A History of Violence

I finally got around to reading the graphic novel and seeing the movie version of A History of Violence. Both quite good. Same basic idea, but the movie changes some of the story around. Normally, I'm very against changing the original text, but I really like what they did with the movie script. Go read it. Go watch it. I'll go into more detail about it later. Say word?

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Okay, back for more info? Good! Here we go. And yes...SPOILERS!

First, the graphic novel by John Wagner. Hey, it came first, so I'm covering it in that order! It starts off just like the movie. A couple of hoods come to a small town. Try to rob and local diner run and owned by Tom McKenna. Tom hits them both with the hot coffee pot in his hand, hops over the counter and grabs guns and shoots one of them! Handling it all in a matter of seconds. He is hailed as a town hero. Which brings national attention. Soon, some well dressed strangers led by a man named Torrino from NYC arrive thinking Tom is a former thug named Joey. He does his best to convince them he is not this person. Ultimately, a confrontation happens and he kills them all. As he is recovering in the hospital, he tells the story of his youth and the plan to rob the mob. We are shown the entire back story of Joey and his buddy, Richie, and their lives as small time hoods in Brooklyn. They plan a hit on some mob bosses to steal thousands. They succeed, but get found out. Richie is murdered and Joey barely escapes with his life. Taking out one of Torrino's eyes and losing one of his own fingers in the process. He drifts for awhile and starts over a new life as Tom McKenna. Soon, Tom is taken back to NYC to testify against the mob. He is discovered and asked to come to a lone warehouse. He arrives and starts taking out mobsters and finds the head of the local mob, son of The Don he helped rub out all those years ago, has kept Richie alive for over 20 years. Torturing him. He eventually wins out here as well and kills the new mob boss. Thus ending the story, somewhat happily for our anti-hero.

Now for the movie. Starts off the same way. Tom McKenna is changed to Tom Stalls though. Played by Viggo Mortenson. Same coffee pot scene. This time, the criminals are shown as even more sinister. Threatening to rape one of Tom's waitresses. He takes action. Small town hero. Torrino is changed to Fogarty. He and boys come visit. A younger Fogarty played by Ed Harris. Same results. Tom ends up killing the hoods. Brutally and somewhat with skill. He's no random thug. He's a former trained killer. He then gets a call from Richie. His brother. Local mob boss in Philadelphia. He drives over night to Philly to his brother's place. They have a short reunion. Richie orders Tom's death and Tom uses his skills to get him out of it. Killing all of the thugs and Richie. He drives back home to a very shaken family at dinner. Once again, a barely happy ending.

As you can see, many differences between the book and movie. One of my favorites, was the always fantastic and compelling Maria Bello's portrayal of Tom's wife, Edie. In the book, she just sort of goes along with Tom's past. Not happy about it, but agrees to help cover it up and support Tom. In the movie, Edie is a fierce woman. Pissed at her husband for his deception. She ultimately supports him, but not blindly. There's a great moment where they are fighting and it gets physical. She screams, "Fuck you, Joey!" They end up having a surprising and quite volatile consensual sexual encounter. She discovers her dark side as well.

I also liked the idea of making Richie his brother. There was no flash back story like in the comic. While quite entertaining and engaging in the comic, it just might not have worked in the movie. Or it would have made the movie another hour long. And, it's clear that Tom was a former killer. Well trained and hard to beat. It isn't made that clear in the comic. So, it's a bit surprising when he starts offing everyone. Movie Tom is clearly capable of taking these guys out.

As I said before, I highly recommend both. It doesn't really matter which one you get to first. I would suggest the book and then the movie, since that's the original order. But, honestly, it doesn't matter. Pick them up. You will be disturbed and confused as to how you feel at the end.

Which, I believe, is the point.

Comments

[Josie]

Viggo(sp?) was great in this movie. A real change from the Lord of the Rings movies. I didn't know it was a graphic novel. Thanks for the info.

[mike.]

I wasn't planning on seeing the movie (not a Cronenberg fan, least of all when he tries to be un-Cronenberg-y -- I actually think he's a better actor than a filmmaker), but on your recommendation I will be checking out either the movie or the book (haven't decided yet), but will not check out the other unless I like the one.