Les Promesses de l'ombre

Un drame de chambre impressionnant qui m'a laissé des impressions plus marquantes malgré une intrigue simple. Une affaire cinématographique extrêmement complexe pour un spectateur non adepte du popcorn, où tout s'imbrique parfaitement comme les rouages ​​d'une horloge de 160 litres de Mortensen. David Cronenberg confirme son expertise dans la conception de personnages, soutenu par des acteurs fantastiques. La meilleure performance jusqu'à présent de Viggo Mortensen. De plus, la mise en contexte et la représentation de la culture russo-mafieuse sont incroyablement puissantes et authentiques pour un pacifiste canadien comme Cronenberg. Et en prime, sa signature artistique avec une scène de sauna. Le meilleur des cinq derniers films de Cronenberg. (10/01/2008)

Le plus grand atout de ce film réside dans les prestations exceptionnelles de Vincent Cassel, Viggo Mortensen et Armin Mueller-Stahl, même si, paradoxalement, aucun d’entre eux n’est d’origine russe. Viggo Mortensen, en particulier, sort du lot, ce qui n’est pas sans m’étonner. J’ai bien aimé aussi le retournement final et, globalement, Les Promesses de l'ombre m’a fait meilleure impression que A History of Violence, du moins en ce qui concerne l’intrigue. (05/01/2009)

With a bit of exaggeration, Naomi Watts's character seems to have fallen out of a naive Danielle Steele novel, creating a perfect contrast with the hard male world of the criminal underworld that has a somewhat uncompromising touch (detailed throat slashing, a knife stabbing an eyeball). It's in fact this contrast that is the greatest strength of the story, which is not very revelatory, but it must be said that Cronenberg's understated direction is very pleasant and effective, because despite the trivial plot, his film manages to draw you into the action so that the 100 minutes go by so quickly. Compared to the previous and weak A History of Violence, it is really very engaging with some truly unforgettable scenes (the opening fight in the sauna with Mortensen in a birthday suit). I could watch the phenomenal trio of Mueller-Stahl, Cassel, Mortensen for days. (08/01/2008)

Pretty restrained for Cronenberg, but you can still see his style. Like most films of his I’ve watched, this one felt very cold, but it still managed to capture my attention thanks to the intense rawness. Cronenberg is not for everyone, but I like playing his emotionally detached games sometimes. 80% (18/08/2008)

Cronenberg left the fantasy world of human obsessions for good and began to explore ordinary people in liminal situations. The synopsis of Russian gangsters in London smacked of fake nasal accents and litres of vodka, and yet the result is more about the confrontation of different worlds. When we enter it, we can't get out, whether it’s the mafia driver with a secret, the nurse with an internal stigma, or the Ukrainian emigrant playing the involuntary role of a prostitute. It's gripping in moments and emotionally fulfilling on the whole, though the epilogue could be explored for long moments. And as paradoxical as it sounds, Eastern Promises is a very different alternative to Love Actually as a London Christmas film. 4 ½. (20/12/2007)