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Absolutely the worst movie.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

David Cronenberg brings this brilliant crime drama full of some quite phenomenal performances all around, namely Viggo Mortensen as a complex Russian mob enforcer again proving Viggo to be one of the most versatile working actors today. Naomi Watts was wonderful as well portraying a concerned nurse unknowingly digging into a waking nightmare until it was too late and Vince Cassel as the distraught criminal trying to hide his humanity. The tone is overbearingly ominous, the violence is visceral and the tale told is truly tragic, but it draws you in further with every moment. There are some strong similarities to the likes of other dower mafia movies, such as Road to Perdition, but this film delves into one of the most interesting and terrifying criminal organizations still active today with the Russian mob, also known as the Bratva, or Brotherhood. Cronenberg brings a dangerous criminal syndicate's daily dirty deeds to life in such a way that you can feel the muck flying from the screen. This is by no means a movie for the faint of heart, or stomach strength, but it is a cinematic classic nonetheless. I only hold back a perfect score due to the desire I felt for a more defined conclusion, but the build up to it was much more than good enough for a near perfect 9 out of 10 in my eyes.

"Eastern promises" is a story about the Russian mafia. It deals with how the birth of a little girl in a London hospital starts a chain of events, that draws an innocent nurse deeper and deeper into the hidden world of crime that some Russian gangs established right in the heart of the United Kingdom.The movie shines through a prominent cast, where at least all the bigger roles are played by well-known actors. The plot is interesting enough to keep the audience entertained and delivers some twists that you might not expect. You can see, that there has been quite a budget for this film, even though the rather cheap blood effects would sometimes make you think differently. Unfortunately, I didn't really catch fire. Maybe the characters are just a bit too one-dimensional at times, or maybe they're too close to what we already know from many movies alike, but even though I felt entertained throughout the whole play-time, this isn't a movie I could connect to very much.All in all it is nevertheless a very well written and directed mafia movie, that will surely find its fans in the genre. If you liked comparable movie, you won't do anything wrong with this one, neither.

In general great plot and acting. I was expecting some bad pronunciation but Morrison exceeded all expectations. He shows what kind of great acting skills he has in this movie and the feeling for life in the Russian underground world. I think that the social and cultural element of the Russians is portrayed really good and the very clear contradiction between the two worlds of Anna and Nicolai. However, the movie is going into detail on some elements in the beginning while it lacks the real emotions of the main characters. Why did Nicolai join the cops? Why is Kirill so aggressive about his dad (something happened in the past) What did he find in Nicolai that attractive.. is there an emotional connection? (there is a hint about him being gay). I liked the movie for the 90 minutes that it fed me, but I've loved to get a lot more details and a better ending. It felt like they just cut it off in the end.

A lot Promising Viggo Mortensen, alongside with the smoothly menacing Mueller-Stahl, is the star of this film. But Mortensen, his killer looks, his shades, that one crooked smile, the thick accent and designer clothes, of which 'the British Telegraph'notices that the 'shirt's collar is so high that his throat is barely visible, he straddles the line between cartoon-inhuman villains like Max Headroom and Robocop', steals the show.As one might expect, Eastern Promises has its fair amount of ultra violence, which Cronenberg seems to enjoy adding even when his films appeal most to adult audiences. Such as the opening: A brutal barbershop scene - The movie itself is well done, with a relatively well-paced story, some interesting developments and strong characters.A Mafia Boss, who looks as if a simple restaurant owner but turns out to be the head of Vory V Zakone (people-traffickers). And obviously the heir to the throne the alcoholic son Kirill (Vincent Cassel) and his chauffeur, Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen). Lastly, an east London midwife nurse, Anna (Naomi Watts), determined to get to the source of the death of a 14-year-old sex slave, who's infant she helped delivered, with the business card she found in the teenager's diary which after translated by her uncle turns out to be full of incriminating details about drugs and prostitution.The film is partly sets the audience on a thriller ride about whether or not this decent characters will avoid a violent end, or will end up violently. Even with great direction and writing, a few questions remains; as it does! But as for the 'Cast' - their top notch performances, surely lived up way beyond expectations - As Promised!