Coffee and a Side of Shotgun: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

You can forgive me for waiting for something to crawl out of Viggo Mortenson's skull at the end of A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, but it is a David Cronenberg film (Naked Lunch, Scanners, Shivers, eXistenZ) and I kept expecting it to be weirder (more disgusting) than it was. But actually, it is just a quality thriller that once again examines the nature versus nurture question. Mortenson, in his first star turn, plays small town cafe owner Tom Stall, who, in a moment of confrontation with hoodlums, goes balistic in a surprise fit of violence not seen since Geena Davis in LONG KISS GOODNIGHT. When the story makes the national news, thugs from distant states begin to poke their noses around town looking for one Joey Cusack, and convinced that Mortenson is him.

Viggo is so good in the movie, playing a roller coaster of emotions, that he demands a serious look for the lead oscar nomination. Ed Harris plays the main thug, and is creepy in a way that only Ed Harris can be. And Mario Bello plays Mortenson's wife, mother of two, and small town lawyer. It is one of the strongest written female characters in a movie the last five years. And she shines. Again, look for oscar buzz. And then comes the third act, which is basically stolen by William Hurt as a mafia kingpin. One of the things that is great about this movie is that just when you've got it figured out, and you think it is tying up, it keeps going and finds an entirely new tone. And it is here that Hurt takes over, putting a comic last chapter on the end of a serious movie. If he doesn't get a supporting actor nomination for an Oscar, he's been robbed.

Yeah, it's that solid of a movie. Cronenberg (like a few other directors before him) has learned his trade in the world of horror and suspense, and it makes a surprisingly easy transition into drama. I wouldn't be surprised if HE got a directing nomination (Hollywood loves to welcome those B movie makers who make good). So I guess you can tell I liked this movie. It is rare that a movie manages to be so 'conventional' but continually surprises. Or that you get true depth in every character on the screen. Or that you have sex scenes that are actually hot. (I actually really dislike sex scenes in movies, they rarely feel necessary to tell the story). Or has sharp tight writing (the screenplay is based on a graphic novel) that always forwards the story without being machine-like.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE is recommended for readers of Rousseau, people who still feel dirty from Crash (Cronenberg's movie, not the recent one), anyone tired of all mafia bosses acting like al pachino, and anyone who's ever considered shucking it all and moving to Indiana (unless it's for grad school). Rick's Rating: A