actor Vincent Cassel (ex husband of screen siren Monica Belluci) and Naomi Watts.

The film is a British Canadian collaboration from writer Steven Knight directed by David Cronenberg.

It is absolute power punch of a thriller and in the beginning there are a few extremely violent moments where the squeamish will have to look away. The opening scenes throw you straight in with violence many women will find hard to stomach, it reminded me of another gangster film I actually loved 13 where the thrilling action is interwoven with a powerful character driven script.

I do follow the academy awards and didn’t remember Viggo Mortensen winning the Oscar for best actor 2007. His performance as the driver, Nikolai to Russian mob family headed up by a very scary restaurant owner Seymon played by Armin Mueller Stahl is nothing short of mesmerizing as he transforms throughout the film from absolute villain to master manipulator to if someone’s got to be in charge of the mayhem you hope and pray it’s someone like him.

It left me thinking about the Viggo Mortensen character, the type of completely terrifying person hardened by life experience but a major twist in the middle of the film leaves us, the audience backing the villain as the good guy, mad I know, simply for the best moral outcome, whilst understanding our naivety that this shit actually goes on in real life.

The character Anna a midwife played by Naomi Watts is living the experience of what life might be like for any of us should our path cross with people like this, hardened criminals, murderers and men who will literally stop at nothing for sex, money and power.

The Vincent Cassel character Kirill is the psycho character even Mortensen’s steely demeanour and rock hard body, a mercenary “clean up” man, has trouble containing except for a glimpse into the psyche Achilles heel of a person I cannot reveal as again it would spoil the viewing experience.

A gripping thriller where the plot manoeuvres through to a surprisingly positive conclusion after numerous throats being garrotted, bodies decappitated and general terror tactics and men generally behaving badly.

I don’t want to give a spoiler here but there is the most gruelling graphic fight scene I have ever seen in the film "Eastern Promises," the star tattoos, particularly eight-pointed stars, hold significant meaning within the Vory V Zakone ("Thieves in Law") criminal brotherhood led by Seymon against their enemies the Chechens.

Ladies this one goes down as a picture for the guys but if you get through the first 10 minutes and close your eyes at a few gruesome bits you’ll find yourself engaged in possibly the most dramatic fight scene ever in film history as a naked Nikolai takes on two Chechen heavies in a London bath house.

Thrilling, completely exhausting and yet mesmerising watch for anyone looking for an eye opener experience and ring side seat into the world of international organised crime.

A few disturbing scenes where trafficked women are enslaved into a life of drug addiction, prostitution and violence opened my eyes to the plight so many women still face today.

It’ll be a tough watch with partners for men who engage their services in real life.

My advice if you enjoy a happy ending massage guys or more you might want to watch this one alone or with your mates, health warning, it might make you a bit sick.

Definitely not suitable for a young audience. I wouldn’t suggest anyone under the age of 15 or 16 watch this film.