2008 Woodie Awards
A History of Violence: Lacking A Punch
Max Remer
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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"A History of Violence" opens with two men in what looks to be a small rural town in the US. The two men are ready to pack up and leave when the audience is treated to the first of many horrifically brutal scenes. The story then focuses on the main character Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) and his seemingly normal life that quickly becomes turned upside down with the robbery of his diner.
The acting in the movie is dull by comparison to other films. The flat acting however, might be an attempt to sharply contrast the violence in the film. The story has some cliché antagonists: the school bully and the two robbers. The school bully, Kyle Schmid (Bobby Jordan), acts so predictably throughout the movie that it almost makes his scenes not worth watching.
Jack Stall (Ashton Holmes) also plays a overly cliché awkward teenager. Jack's problems are those of any other melodramatic TV show teenager. He lacks and understanding of himself and acceptance from his peers. Although these actors play out their roles well, the story just does not allow them to break out of their stereotypes.
The story is something that has been done before but is still refreshing. Hollywood in general has started to recycle movie plots more then they should recently. The story behind "A History of Violence" makes for an interesting movie. However, the comedy aspect feels as if it cheapens the mood. The comedy, while funny for a quick laugh, is not top quality, as it does not advance the movie, rather it simply comes out of nowhere. I am truly not a fan of bad comedy, nothing kills a great scene faster then a misplaced or unneeded joke. Several scenes are utterly destroyed by simple bad jokes.
The movement of the story in "A History of Violence" also leaves something to be desired. The movie seems to work very slowly in the beginning, maybe by design, but then starts taking huge leaps as the film goes on.
The feel of simplicity and normality seem to get quickly most as the movie progresses. These however are filled not with violence and chaos but rather with confusion in the mind of the audience that is left trying to understand what is happening.
There is very little back story to what is set up and thus there is little care about the characters outside of Tom Stall. This point bothered me the most. I had no feelings for the characters because I simply did not know enough about them. The ending of the comes so quickly and with lack of explanation that it takes a while to realize it's actually over.
The overall quality of the film gets a B-. Its still is an above average movie but it might be worth waiting till it comes out on DVD. The film simply lacks the punch at the end to make it stand out. with the idea to wait.
The acting in the movie is dull by comparison to other films. The flat acting however, might be an attempt to sharply contrast the violence in the film. The story has some cliché antagonists: the school bully and the two robbers. The school bully, Kyle Schmid (Bobby Jordan), acts so predictably throughout the movie that it almost makes his scenes not worth watching.
Jack Stall (Ashton Holmes) also plays a overly cliché awkward teenager. Jack's problems are those of any other melodramatic TV show teenager. He lacks and understanding of himself and acceptance from his peers. Although these actors play out their roles well, the story just does not allow them to break out of their stereotypes.
The story is something that has been done before but is still refreshing. Hollywood in general has started to recycle movie plots more then they should recently. The story behind "A History of Violence" makes for an interesting movie. However, the comedy aspect feels as if it cheapens the mood. The comedy, while funny for a quick laugh, is not top quality, as it does not advance the movie, rather it simply comes out of nowhere. I am truly not a fan of bad comedy, nothing kills a great scene faster then a misplaced or unneeded joke. Several scenes are utterly destroyed by simple bad jokes.
The movement of the story in "A History of Violence" also leaves something to be desired. The movie seems to work very slowly in the beginning, maybe by design, but then starts taking huge leaps as the film goes on.
The feel of simplicity and normality seem to get quickly most as the movie progresses. These however are filled not with violence and chaos but rather with confusion in the mind of the audience that is left trying to understand what is happening.
There is very little back story to what is set up and thus there is little care about the characters outside of Tom Stall. This point bothered me the most. I had no feelings for the characters because I simply did not know enough about them. The ending of the comes so quickly and with lack of explanation that it takes a while to realize it's actually over.
The overall quality of the film gets a B-. Its still is an above average movie but it might be worth waiting till it comes out on DVD. The film simply lacks the punch at the end to make it stand out. with the idea to wait.