Eastern Promises Details

Racial Stereotypes

Poorly directed and unprofessional film which lacks basic background knowledge about Eastern Europe. The cast is inappropriate and unconvincing and the plot is shallow and predictable. All characters are grotesque stereotypes whose sole purpose seems to be to convince viewers from the western world that everybody in Eastern Europe is either a gangster, a pimp, a racist, a homophobe or a prostitute. In an age in which racial stereotypes are frowned upon in all developed societies I find this unacceptable.

The film's secret weapon of attracting audiences is violence and nudity...The fact that British viewers reacted to it so positively is disappointing and worrying.

As a film student, I have seen numerous contemporary features from all over the world, yet this one is undoubtedly one of the worst.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Inviggorating

I am breathless from watching this film. Cronenberg has done a superb job of looking at a very specific bit of Russian gangster underbelly in London. It's dark, it's brutal, it's nasty. But there is also heart and morality. Viggo is just a force of nature in this film. I am constantly amazed by the fearless and committed way he inhabits his characters, breaths life into these complex, difficult people. He has great physicality at the same time as portraying a profound inner world. If there is a weakness, it's Naomi Watts. She has a quiet, luminous beauty, but I found her a little lacking - not so much subtle as subdued. Looking a bit pale and wan just makes for lifeless rather than tortured and sad. I constantly wanted more from her and it never materialised. However, all in all, for me a totally compelling (and moving) movie experience.