A History of Violence and Violence

Sylvan 2022-01-25 08:05:51

As I said on the blog before, my interest lies in thrillers, and I don't have much interest in films like "The History of Violence" that are somewhat under-named. Thanks to the cold air that stopped as promised, and the strong wind that blew for more than a day, I finally let me appreciate the ability of the director, the old freak Cronenberg again, in a boring night.
This is a simple film. In the comic adaptation, Aragorn plays the leading role played by Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings. In addition, the old freak Cronenberg's ability to make simple things complicated and make complicated things simple basically constitutes the whole of this film.
Generally speaking, movies based on comics must be in line with the tastes of the old beauty: the plots are mostly simple, the characters are facialized, and it seems that it takes no brains. This movie seems to be no exception. Compared with Cronenberg's previous films "The Flies", "Dead Zone", etc., "A History of Violence", in addition to the easier to understand plot, has been promoting such a theme: violence as part of human nature , like a disease can be controlled and cured.
"The History of Violence" is not the first to use a simple plot to explore violence in human nature. A previous book by British female scholar Joanna Burke, "Face to Face Killing", elaborated on this topic in a very novel and in-depth manner. She changed from what most people thought in the past that fighting was a last resort, and few people liked violence and war, but revealed such a reality through the diaries, letters, and reports of soldiers during World War II and the Vietnam War: daily life Moderate and kind-hearted people become killers because of the structure of war. In the environment of war, the way people find happiness is often to kill another kind of flesh and blood:

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I thought I would not take pleasure in killing, until one day, because I was in charge of the mortar, I was able to control what may be the most lethal weapon in modern warfare. ...that day... I directed a shell to hit the enemy's camp, saw corpses and even corpses flying into the sky, and heard the desperate cry of the wounded and deserters. To be honest, it was the happiest moment of my life.

That feeling of being able to control life and death, looking down the barrel of the gun, aiming at a person, and thinking, well, it's you. Feeling is feeling, actually doing it is another matter. You won't necessarily feel bad; on the contrary, you will be very proud, especially when one-on-one and the opponent has a chance. The two were just one hat away. That's the fun of "Hunter".
...
——Excerpted from "Face to Face Killing"
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also the theme of violence , British women scholars can trace its roots back to the unavoidable side of human nature, and freak director Cronenberg can use the handsome Mortensen to be a different person in front of a killer and his family; confronting the past and struggling with violence to prove violence Like an illness, it only takes love and time to heal.
There are always a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people: Ang Lee once said that everyone has a Brokeback Mountain in their hearts. If it was Cronenberg, he must have wanted to say: Everyone has a history of violence in their hearts.

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Extended Reading
  • Clifford 2022-04-23 07:01:31

    It would be perfect without his vulgar and exaggerated brother.

  • Chelsea 2022-03-20 09:01:26

    【A-】After watching this film, I feel more and more that Cronenberg's skills are profound, and there is almost no waste scene in the whole film. The opening sequence of a long shot, the introduction of the main characters, the jumping and extension of objects and backgrounds within the frame, and the occurrence of events outside the frame, the rhythm of this segment is perfectly controlled. The subsequent second indoor shot follows the killer, and through subtle arrangements, we find another innocent person killed under the table (this shot is similar to the encirclement in the oil company in "There Will Be Blood" wonderful). The design at the end is even more exciting, without the existence of any language. In the warm-toned space, the violence is finally dissolved, and under "love", it returns to the right track.

A History of Violence quotes

  • [Mr. Fogarty and his men have a conversation with Tom in the diner]

    Tom Stall: We really are quite busy here today as you can see. So if you gentlemen aren't going to be eating, I really should offer your seats to paying customers.

    Carl Fogarty: Hmm. Well...

    Carl Fogarty: [Mr. Fogarty pulls out a $100 bill and lays it on the table] Now we're paying customers.

    Tom Stall: [Tom picks up the bill] I can't take this.

    Carl Fogarty: It shouldn't be a problem for you.

    Tom Stall: What's that supposed to mean?

    Charlie Roarke: Mr. Fogarty's just making conversation here.

    Tom Stall: Well, whatever you want to call it, this conversation is over.

    Charlie Roarke: I think he wants us to leave, Mr. Fogarty.

    Frank Mulligan: Do you know what he does when he don't like people, Mr. Fogarty.

    Carl Fogarty: Yeah. I'm scared. We should leave before he goes all 'Dirty Harry' on us.

  • [Sam tells Tom and Edie who Mr. Fogarty and his men are]

    Sheriff Sam Carney: Charles Roarke, Philadelphia. Indicted on three counts of murder. Frank Mulligan, out of New York, indicted on one count of murder. Questioned in relation to dozens of acts of violence that you don't want to hear about. Both men work for Carl Fogarty. That's the fella with the eye. He spent 15 years in prison on several counts of assault. He's suspected in half a dozen murders, and more disappearances. Tom, these guys are organized crime from the East Coast. Now, they're the real thing. They're bad men. I have to ask you a question...

    Edie Stall: Jesus. Jesus, honey.

    Sheriff Sam Carney: I have to ask you a question. Are you in some kind of witness protection plan?