118: Eastern Promises (2007)

The Nextlander Watchcast

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.