A History of Violence

A History of Violence is described as being a "crime thriller", and is adapted from a 1997 graphic novel of the same name by John Wagner and Vince Locke.
Starring Viggo Mortensen, better known as Aragon in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and well-supported by Maria Bellos and Ed Harris, A History of Violence tells the story of the owner of a diner (Mortensen) who is thrust into the spotlight after stopping a robbery, and the unexpected consequences that follow.
The film explores multiple themes, with two of the main being a heavy emphasis on the family unit, and the use of violence to settle disputes.
Mortensen plays the role of Tom Stall, a diner owner in a small Indiana town. He gets thrust into the national spotlight as a local hero after two men tried to rob the diner after hours. Small takes out both robbers, showing an alarming proficiency with handguns as he saves several local diners and his business with a series of gunshots.
A visit from a man (Carl Fogarty, played by Harris) from Philadelphia changes everything, and could have far-reaching impacts on his family.
Mortensen and Bellos turn in fantastic performances as Tom and Edie Stall, but Ashton Holmes steals the show. Holmes plays Jack Stall, the teenage son of Tom and Edie who is the victim of intense bullying at school from a boy named Bobby (Kyle Schmid).
While only really playing a minor part in the film overall, Holmes is believable in all of his exchanges, and you get a sense his character is real. The scene in which he fights back against his school bullies is the dream of people everywhere who have been the victim of bullying. He evolves before our eyes throughout the film, as he is impacted by the actions and reactions of his parents and the mysterious Fogarty.
A History of Violence is a thousand times better than what I expected, and is a must-see.

A History of Violence: 96 minutes (2005).