Review: 'Eastern Promises' Riveting Crime Drama

'Eastern Promises' (R)(out of four)

It doesn't take long to realize that the new crime drama, "Eastern Promises" isn't for those with queasy stomachs. The film immediately jump-starts with one of the most graphic throat-slitting scenes in memory.

Soon after, Russian mob soldier Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen in an Oscar-worthy performance) stands over the body and announces: "Now I'm going to remove his teeth and cut off his fingers. You might want to look away."

But strangely, it's hard not to look away from one of the most riveting mob films in years. The movie reunites Mortensen with David Cronenberg, with whom he teamed for "A History of Violence."

Naomi Watts ("King Kong") plays Anna, a London midwife who delivers the baby of a Russian teenager. The girl dies giving birth, leaving few clues to her identity, other than a diary that Anna wants translated into English. Inside the book is a business card that leads the midwife to "Trans-Siberian," an elegant London restaurant run by Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl). The elderly owner seems rather grandfatherly, but in reality he's a ruthless, high-ranking crime boss who knows that if the diary's contents are revealed, he will be destroyed.

Mortensen plays the gangster's driver, and all-around "go-to" guy. The talented actor is a perfect fit for the part, and has the look down pat with an expensive suit and a slicked-back hairstyle that's more impressive than Joe Pesci's pompadour in "Goodfellas." Plus, he has an ice-cold stare that would make a stranger cross to the other side of the street. But his character is also a diplomat, which comes in handy when dealing with the son of his boss: a loud, obnoxious, and very frustrated mobster-in-waiting, well-played by French actor Vincent Cassel.

Where Mortensen really scores acting points is in how he succeeds in giving his character a significant amount of humanity. One moment he's having sex with a prostitute in order to satisfy the wishes of his boss -- the next he's helping the drugged-out girl. The gangster also slowly develops an unlikely friendship with the midwife, who sees qualities in the tough guy that others don't.

Watts manages to carefully walk the tightrope with her character, keeping her sympathetic, and not a romantic pushover for a guy with a potential brutal streak. Other notables include Sinead Cusack and Jerry Skolimowoksi as Watts' mother and Russian-born uncle. The pair must deal with the fact they've been unwillingly sucked into an exercise in mob house-cleaning.

Skolimowski in particular does a wonderful job as a man who has no politeness filter when discussing his views, and who courageously stands up for his family, throwing around some inflated KGB credentials when push comes to shove.

"Eastern Promises" has its share of mob movie violence, most notably, a brutal, heart-pounding, fight to the death inside a bathhouse. What makes it especially unique is that Mortensen is completely naked throughout the struggle. What could have been a cheap device is highly effective, and makes his character's desperation and vulnerability even more vivid. And boy, those stunts must have hurt without padding.

The movie's script was written by Steven Knight ("Dirty Pretty Things") and leaves open the possibility of a sequel. Just like the "Godfather," there are plenty of possibilities. Hopefully Cronenberg and Mortensen will team up again.