Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises

David Cronenberg is a big favorite of Daily Helping. He figures prominently on the short list of those directors that can  put butts in the seats  regardless of what the project may be.  Such success can be fleeting (just ask M Night Shyamalan).

He cut his teeth on campy horror and will soon be working with Cruise and Denzel on a big budget spy movie. Getting to the A-list took about 40 years and his movies are always memorable experiences, positive or not.

Cronenberg is known for his often grotesque visuals and unhealthy obsession with the human body.  It’s also worth noting that as horrific or violent as his work may sometimes be, the list of actors who work with him sing his praises in a way that confirms he will be around for a very long time.

Here are a few of his movies you really should see:

Videodrome may feel a bit dated, but the eerie conspiracy to infect viewers of an obscure cable network with a mind controlling tumor is hard to resist. Deborah Harry created quite a stir by her work in this picture. James Woods is suitably sleazy, paranoid and heroic.

The Dead Zone may quite possibly be the best film adaptation of any Stephen King novel. The television series seems to be fairly popular but this is a movie you absolutely need to see. Fans of Christopher Walken probably own this movie.

The Fly is perhaps one of his most popular movies. The performances by Jeff Goldblum and Gena Davis sell what is on the surface an pretty ridiculous concept. The scientist who turns into a big fly gets pretty graphic as pieces of Goldblum begin to fall away, replaced by bug parts. (This past year Cronenberg wrote an operatic version of his film and it met with great critical reactions both in LA and London) Interestingly enough, The Fly wasn’t a project that Cronenberg initiated.  It was brought to him as a writing project by none other than Mel Brooks.  An interesting choice following his production of The Elephant Man with David Lynch.

Crash is not for everyone. It’s an homage to those who possess a variety of unhealthy fetishes…all primarily dealing with the damaged body.  Starring James Spader and Holly Hunter, the movie is based on the controversial novel by JG Ballard.  It’s about a sub-culture devoted to intentional and accidental car crashes. There’s a sexual undercurrent associated not only with the medical apparatus that’s used to straighten and repair, but also the very scars and burns that remain forever.

A History of Violence and Eastern Promises are fantastic. They team Cronenberg with the very talented Viggo Mortensen in a pair of riveting and violent tales.  The performances are pitch perfect.

If you see any of the movies mentioned above, make sure you see Eastern Promises.   In fact, it’s news about Cronenberg and Eastern Promises that prompted this piece in the first place. Word has it that there will be a sequel. This is one of those very rare times when news of a sequel is enthusiastically welcome.