Eastern Promises(rated 'R') - starring Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl

     From the opening scene, in London, this Russian Godfather mini-epic is as intense as it is grotesque.  Mortensen plays an undercover Scotland Yard infiltrtator into the Russian mob, and is enabled to move further and faster into a position of mob power, when the diary of a young pregnant girl is translated to reveal her simple, horrific final days.  It almost costs him his life - and that of the family of Watts' character, a midwife that tried to save the girl's life and is caring for the newborn - all of whom are involved in attempting to solve the case of child rape and sexual slavery, implicating the Russian mob leader. 

     Mortensen gives the performance of his life - and it should certainly be Oscar-worthy - but the attack scene, in the mens shower, is one of the most powerful of any recent cinema.  I do not, however, recommend this film for the queasy, or faint of heart.  There are many scenes that may cause those to shield their eyes, and with good cause!  If you do see this film, and you are a fan of the intense thriller genre, this 90 minutes will be a powerful reminder of why you do.  I promise!