Eastern Promises

Director David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen join forces again for another winner. Mortensen plays a member of the Russian mafia looking to move up in the ranks. He’s working with a London crime family led by a super creep played by Armin Mueller-Stahl, a man who finds himself in trouble when a midwife (Naomi Watts) uncovers one of his dirty secrets. Stahl is Oscar-worthy as the seemingly innocent man with a dark soul, as is Mortensen as a mysterious person with a conflicted identity. Watts, as usual, is terrific, providing a grounded core in the middle of all the madness. Cronenberg doesn’t shy away from the violence and that’s no surprise. Vincent Cassel does what might be his best work yet as Stahl’s messed up son. Great performances throughout.