A History of Violence (2005)
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A diner owner's act of heroism leads to a confrontation with his past as a mob hitman.
The story
Tom Stall is a diner owner in the rural town of Millbrook, Indiana, living a quiet life with his wife, Edie, and their two children. His life changes dramatically when he heroically foils an attempted robbery at his restaurant, earning him local fame and national media attention. However, this public recognition draws the attention of Carl Fogarty, a Philadelphia-based mobster who claims that Tom is actually a former hitman named Joey Cusack. As Fogarty begins to stalk the Stall family, Tom must navigate the escalating pressure of his past and present, while trying to protect his family from the consequences of his hidden history.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After becoming a local hero for stopping a robbery, Tom Stall is confronted by mobster Carl Fogarty, who identifies him as former hitman Joey Cusack. The tension strains Tom's relationship with his wife, Edie, and children. When Carl takes Tom's son, Jack, hostage, a violent confrontation ensues; Tom kills Carl's henchmen, but Carl is eventually killed by Jack. Despite his efforts to remain hidden, Tom's identity is exposed to his wife. Later, Tom's brother, Richie, a crime boss, demands his return to Philadelphia. Tom travels there, faces a gauntlet of enemies, and eventually kills Richie and his remaining men. He returns home to find his family in a state of tense silence, where they eventually offer him a shared meal, signaling a complex, lingering connection despite the trauma of his past.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Cronenberg
- Writers
- Josh Olson · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Viggo Mortensen · Tom Stall; Maria Bello · Edie; William Hurt · Richie; Ed Harris · Carl Fogarty
- Genres
- crime thriller
- Themes
- violence; identity; consequences of violence
- Tone and mood
- tense; atmospheric
- Setting
- Millbrook, Indiana and Philadelphia
- Premise and plot tags
- crime; thriller; action; drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1997 DC graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film was praised for its performances, screenwriting, and atmosphere, and was described as one of the greatest films of the 2000s.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 82 · scale: 100 · review count: 37; CinemaScore · score: C+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination; Academy Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · nomination
- Production trivia
- One of the last major Hollywood films released on VHS.; Harrison Ford turned down the role of Tom Stall.; The film's title plays on multiple levels of meaning.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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