CRONENBERG: LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM

I went to see "A History of Violence" this weekend and I can only say one word: wow! This is a disturbing and very good film. It quickly moves from images of extreme violence to moments of near-boring family life. We are introduced to the Stall family with the scream of a young girl. Her father comforts her after a nightmare. His teenage son comes in and calms her down. Finally, her mother joins them, completing an almost surreal picture of family. This is not the kind of family we are familiar with anymore-a real "Leave it to Beaver" portrait. The film continues to show an existence that seems too good to be true. They live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and they all seem happy. The father, Tom Stall, owns a diner in town. One evening, two men enter and try to rob the diner. Stall protects his employees and customers with brutal force, quickly killing both men with apparent ease.

He suddenly becomes a reluctant local hero and is thrust into the limelight. This brings a stranger into town, Carl Fogarty, who insists that Tom is actually Joey Cusack from Philadelphia. Fogarty goads Tom, telling him that he used to be a great killer. Despite Tom's insistance that Fogarty is mistaken, he lurks around keeping an eye on both Tom and his family. The film escalates into a virus of fury that inflicts Tom, his wife, and his teenage son.

As I said, I enjoyed the film. Viggo Mortensen's portrayal of Tom reveals a man conflicted, confused, and concerned for his family. Maria Bello is mesmerizing as Edie, a woman who must watch as everything she knows crumbles in front of her. I have always enjoyed David Cronenberg; however, I have found that the lines are strictly drawn as far as whether people like his films or hate them. He enjoys shocking his audiences and he succeeds in this film. He lulls the audience into a false sense of comfort and then throws gore in their faces. Don't relax too much because he will grab your shoulders and shake 'em!

It's interesting to note that Cronenberg didn't write this script, which he usually does. The script came from a graphic novel. This is the second film I have seen recently that was adapted from graphic novel that I really enjoyed-the first being "Road to Perdition." If you haven't seen that film, watch it. It stars Tom Hanks as, of all things, a hitman who must protect his son from the mob family he has been a part of for years. Paul Newman plays the head of the family torn between his love for Hanks' character and his fatherly duty to his son who is played by Daniel Craig (the new James Bond.) Every performance in this movie is great. Jude Law is barely recognizable as the creepiest of creepy hitmen. What I truly enjoy about this film is the cinematography. It is beautiful. It takes place in the 1930's and is set in the midwest. It has a simple, quiet beauty about it.

There is another graphic novel I have heard is being adapted into a movie. It is Steve Niles' "30 Days of Night", the story of a quiet Alaska town that is invaded by vampires during the winter month where there is no sunlight. As far as I can see, it should be coming out some time next year, but there is no other information about it. I await it's arrival eagerly. But I digress...

Go and see "A History of Violence" and tell me what you thought of it, but keep in mind if you don't like David Cronenberg films, you probably won't like this one.