The Future of the Russian Gangster Movie?

When looking at the future of movies it is important to remember the historic year of 2007, it was a bell weather year for adult violent dramas. "No Country for Old Men", by the Cohen brothers, "There Will Be Blood", by P.T. Anderson, and "Eastern Promises" by David Cronenberg. While I enjoyed viewing all three films immensely that year, the one that stuck with me and seemed the most unique was Eastern Promises.

I welcome writers to disagree with this theory, but please mention any other English speaking Russian gangster picture to be on point with Eastern Promises. From the opening shot of London rain outside of the barber shop to the closing shot of Mortensen sitting at the table the film is mesmerizing. The viewer has the feeling of looking from a nuclear periscope at a clear view of the violent and dangerous subculture of the Russian mafia.

In looking at Soviet history it becomes apparent that from Stalin's purge to Prime Minister Putin's slogans Russian politicians are very much like gangsters. When Mortensen is being tattooed to become a member of the Vorev Zorkonia, the panel of Russian gangsters inspecting him look ominous and create a medieval component to the Russian gangster movie. When Mortensen responds that he had solitary confinement in Siberia it speaks volumes to all the Russian people who were sent in box cars to the Gulag. The idea of family in this movie is portrayed similar to the "Godfather." The patriarch of the Russian mafia has striking similarities to Brando. The dinners and the music in both films are rich in tradition.

"Eastern Promises" is unique in the sense that it is a gangster movie that has no guns. Cronenberg uses knives to be more menacing and the film is brilliant at creating tension. The most talked about scene by most viewers is the Turkish bathhouse bloodbath. The scene is executed like an opera and the sound of the scene is even more terrifying than anything that is seen by the viewer. The fact that it is the first time in the feature that the tattoo of St. Basil's Cathedral on the back of Mortensen is exposed publicly also reveals how deep this character is into what he is doing.

The two scenes that were the best in the feature were not violent at all. The scene where Mortensen tries to help Watts kick start her motorcycle is fascinating. The scene is very erotic. Watt's hair is wet and she is wincing to kick start the bike. Mortensen pretends to help and then leads her into his car. She is afraid and intrigued by this character's world. He jokes in the car, while she is serious and they seem like two passing ships.

When I first heard that "Eastern Promises 2" was coming I was excited beyond belief. I would like the story to take one of two paths. Either Mortensen continues to work for Scotland Yard and is forced to rescue Watts from some horrific situation in the Russian underworld or for him to become the don for the Russian mafia and sink into the abyss. I would like for part of the film to actually be filmed in Moscow, just how Italy was utilized in the "Godfather". Unfortunately most Russian representation in American cinema consists of Drago in "Rocky IV". I can only hope that Cronenberg takes the helm and steers the future of the Russian gangster movie to the limit.