a history of violence

i just watched this movie tonight with the guys. i knew the story a little bit going in, but i wasnt sure at all how it would play out, it is david kronenberg after all. i had heard some friends who had seen it in the theater talk about how horrible it was, but on the other hand there were so many critics who raved about it. i figured i should give it a try and see what i thought. it starts out fairly simply, a standard story about a man and his family. some of the stuff with the son is pretty cheesy (and who ever it was that played him: may he never work again), but so many of the shots and angles are strange and off putting that it always feels like something else is going on behind the scenes. one of the most interesting parts of the film is the sparse/non-existent soundtrack. there is very little music, which adds even more to the off center feel of the movie. ed harris and william hurt were pitch perfect in their roles, and viggo does a good job of portraying a character who might have more going on than he is willing to share. i was pleasantly surprised.