Fresh from their startling (if overpraised) and unbelievably brutal crime melodrama A History of Violence, David Cronenberg has reteamed with Viggo Mortensen for the startling and unbelievably brutal crime melodrama Eastern Promises. Mortensen again plays a man who is purposefully unreadable?the Russian driver for London-based Eastern European mobsters and a pal of the boss’s volatile son (Vincent Cassel). This time, his blonde co-star is Naomi Watts as a nurse-midwife who watches a pregnant 14-year-old Russian prostitute hemorrhage to death on the operating table and heads off with her diary in search of a translator.

Continuing in the vein of A History of Violence, David Cronenberg’s latest film Eastern Promises is a smartly crafted thriller with his familiar touches of grisly violence. What makes Cronenberg’s grim sequences so profound is that they are so perfectly placed and cautiously used that they act as expressions of theme and atmosphere rather than simply death scenes. The shifty world of organized crime has long been perfected by Martin Scorsese, but with this film Cronenberg has once again succeeded in seamlessly weaving mafia dealings around the lives of ordinary people, creating something much different than Goodfellas, Casino or even The Departed.

Life for Naomi Watts may have changed now that she’s a mum, but the British-born actress insists her career choices won’t differ.

“I’m only six weeks into motherhood, so we’ll see how things evolve. In terms of content, I don’t see that changing,” she said in a press conference promoting her new film Eastern Promises.

“I’m not going to start making movies for kids. That’s not how I’ve ever approached my work. It’s just what I respond to, what’s truthful, what speaks to me.

Naomi Watts gave birth to Alexander Peter Schreiber a little more than six weeks ago, but the new mom was still bright-eyed and beautiful during an early-morning interview Saturday.

In Toronto to discuss David Cronenberg’s new film, “Eastern Promises,” in which she plays a midwife who becomes entangled with London’s Russian mob, Watts said she found out she was pregnant several weeks after she arrived in England for filming.

Naomi attended the Eastern Promises premiere and party at the Festival last night looking gorgeous in a little black dress. Lots of pictures have been added to the Gallery – click the links or previews below to see them. Look out for more from the premiere soon, and I will also try to do some serious picture uploading to the Gallery this week!

? TIFF Eastern Promises Press Conference x14
? TIFF Eastern Promises Premiere x12
? TIFF Eastern Promises Premiere HQs x12
? TIFF Eastern Promises Party x4
? TIFF Eastern Promises Portraits x8

David Cronenberg’s follow up to last year’s ”History of Violence”, ”Eastern Promises,” doesn’t disappoint. Viggo Mortensen delivers another extraordinarily powerful performance as the mysterious and ruthless Nikolai, tied to one of London’s most notorious organized crime families. His carefully maintained existence is jarred when he crosses paths with Anna, [Naomi Watts] an innocent midwife trying to right a wrong, who accidentally uncovers potential evidence against the family. Now Nikolai must put into motion a harrowing chain of murder, deceit. Cronenberg has evolved as one of the world’s most interesting artists, a fact in evidence when one sees this latest, masterful work. A film that dispassionately and brutally explores the dichotomy of Russian gangsterism in contemporary London, the joy in watching a Cronenberg film is knowing that as his careful narrative unfolds, all is not what it seems. Multi layered and deliberately paced as it builds to a powerful crescendo, the film’s haunting score, and the film’s visual look, all help make ”Eastern Promises” an unforgettable, riveting masterpiece. As with History of Violence, he elicits another tour-de-force performance by Mortensen, who completely envelops his Russian low-level mobster, Nikolai. A lot is going on in this remarkable actor’s body and soul, resulting in one of the year’s most stunning performance. As for Naomi Watts, the actress further demonstrates a commanding depth and presence, further proving why she remains one of the most dynamic and diverse actors of her generation. Here, she is wonderful. The film’s other strong actors, including superb work by French actor Vincent Cassel, all result in the creation of a work that is brutal, intelligent, compelling and total Cronenberg.

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Naomi’s first stop at the Toronto International Film Festival was the press conference for Eastern Promises, held this afternoon. The first batch of pictures are in the Gallery, and some news articles and EP reviews have been posted below. The Eastern Promises premiere will be held tonight so stay tuned for pictures from that!

? TIFF Eastern Promises Press Conference x18
? TIFF Eastern Promises Press Conference HQs x9
? Arriving at the Toronto Airport, September 6th HQs x31

Not only is she the real deal as an actress, beauty never gets in Naomi Watts’ way, according to Viggo Mortensen. With an uneasy but interesting romantic spark, the two of them co-star in David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises. Mortensen, a modest, reflective man who loves to talk about other talents instead of his own, told Sun Media yesterday that the Oscar-nominated Watts is special.

Aussie actress Naomi Watts stars with Viggo Mortensen in the upcoming crime-drama Eastern Promises from former master of horror David Cronenberg, and since Cronenberg’s horror classic Scanners is in the process of being remade, we decided to ask Naomi Watts about her own upcoming horror remakes, one coming out this year and one still in development.