Eastern Promises finds new water in the gangster movie well by focusing on a new corner. Italians are no longer the focus here but instead Russians, and Eastern Promises finds an incredibly engaging medium between their fascinating culture and a mystery. This immediate hook allows for the film to unfold at a natural pace where the audience picks things up contextually and exposition is kept to a bare minimum. Just how it should be. David Cronenberg‘s best and one of the best screenplays of the decade.