A History of Violence (2005)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers (WGA):

John Wagner (graphic novel) and
Vince Locke (graphic novel) ...

Release Date:

30 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Everyone has something to hide.

Plot:

A mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.

Plot Keywords:

Hero | Violence | Indiana | Identity | Mobster

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 26 wins & 31 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Viggo Mortensen	...	Tom Stall
Maria Bello	...	Edie Stall
Ed Harris	...	Carl Fogarty
William Hurt	...	Richie Cusack
Ashton Holmes	...	Jack Stall
Peter MacNeill	...	Sheriff Sam Carney
Stephen McHattie	...	Leland
Greg Bryk	...	Billy
Kyle Schmid	...	Bobby
Sumela Kay	...	Judy Danvers
Gerry Quigley	...	Mick
Deborah Drakeford	...	Charlotte
Heidi Hayes	...	Sarah Stall
Aidan Devine	...	Charlie Roarke
Bill MacDonald	...	Frank Mulligan

Also Known As:

A History of Violence (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Philippines:R-13 (cut) | Australia:MA | Singapore:R21 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | France:-12 | Spain:18 | South Korea:18 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Czech Republic:15 | Mexico:C | Brazil:18 | Sweden:15 | Australia:R (original rating) | New Zealand:R18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (bw) | Italy:T (re-rated) | Italy:VM14 (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #41604) | Israel:16 | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Norway:18

Filming Locations:

King City, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Productions

Trivia:

The names of "William Orser" and "LeLand Jones" are a play on the name of the character actor Leland Orser.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Tom/Joey arrives in Philadelphia, he says he has been driving for 15-16 hours. From even the farthest point in Indiana, where he supposedly lives, the drive would take about 11 hours.

Quotes:

[first lines]
William Orser: So we keep headin' east?
Leland Jones: Yeah, that's the idea.
William Orser: Stay out of the big cities?
Leland Jones: Uh-huh.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Too Commercial for Cannes (2006)

Soundtrack:

Life of a Fool

Cronenberg hits a deep nerve brilliantly

I expected bloody senselessness and instead saw a film laden with the deepest human emotions. It was real. From youthful loving to hard violence, from simple innocent joys to the full depth of adult violence and sex, and ultimate redemption, this film has it all. Every piece of clothing and set, every camera angle and lighting propelled the story relentlessly. I was never bored, and never overwhelmed with overdone violence. Nothing was gratuitous. Viggo Mortensen proved he's one of the finest actors to come along in a long while. Maria Bello carries so much on her talented shoulders. With Mortensen she shines with alternately warming and heartbreaking truthfulness. Ed Harris was delightfully menacing, and William Hurt gave the liveliest and best performance I've seen from him.

This movie is about truth and redemption. It's the best film I've seen in a very long time. Kudos to Cronenberg, Mortensen, Bello, and all the cast and crew for what was for me a nearly perfect movie.

See it, then see it again. It's brilliant.