The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 118: Eastern Promises (2007) (Patreon)

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.