I just watched "A History of Violence," and jesus christ, what a fucking savage, unfulfilling, depressing, and disgusting piece of trash. The moment I saw Cronenberg's name in the credits, I knew it was gonna be exactly that - granted, the only other of his movies I've seen is "Crash" (no, not the racial tension one, the one about people getting sexually aroused by car crashes :Smug: ), but that was just as bizarre and sick (though not really any violence, more ridiculously sexually perverse). Seriously, movies like this are just so miserable and depressing, they seem to exist for people who are so pessimistic and cynical they love reveling in things that show human beings for our very worst. I know humans are capable of terrible, terrible things, but energizing it and desensitizing people to it hardly seems like a fulfilling thing to do. GOD, I want those 100 minutes back...
God, what the fuck is wrong with David Cronenberg
- Thread starter Metaltastic
- Start date
I don't think the film revels in violence, I think it does the exact opposite. The gore and violence seem intentionally strange and awkward, like all of the "style" you see in modern hollywood has been stripped from it. A good example is the scene where Tom get shot on his front lawn. Notice the odd camera angle and the bizarre, disjointed way he slumps to the grass.
Yeah, I guess it wasn't the violence specifically that bothered me, but more the frustrating ambiguity and bizarreness of Mortensen's character; the fact that, once he realized he had to own up to being Joey, had this weird fucking way of dancing around it, and it was hard to tell whether or not he had some sort of dissociative identity disorder and had regressed back into his old self or what; I mean, I just felt so depressed seeing him go from a loving father and family man to killing all those people with no remorse, no "my god, no, what have I done, I wanted to leave all this behind me" moments, just this fucking savagery - it was very emotionally taxing for me. I would have so much preferred if it were just a case of a guy leaving the mob and trying to start a new life, but this just seemed so much more twisted than that, and it almost seemed like he enjoyed it at times.
And what the FUCK was up with that angry sex scene on the stairs? I mean, that was another point where he seemed to "be" Joey, he didn't apologize to his wife or say something like "I'm so sorry, I try to control these urges, etc." - I felt very betrayed by this character I had come to like, and this is what I mean when I say movies like this are for people who revel in things that show human beings for our very worst. And yes, make no mistake, I HATED Crash
And what the FUCK was up with that angry sex scene on the stairs? I mean, that was another point where he seemed to "be" Joey, he didn't apologize to his wife or say something like "I'm so sorry, I try to control these urges, etc." - I felt very betrayed by this character I had come to like, and this is what I mean when I say movies like this are for people who revel in things that show human beings for our very worst. And yes, make no mistake, I HATED Crash
iekobrid
Authorized XSr Dealer
I've only drifted in and out of the room while other people watched 'History...', but I know William Hurt's last couple minutes are hi-larious! 
"How do you fuck that UP?!"
"How do you fuck that UP?!"
J the TyranT
Thats just how it is...
Torniojaws
They call me Juha
abyssofdreams
knows what you think.
I thought it was disturbing at times too but I really liked the movie, it was.... different but in a good way.
slashvanyoung
Dopefish lives!
ItsAFugazzi
boat is boat.
If only the movie was at the standard he set in that film it would be one of the greats.
Deus.exe
BBQ!!!
Try watching "Naked Lunch", now that's a fucked up movie
William S Burroughs + David Cronenberg = Weird-city!
William S Burroughs + David Cronenberg = Weird-city!
egan.
daylightdies.com
Eastern Promises is a Cronenberg film too. I thought aHoV was ok but it didn't live up to my expectations. I thought it was hated the score but the second time I saw it I think I understood better what the goals were. Overall, I personally prefer that type of violence and amorality to the typical black and white, good vs. evil hollywood story-- granted I thought aHoV was mediocre.
spioraid
Fancy a pint? Or two?
When I watched it I must of have been sick because I didn't critique the living daylights out of it. I just watched it for mere aesthetics, which was probably the wrong thing to do.
I felt the movie was always on the verge of either becoming really engaging or completely boring, but never went in either direction. I agree Marcus it did seem like 'Joey' never had 1 consistent identity that was prevailing or receding.
I give it two and a half 'mehs'.
I felt the movie was always on the verge of either becoming really engaging or completely boring, but never went in either direction. I agree Marcus it did seem like 'Joey' never had 1 consistent identity that was prevailing or receding.
I give it two and a half 'mehs'.
SocialNumb
Damn Christians!
Sloan
Sounds like shit!
I saw that movie when I was like 8 or something and still remember it being one of the fucking weirdest and creepiest things ever. Have never seen it again since, but want to just to see if it actually makes ANY sense at all.
See, I know a lot of people liked it (critics, I mean), and I'm sure if you look at it analytically (like Roger Ebert did, for example, talking about all the hidden meanings and commentary it gives on our violent nature and blah blah blah) there's a lot to it - but I just really really hated seeing that family get torn apart, thinking of the trauma and shock the son and especially wife had gone through and the insidious way Joey just changed and made no apologies, had no remorse for anything he did (that scene in the hospital, when his wife confronts him, he's just so fucking condescending and vague). Like I said, I found it very emotionally taxing, and although I've never gone through anything remotely as bad as what his family did, I know that feeling where something life-changing happens and it's just so awful you can't even come to grips with it, and to have Joey's character rub salt in the wound with his ambiguity only made it worse. I just read the summary of "Dead Ringers," and that looks as if it could even be stranger than the two I've seen, so I'm just gonna stay the hell away from him in the future.
I remember renting that to watch with my mom and dad when i was in town for the holidays..they're like "what kind of movie is this" and I say "uhh suspense thriller i think". Next thing I know two people are 69'ing on screen and I don't think I've ever felt so uncomfortable in my life. OK movie, definitely some far stretched scenarios..but it is a movie i guess.
Loren Littlejohn
Lover of all boobage.
Loren Littlejohn
Lover of all boobage.
Hahahahahahahaah, yup, I've been there
Me to. Only it's way worse because my rents are HARDCORE republican/xian.
