By Chris Alexis

This film isn’t quite The Godfather - but still a solid movie about gangsters.

Eastern Promises is the story of a Russian gangster named Nikolai, played by Viggo Mortensen. Nikolai is tied to one of London’s most notorious crime families.

Nikolai seems to know who and what he is until he crosses paths with Anna, played by Naomi Watts. Anna, a midwife at a local hospital, helps deliver the baby of a 14-year-old girl who dies on the table. After Anna discovers the diary of the girl, she tries to use it to find the family of the baby.

The diary, though, contains evidence that can bring down the head of the crime family.

This movie has a slow pace to it, but stick with it, it pays off. The movie’s intensity grows as the movie goes on.

Speaking of intensity, there are a couple of grotesque moments, especially in the beginning of the film, so this movie isn’t for the faint of heart. Besides that, there’s also nudity – both male and female – including Mortensen. Not to mention mutilated corpses, body parts being chopped off and forced prostitution.

A family film this is not.

But a movie with strong acting this is.

Mortensen is at the top of his game here. I’m not an expert, but his Russian accent worked for me. It didn’t seem cheesy or forced like you see in a lot of films. Vincent Cassel, the French actor that most might recognize from this summer’s Ocean’s 13 is intense on-screen as Nikolai’s close friend, superior in the crime family. Naomi Watts' concern for the baby’s welfare, and her rage at some point, plays well and believably on screen.

Finally, Armin Mueller-Stahl, who plays Semyon, head of the family, is spot on. Coming into the picture sweetly, his true self and revealed slowly, makes a great villain. His threats are not direct, but subtle. And evil.

Like I said, it’s not The Godfather. It’s not The Sorpranos.

But it’s still a great gangster film.