A History of Violence [Blu-ray]
A History of Violence [Blu-ray]
Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 02/10/2009 Run time: 96 minutes Rating: ROn the surface, David Cronenberg may seem an unlikely candidate to direct A History of Violence, but dig deeper and you’ll see that he’s the right man for the job. As an intellectual seeker of meaning and an avowed believer in Darwinian survival of the fittest, Cronenberg knows that the story of mild-mannered small-town diner proprietor Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is in fact a multilayered examination of inbred human behavior, beginning when Tom’s skillful killing of two would-be robbers draws unwanted attention to his idyllic family life in rural Indiana. He’s got a loving wife (Maria Bello) and young daughter (Heidi Hayes) who are about to learn things about Tom they hadn’t suspected, and a teenage son (Ashton Holmes) who has inherited his father’s most prominent survival trait, manifesting itself in ways he never expected. By the time Tom has come into contact with a scarred villain (Ed Harris) and connections that lead him to a half-crazy kingpin (William Hurt, in a spectacular cameo), Cronenberg has plumbed the dark depths of human nature so skillfully that A History of Violence stands well above the graphic novel that inspired it (indeed, Cronenberg was unaware of the source material behind Josh Olson’s chilling adaptation). With hard-hitting violence that’s as sudden as it is graphically authentic, this is A History of Violence that’s worthy of serious study and widespread acclaim. –Jeff Shannon
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Taut and entertaining
I want to start off by saying that some of the one-star negative reviews are so over-the-top hateful and angry that I wonder if Cronenberg personally attacked these people. Some of the samplings include the oft-mentioned payola conspiracy, the one charming review that requested all participants in the movie commit suicide to pay for their sins, and the others who feel that they have been personally harmed via the ninety minutes of their life spent watching this movie. Beyond the obvious stupidity of such claims, they are also so full of self-righteousness that it enrages me. It’s one thing to dislike a movie and give solid evidentiary reasons. It’s another to insult those who disagree with you. Then again, welcome to the cultural climate that the Limbaugh generation has spawned. When someone disagrees, shout louder than they do and insult them. Hey, Fox News has built a media monster from such a philosophy.
A History of Violence was a movie I enjoyed. It was recommended by a friend as we discussed movies we liked, and having enjoyed Eastern Promises and the work of Viggo Mortensen, I thought it would be good. I wasn’t disappointed. One of the complaints about AHOV is that it lacks good dialogue or believable characters. I disagree. How can you even attempt to know what real mobsters are like, or what it would be like to be Joey/Tom? Personal experience? Aren’t you basing your judgments on movie clichés themselves? Do you compare the mobsters in this movie to Vito Corleone or Tony Soprano? I can’t even begin to figure out how you judge what a person in Tom Stall’s shoes would be like or do. Given that I have nothing that comes close to prior knowledge to build inferences upon, I found these characters to be as credible as I might imagine they could be. Furthermore, the starkness and lack of highly quotable or memorable lines is indicative of the reality of our lives which generally lack in quotable moments. How many times a day, month, or lifetime do you say profound things or act with the high integrity, moral strength, or rapier wit of movie heroes? Probably a lot less than you or I waffle with uncertainty, spout tired chestnuts, or rely on stolen lines from our favorite movies. I find the torn and confused Edie to be more realistic than if she were the hackneyed Meryl Streep/Julia Roberts/et al Hollywood heroine who stands tall in the face of her problems. I found the frustrated and angry teen son to be plausible in his explosive payback to the punks who torment him. I found the small-town cop who is only trying to do his job and yet maintain his place in the community to be on target. And lastly, I found Mortensen’s understated portrayal to be perfect for such a task. Quietly seething, fighting that part of him he wishes were dead, wanting nothing but a return to the life he had before the two thugs entered his diner, and treading fragilely on the brittle surface of a life now cracked and threatened by a past that has finally caught up to him; Viggo does as good a job as I can imagine any actor doing. He fails to overact, plays it true, and allows us to see the dynamic between the two lives that violently come together for him.
AHOV is not the greatest movie I have ever seen, but it doesn’t have to be. It is a solid piece of movie making that kept me riveted, had me questioning what was going to happen next, and gave me an ending that was satisfactory because it gave no specific answers.
It is often wisely recommended that you borrow/rent a movie before buying and I agree with that. I liked this one and I think you will as well. If not, give it back and try something else. Taste in movies et al is little more than a reflection of each individual and I trust you have enough of an open mind and sensibility to understand that your opinion is solely your own and not superior to those who disagree with you.
5 Stars Excellent movie….Beautiful Blu Ray version
I Love this movie and now that it’s in Blu ray…the picture is even sharper and the sound is awesome. I wish there was more deleted scenes like the stair case one!
1 Stars Watch for 2 minutes every 30 minutes…
Awful! Need to watch of super-fast forward. Not very clever or thought-provoking, just horrible. The special features were better than the movie itself, and that’s saying something.
3 Stars Movie: 3.5/5 Picture Quality: 1.5/5 Sound Quality: 3.75/5 Extras: 3.5/5
Version: U.S.A / Warner-New Line / Region A, B, C
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
VC-1 BD-25 / AACS / Advanced Profile 3
Running time: 1:35:43
Movie size: 19,59 GB
Disc size: 23,07 GB
Total bit rate: 27.29 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 22.49 Mbps
Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1321 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1321 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English SDH / Spanish
Number of chapters: 17
#Audio commentary with Cronenberg
#Violence’s History comparison of the U.S. theatrical and International versions of the film
#Acts of Violence vignettes
#Additional footage
#Theatrical trailer
4 Stars 3 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
Exceptionally well-crafted scenes of bloodshed (Cronenberg is one of the best directors when it comes to making movie violence seem actually violent) and a stellar supporting turn from William Hurt lift this thriller above the ordinary; it’s not a great film, but it is one which will most likely linger in your mind.
Filed under: Blue Ray Movie Reviews