Movie Review: A History of Violence

By Lisa Bertolini
Movie Review

I have DVDs, TiVo and extended basic cable. None of these give me the thrill of going to the movies, retreating from the world, eating one bite of chocolate in perfect unison with one bite of popcorn, and huge sound. I am also a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, and as such I tend to look for movies featuring actors from the saga.

This past weekend I went with a cousin to see A History of Violence. I am guilty of not doing my homework before seeing the movie. All I knew was that Viggo Mortensen was the main character, and that was good enough for me.

I should admit that I know Viggo has been known to expose himself in previous movies. However, the caliber of movies he has chosen has improved in storyline and character depth. I assumed this would be the same. Nothing could have prepared me for what this movie contained.

The title obviously indicates a large amount of violence. While scenes were graphic, they appeared phony and were not the most horrific scenes I have ever seen. What the title did not indicate was the graphic sexuality portrayed. I truly question how the "R" rating was obtained. This movie terrifies me. Everyone knows that teenagers do not abide by the 17 rule. Any one of my nephews could have walked into this movie without parental accompaniment. I would be devastated if I thought that any one of them had seen this. I was uncomfortable being in the company of my cousin.

Not only is the moviegoer "treated" to a view of Viggo's backside, but is also shown Maria Bello's entire front side as well as given a course in sex education. We see one highly charged, ridiculous scene between what is supposed to be a very bonded couple. The second scene changes love into anger and borderline rape.

It makes me concerned that if this level of graphic sexuality is acceptable as an "R" rating, where does the movie industry go from here? What possible further exposure will our teenagers be privy to and will this level would be the accepted norm?

The story begins with a close-knit, rural family. They are neighborly, low-key, close-knit and very supportive of each other. As the father's violent nature and past are revealed this family suddenly knows every foul word in the dictionary and begins using fists, guns, and sex as a means of communication and expressing authority.

What was supposed to be a casual Saturday at the movies became a time for serious reflection. I have made a conscious effort in recent years to put my faith first. This experience has taught me to put much more thought into the entertainment venues that I choose. I think it's our responsibility to ensure that the movie industry provides appropriate ratings and that parents know the composition of movies out there for their children's entertainment.

Perhaps what is most ironic is that Viggo wears a cross on his neck through the entire movie.

Contact

Accenture
IL, US
Lisa Bertolini - Change control coordinator, 708 456-2455

Email

labertolini@Comcast.net

Keywords

Movie Review

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