a history of violence to me be a very mediocre movie to me . it build up the suspense for the first hour making you wonder who be this guy and why do he change his identity . yet the end be horrible and it really bring the wrong type of closure and really make me feel like i waste my time . technically this movie be not that well make either . the acting and the cinematography and music and write be all very mediocre and fill with clichés . first of all the fact that william hurt get an oscar nomination for barely 10 minute in this movie be absolutely ludicrous . i can not even talk about his performance because he be hardly in the movie . ed harris who i respect very much a an actor give a regular and stereotypical portrayal of a gangster which wasn not to satisfy . viggo mortensen played average and he be not good or bad and he be just there . the cinematography wasn not even there and the moment it be and it be easy to see what be come next . the music add to this as well with a very simple soundtrack that be also just there to fill the void . lastly the writing be not good enough to get an oscar nomination . all it have be a simple dialog and stereotypical small town life . very disappointing in every aspect . i would not recommend this film .