Viggo Mortensen @ Brego.net

Viggo Mortensen on the Early Show

2008-09-13T00:57:00.000-07:00

Viggo Mortensen seemed a bit sleepy in his appearance on the CBS Early Show on Wednesday, Sept. 10. I really enjoyed his comments about carrying around the 8 gauge shotgun.

The first day I said to Ed, "Look, I know it's in the book; it's an important part of the character. But it's a big gun, and it's going to be a long couple of months if I've got to do this every day." But by the second day I kinda liked it. And I said I want to have it everywhere. I want to have it when I'm in bed, when I'm having dinner, when I'm walking down the street. And it is kind of intimidating. It was like my scary friend, you know. It had a psychological effect. It's like that thing that you fight sometimes -- the obstacle becomes your friend. So it was all right.

Ed Harris & Viggo Mortensen on the Early Show

2008-09-08T23:04:00.000-07:00

Appaloosa director and co-star Ed Harris is scheduled to be on the Early Show on CBS tomorrow morning (Tuesday, Sept. 9). Viggo Mortensen is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 10. The show starts at 7 a.m.; we're not sure of the order of appearance. See TV Guide for the other guests. For more on the film, see our Appaloosa page.

Gospel According to Harry now on DVD!

2008-09-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

The Gospel According to Harry is one of the most unusual films Viggo Mortensen has made — and that's saying something! Called "A highly visual, beautifully shot striking film ... where the director's maverick vision creates a metaphor for our times against a barren landscape," by Piers Handling of the Toronto International Film Festival, the film is dreamlike and surreal.

Polish director Lech Majewski shot the film in English in the California desert, but it was released in Europe in 1993 as Ewangelia wedlug Harry'ego, with Polish subtitles. Some determined folks taped it off of European broadcast television, making low-quality copies available in the U.S., but the film was not released on video tape or DVD. As of August 18, 2008, this has changed, with a Region 1 DVD release. Read more about The Gospel According to Harry, or just rush off and order it from Amazon.

Appaloosa in the magazines

2008-08-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

Entertainment Weekly (EW) has a one-page "First Look" at Appaloosa in their August 15th issue and another short in their special Fall Preview Issue, on the newsstands now. Visit the Viggo-Works forum for a scan of the 8/15 page and then scroll down five posts for a scan of the second. Thanks, Viggo-Works! And visit EW to rate the Appaloosa trailer.

Look for an article about Appaloosa in the September issue of Cowboys & Indians magazine. Joe Leydon writes:

I viewed a rough cut of Appaloosa about a month ago, prior to interviewing Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris for our next issue (on sale -- hint, hint! - Sept. 2 at fine newsstands everywhere). The Warners publicists asked me not to comment on the film itself until closer to its world premiere next month at the Toronto Film Festival, so I can't tell you how good it is, and how terrific Mortensen and Harris (and Renee Zellweger and Jeremy Irons) are in the lead roles, and how it's an even better Western than last year's 3:10 to Yuma remake.

We are so ready!! Post a comment to let us know if you find more Appaloosa articles out there!

More Appaloosa photos

2008-08-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

The publicity for Appaloosa, starring Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris, is building fast. According to Rope of Silicon, "Warner Bros. just sent in their preview kit for their Fall/Holiday 2008 season and it includes new pics and information for seven of their upcoming films including Appaloosa." The same article gives the release dates as "In theatres on September 17 (NY/LA/Toronto) and October 3 (wide)," which is earlier than previous reports.

We've added several new stills to our Appaloosa photo gallery, along with links to more.

Appaloosa Trailer, Photos and More!

2008-08-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

Appaloosa, starring Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Jeremy Irons and Reneé Zellweger, is coming soon! This western is based on the novel by Robert B. Parker. The trailer was released earlier this week. You can watch the YouTube version below, or go to our Appaloosa page to find a link to trailer downloads and lots more information on the film. We've gathered photographs, screencapped two dozen scenes from the high definition (1080p) trailer, and dug up links to the best resources we can find.

Appaloosa is scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this September, with the theater release starting October 3rd.

Sounds terrific to me! What do you think? Is Appaloosa going to get you to the theaters?

Honorary Russian: Viggo Mortensen

2008-08-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

In the Chirayliq blog, Tinet, a student of Russia and the Russian language, among other things, dissects Viggo Mortensen's performance in Eastern Promises. She says that "almost none of the Russians in the film are real Russians, and most of them are not all that convincing, but Viggo Mortensen (half Danish, half US American) alone is a reason to watch this film over and over again."

.... The way he moves and the facial expressions he wears as Nikolai are really spot-on.
While his Russian could be even better (some of the "hard" consonants, not least ф, б and ш, as well as the vowel ы, can be very difficult), his accent holds a rarely high standard for any non-Russian actor pretending to be Russian.

Tinet's article is generously annotated with photographs and audio from the film, and is both scholarly and funny. I liked the comments about Nikolai's "Russian Male Pride." Recommended reading!

Eastern Promises Interview

2008-07-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

No, it's not new, but I hadn't seen it before. Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune is interviewing Viggo Mortensen about the nature of the violence in Eastern Promises. He makes the case that director David Cronenberg "deals with violence responsibly."

Signed copy of SKOVBO in fundraiser auction

2008-07-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

Viggo Mortensen has graciously signed a copy of his latest book, SKOVBO, in support of fundraising efforts for 1,2,3...Hi Baby! at Pine Ridge South Dakota. The book is being auctioned on eBay, with a closing time of 11 a.m. PDT, Saturday, July 12.

This book functions as a partial companion to the upcoming photo exhibit, also titled Skovbo (which roughly translates from Danish as "home in the forest"), by Viggo Mortensen at the Reykjavik Museum of Photography (Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavikur), opening on 31st May, 2008 and running until 31st August, 2008. In this new collection of images and poems are trees and the memory of trees, ghosts, words, nights, days, lives, deaths, and safe haven for them all in the place where "...the twigs become branches, / And the mist becomes make-believe..." (Osip Emilyevich Mandelstam). If you daren't enter the forest, or cannot find it, then perhaps you might find one tree, or a place where a tree could be, and just stop for a quiet moment to see what happens.

Bidding is active! Go to the eBay auction page for more photos and details, and to bid for the book and to support 1,2,3,...Hi Baby!

Top 10 Films in Favor of Gun Control

2008-07-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

Truthdig caught my attention with a shot of Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence. They were referring to Wendy Cohen's post on the TakePart blog.

The Supreme Court opened fire on gun control laws declaring that a sweeping ban on handguns in the nation’s capital violated the Second Amendment right to bear arms. In a 5-4 ruling, this landmark decision states that the Constitution protects an individual’s right to have a gun.

Wow. Is it just me or does this seem like an awful idea? Here are 10 films that make a strong case for gun control.

She goes on to list A History of Violence, in which "a mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core," and nine other films to illustrate the point: using a gun to solve a problem may just create more problems than it solves. We think Viggo would approve.

Rare Miyelo in Auction for 1,2,3 Hi Baby

2008-06-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

As part of the 1,2,3...Hi Baby! Wheels Project, a member of the Viggo-Works community has donated a signed first edition copy of Viggo Mortensen's Miyelo, along with a print from the book. The auction is in full swing on eBay, with a closing time of 10 a.m. PDT tomorrow, June 21, 2008, so don't delay if you want a chance to own this rare and beautiful book and print. Description:

On September 11, 2003, Viggo Mortensen held a private opening at the Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles for his new Miyelo Exhibit. As part of that opening there was a special offering of his new Miyelo book, hardbound, signed, and numbered by Viggo himself. Accompanying this book was a 9 x 16 extraordinary print of Miyelo 4 (2003), also signed and numbered by Viggo himself. Only 150 of these signed and numbered sets were offered and they are now a coveted collector’s treasure. We now offer one of these irreplaceable sets in support of 1, 2, 3 … Hi Baby! in Pine Ridge, SD.

The set, bound in the original red ribbon contains the hardbound Miyelo book, plus the print in acid free envelope.

Go to the eBay auction page for more photos and details, and to bid on this treasure.

My Top 10: Viggo Mortensen

2008-06-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

The June 27/July 4 special double issue of Entertainment Weekly features Viggo Mortensen on page 32, offering his top 10 "Pieces of Advice I've Heard on Movie Sets." They start with "One job at a time, and each job a success," and "Whatever you are feeling at this moment can be useful, no matter how far removed or even distracting it may seem from the scene you are playing. That is as close to 'real' as you will ever get." The last is a concise "I love you." My favorite is #6: "All you really need to play the moment is air and water."

See the entire list at EW.com.

Credit: Photo by Kurt Iswarienko.

Viggo Mortensen or Gerard Butler?

2008-06-16T18:25:00.001-07:00

After naming Viggo Mortensen as their readers' Favorite Actor or Actress, CanMag got some pushback from fans of Gerard Butler, who came in a close second. So they are having a run-off election. Here's your chance to vote for your favorite. Right now Viggo is slightly ahead with 52% of the 585,943 votes cast.

Image of Viggo Mortensen in The Road

2008-05-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

From Row Three, one of the first images of Viggo Mortensen in the upcoming movie, The Road. Viggo plays "Father" in this film version of Cormac McCarthy's novel. With Mortensen is Kodi Smit-McPhee, who plays "Son."

The film is scheduled to be released in the USA in November of 2008.

(Click on the image to see a larger version.)

Added: This image also appears, along with another shot, in the May 30, 2008, issue of Entertainment Weekly. See details and scans on our The Road page.

Viggo in Dancing with Wolves sequel?

2008-05-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

Moviehole.net reported May 8 that Viggo Mortensen is the directors' pick to replace Kevin Costner in The Holy Road, sequel to Dances with Wolves.

Director Simon Wincer (The Man From Snowy River, Free Willy) is on the search for a new "Dances with Wolves" and the name we've heard that's the favourite to play the role right now is Viggo Mortensen. If Mortensen can stand pulling himself away from David Cronenberg for a couple of months, the role might do him so good. I think he'd be rather super in it, too. ...

The Holy Road, which is on target to film sometime in 2009, picks up eleven years later, with Dances with Wolves married to Stands With Fist — they have kiddies, too — and the white man encroaching further on the lives of the Sioux as they build a railway, the titular "Holy Road."

Visit Moviehole.net for the complete article by Ramius.

Viggo reading in Portland

2008-05-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm finally going to see Viggo Mortensen in person! He has been filming The Road in the Portland, Oregon, area, and will be reading this Friday evening, May 16, as part of the Voices of a People's History tour.

(I'm driving up Friday afternoon from Corvallis. If you are interested in car-pooling, please contact me!)

In addition to Mortensen, the evening features readings by performance poet Staceyann Chin, poet and musician Tevino Brings Plenty, singer Shontina Vernon, Portland student activist Sarah Levy, actor Michael Ealy, teacher, actor, and musician Eric Levine, editor and author Anthony Arnove, and other fine actors and activists.

They will be reading from Voices of a People's History of the United States, edited by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. Voices is the primary-source companion to Howard Zinn's best-selling A People's History of the United States. It features the words of rebels, dissenters and visionaries from our past — and present.

Here is a video excerpt, read by Viggo Mortensen:

The performance is sponsored by the Illahee Lecture Series and is a benefit for Voices of a People's History of the United States, a 501c3 created to encourage civic engagement and to further history education by bringing the rich stories of dissent and activism in the United States to life through public readings.

For more information, visit HowardZinn.org. Tickets are available online through the Illahee Institute. As of Monday morning, May 12, they have about 50 tickets left.

If you can't make it to Portland, consider visiting Democracy Now! for video and audio of one of a May, 2007, show. An audio CD, Readings from Voices of a People's History of the United States, is also available. And see Wikipedia: A People's History of the United States for in-depth discussion and analysis of the books.

Support Pine Ridge Reservation

2008-05-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

Native American infants in South Dakota need your support. 1, 2, 3... Hi Baby! is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing the incidence of infant mortality of the Indian people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation by providing services and education regarding healthy lifestyles, healthy pregnancies, healthy children and families, and positive parenting to the entire family. This includes the nuclear-immediate family as well as the extended family.

Clients of the 1,2,3 ... Hi Baby! program are spread out over the vast area of the Pine Ridge Reservation which is approximately 2 million acres and a reliable means of transportation is vital so the needs of the moms and babies can be met. Currently those needs are challenged and occasionally go without being met with an unreliable source of "wheels."

Friends On Board is working to raise $50,000.00 to purchase a reliable vehicle for this project. Brego.net joins other Viggo Mortensen websites, including Just Viggo, Obsession, Viggo-Works, and Virtual Viggo, in supporting and endorsing this campaign. All donations are tax deductible. Please visit Friends On Board to donate today. Thank you!

Lots of updates at Brego.net

2008-05-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

This month marks the fourth anniversary of Brego.net. The site grew like gangbusters the first year and then tapered off. My dad moved in with me in mid-2006, rearranging my priorities somewhat. So updates to Brego.net have been sparse since then. But I've never been willing to let go completely. I faced a decision point recently. Hosting the site is costing me around $25-30/month, which adds up, and money is tight. The Amazon & Netflix ads only bring in around $5-10/month. So I had to decide whether to let go of the site or see if it can pay for itself. So I'm going to do more updates and add in the material I've been collecting on disk the past year. But I'm also going to make some space on the site for more ads. I hate to do it but I don't see a choice!

Viggo on the cover of Men's Vogue

2008-02-20T14:16:00.000-08:00

Viggo Mortensen is featured on the cover of the March 2008 issue of Men's Vogue. It's out in New York and LA this week and nationwide next week.

Written by Phoebe Eaton, the article includes an extensive interview. Synopsis:

Viggo Mortensen can swing a broadsword as Aragorn or neatly fillet a Russian mobster. But off-screen, the Oscar contender is a life-giving force, playing big brother to a band of poets, painters, and searchers like him.

Ten Last Night manuscript

2007-10-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

An individual recently bought out the stock of Illuminati Press, the publisher of Viggo Mortensen's first book Ten Last Night. He is offering for sale on eBay the original manuscript, the proof/galley (loosely bound), alternate covers, and correspondences between Viggo Mortensen and his publisher. Many items are personally signed, annotated or decorated by Viggo. The sale ends October 30.

Eastern Promises screencaps & more

2007-09-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

We've posted 43 captures of Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises, taken from the super high-resolution trailer (1920px x 1056px), to our new Eastern Promises page. You'll also find other high-resolution stills from Eastern Promises on this page. We'll continue to add more links to reviews and other resources over the next weeks.

Passion of Clay and Callie

2007-09-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered that The Passion of Darkly Noon has now been released on a region-free DVD. I finally found some time to watch it. I was once again amazed at Viggo Mortensen's virtuosity in his portrayal of the mute Clay, and the sensuality of his scenes with Ashley Judd as Callie are off the scale. I added over twenty screencaps and seven video clips to our Passion of Darkly Noon page. Also dug up more film reviews and posted summaries and links.

Fresh Air: Cronenberg & Mortensen, Making 'Eastern Promises'

2007-09-13T02:18:00.000-07:00

Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg appeared on NPR's Fresh Air from WHYY today. Host Terry Gross had a great time asking them about the making of their new film Eastern Promises. Topics included Viggo's Russian accent, the tattoos, how to best photograph blood, and of course the steam bath scene in which a naked Mortensen fights several assailants. Listen to the show online or subscribe to the Fresh Air podcast. More about the film on our Eastern Promises page.

Photograph by Peter Mountain for Focus Features.

Updates to Vanishing Point page

2007-08-12T02:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Christopher for pointing out ways to clarify the difference between the original 1971 movie, Vanishing Point, and the 1997 remake starring Viggo Mortensen. See our Vanishing Point page for the updated information.

Uraeus (Brego) had surgery

2007-05-30T02:32:00.000-07:00

The New Zealand Herald reported on May 24 that Uraeus, the horse who played "Brego" in Lord of the Rings, suffered a severe colic. Viggo Mortensen paid for emergency surgery, and the 22-year-old stallion is doing well. See Equine movie star almost loses plot for details. Mortensen evidently said in an email to the horse's caretakers that he looked forward to seeing Brego again this year after completing a project in Hungary (Good).