118: Eastern Promises (2007)

We're closing out 2024 for the Watchcast the only way we know how: with the most depressing movie we can fit into a theme. And this year it's with David Cronenberg's captivating Eastern Promises, featuring Viggo Mortensen like you've never seen him before. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 118: Eastern Promises (2007) (00:00:35) - Intro. (00:01:42) - Viggo appreciation right out of the gate. (00:03:23) - Our last movie of 2024: David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises! (00:07:20) - On the merits of putting on the accent. (00:13:31) - A little bit of background on the movie and its accuracy. (00:18:35) - Launching into the film, and its brutal opening. (00:22:28) - The baby enters the picture. (00:26:50) - Our first trip to Semyon's restaurant. (00:31:12) - Some discussion about Nikolai's true nature, and some of the family dynamics at play. (00:44:55) - The closest thing this movie has to a funny moment. (00:49:40) - Break! (00:50:02) - We're back, and things are developing. (00:55:00) - There are dens of iniquity, and then there's this place. (00:57:23) - Semyon comes calling. (01:04:34) - The pretense of a deal. (01:07:42) - Tying up loose ends. (01:13:50) - Anna has had enough, and Nikolai and Kiril hash it out. (01:19:39) - The set-up. (01:23:06) - The bathhouse. (01:29:32) - Nikolai's reveal. (01:34:56) - A subtler ending than you might expect. (01:40:48) - The sequel that never came together. (01:43:27) - Final thoughts. (01:44:54) - Our theme for January: Jude Law sci-fi! (01:49:03) - Outro.