History of Violence DVD

A History of Violence
David Cronenberg directed this screen adaptation of a graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke which explores how an act of heroism unexpectedly changes a man's life. Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) lives a quiet life in a small Indiana town, running the local diner with his wife, Edie (Maria Bello), and raising their two children. But the quiet is shattered one day when a pair of criminals on the run from the police walk into his diner just before closing time. After they attack one of the customers and seem ready to kill several of the people inside, Tom jumps to the fore, grabbing a gun from one of the criminals and killing the invaders. Tom is immediately hailed as a hero by his employees and the community at large, but Tom seems less than comfortable with his new notoriety. One day, a man with severe facial scars, Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris), sits down at the counter and begins addressing Tom as Joey, and begins asking him questions about the old days in Philadelphia. While Tom seems puzzled, Carl's actions suggest that the quiet man pouring coffee at the diner may have a dark and violent past he isn't eager to share with others -- as well as some old scores that haven't been settled. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall Maria Bello as Edie Stall Ashton Holmes as Jack Stall William Hurt as Richie Cusack Stephen McHattie as Leland Jones Peter MacNeill as Sheriff Sam Carney Ed Harris as Carl Fogarty Heidi Hayes as Sarah Stall Greg Bryk as William "Billy" Orser

Crew James McAteer - Art Director Dierdre Bowen - Casting Jane Weiner - Co-producer Denise Cronenberg - Costume Designer Walter Gasparovic - First Assistant Director David Cronenberg - Director Ronald Sanders - Editor Justis Greene - Executive Producer Roger E. Kass - Executive Producer Josh Braun - Executive Producer Howard Shore - Composer (Music Score) Carol Spier - Production Designer Peter Suschitzky - Cinematographer Chris Bender - Producer J.C. Spink - Producer Michael O'Farrell - Sound Mixer Wayne Griffin - Sound Mixer Glen Gauthier - Sound/Sound Designer Josh Olson - Screenwriter Peter P. Nicolakakos - Set Decorator John Wagner - Book Author Vince Locke - Book Author

A History of Violence
David Cronenberg has always been a name closely associated with the horror genre, and even when his films don't overtly contain the elements generally associated with the critically maligned genre, they can be just as horrifying as any out-and-out fright flick. This bold but shockingly low-key hriller is without question one of the reigning body-horror master's most mainstream cinematic outings to date (no videotape-swallowing orifices or medieval-looking medical instruments here); however, the film's depiction of the vicious cyclical nature of violence is as horrific and challenging as anything in the veteran director's notoriously gruesome filmography. The effectiveness of violence in any film is directly tied to stylistic choices utilized to portray the violence onscreen, and few directors are more aware of this fact than Cronenberg. By contrasting the horrific and often graphic acts of violence committed by the characters in A History of Violence with quiet scenes at the family dinner table or tender moments between husband and wife, Cronenberg punctuates the destructive actions of his characters in a manner that is undeniably effective for those looking for something deeper than the average revenge tale -- showing a filmmaker still very much in command of his material. As the dire situation steadily elevates and the outwardly peaceful protagonist is forced to act out in the same manner as his tormentors, Cronenberg reveals the character's true nature while showing enough faith in his audience to let the situation unfold naturally. This narrative restraint shows a filmmaker whose dramatic strengths are growing with age rather than weakening (a sad problem that seems to plague many genre filmmakers of Cronenberg's generation). Even the lesser-drawn characters in A History of Violence seem to have an added dimension of motivation that ties into the theories of violence presented in the film, with the more prominent supporting players, including Ed Harris and William Hurt, turning in particularly effective performances. Though some viewers may find it difficult to connect with the archetypal characters in A History of Violence on an emotional level, the message regarding the inherently cyclical nature of violence is both effectively clear and viscerally presented, offering a testament to Cronenberg's continuing willingness to challenge his audience while simultaneously crafting a compelling mainstream hriller. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
 

David Cronenberg: Chicago Film Critics Association, Best Director (winner) David Cronenberg: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Director (Runner-up) (winner) David Cronenberg: London Film Critics Association, Best Director (nominated) David Cronenberg: National Society of Film Critics, Best Director (winner) David Cronenberg: Online Film Critics Association, Best Director (winner) David Cronenberg: Toronto Film Critics Association, Best Director (nominated) Ed Harris: National Society of Film Critics, Best Suppoting Actor (winner) Josh Olson: Academy, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Josh Olson: British Academy Awards, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Josh Olson: Chicago Film Critics Association, Best Screenplay (nominated) Josh Olson: Online Film Critics Association, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Josh Olson: Writers Guild of America, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Maria Bello: Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Maria Bello: Chicago Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress (winner) Maria Bello: Golden Globe, Best Actress - Drama (nominated) Maria Bello: Kansas City Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Maria Bello: London Film Critics Association, Best Actress (nominated) Maria Bello: New York Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress (winner) Maria Bello: Online Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress (winner) Ronald Sanders: Online Film Critics Association, Best Editing (nominated) Viggo Mortensen: London Film Critics Association, Best Actor (nominated) William Hurt: Academy, Best Supporting Actor (nominated) William Hurt: L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actor (winner) William Hurt: New York Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actor (winner) William Hurt: Online Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actor (nominated)

American Film Institute, Best Picture (winner) Chicago Film Critics Association, Best Picture (nominated) Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics Associati, Top Ten Film (winner) Golden Globe, Best Picture - Drama (nominated) L.A. Film Critics Association, Best Picture (Runner-up) (winner) London Film Critics Association, Best Picture (nominated) National Board of Review, Best Picture (nominated) National Society of Film Critics, Best Picture (Runner-up) (winner) Online Film Critics Association, Best Picture (winner) Phoenix Film Critics Association, Top Ten Film of the Year (winner) Toronto Film Critics Association, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo Additional Features: cc Director David Cronenberg commentary "Acts of Violence" documentary- a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes journey on the making of the film Three riveting featurettes: "Violence history: DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 96 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- History of Violence 1. Monsters [6:03] 2. Family Man [4:36] 3. Jack [1:25] 4. Teens [7:20] 5. A Stop at the Dinner [1:52] 6. An American Hero [3:44] 7. Bad Man [4:01] 8. "Get the Shotgun" [9:12] 9. "Ask Tom" [6:07] 10. Tought Guy [3:37] 11. Standoff [4:01] 12. The Truth [5:52] 13. Questions ans Answers [3:44] 14. Philadelphia [8:26] 15. Richie [4:56] 16. Home [12:06] 17. End Credits [4:29]