A History of Violence
A History of Violence ★★★ 2005 (R)
Unassuming small-town diner owner and family man Tom Stall foils a robbery, killing the hold-up men, and becomes a hero. This new status brings the unwanted attention of a trio of men who claim to be from Tom's past. And a very violent past it turns out to be. Cronenberg, with the exceptional help of a great cast, deftly and cleverly plays with the notion of identity and reality, while he takes a jab at the audience's knowledge of and expectations for action movies and their conventions. It's all very cool and engrossing, but he makes you squirm a little for enjoying the ride. 96m/C DVD . US Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, William Hurt, Stephen McHattie, Peter MacNeill, Ed Harris, Ashton Holmes, Heidi Hayes; D: David Cronenberg; W: Josh Olson; C: Peter Suschitzky; M: Howard Shore. L.A. Film Critics ‘05: Support. Actor (Hurt); N.Y. Film Critics ‘05: Support. Actor (Hurt), Support. Actress (Bello); Natl. Soc. Film Critics ‘05: Director (Cronenberg), Support. Actor (Harris).