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Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen Films

Lord of the Rings

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Viggo Articles & Interviews - 2004

The One King - Film Review 2004 Yearbook (Special #49), 2004
In-depth discussion with Viggo Mortensen about the complexity of Tolkien's books, Aragorn and other characters, exhaustion and other aspects of the filming of The Lord of the Rings.   [Brego.net]

Chronicle of a King - Starlog #318, January 2004
In this extensive interview, Viggo analyses the development of Aragorn's character through the three Lord of the Rings films, and talks about the exhaustion, sadness and satisfaction that he and his fellow cast members felt at the end of the filming.   [Brego.net]

Farewell to the KingFarewell to the King - Starburst #306, January 2004
Interview with Viggo Mortensen about the difficulties and rewards of filming The Lord of the Rings, and of his perception of the character of Aragorn. "Aragorn...makes an effort to understand other peoples, and other races. He uses his knowledge about the history and culture of Middle Earth to understand people better, and he doesn't act without thinking." Sounds a lot like Viggo to us.   [Brego.net]

Finding ViggoFinding Viggo - Vanity Fair, January 2004
Extensive interview and article about Viggo's films, art, music, life. Great quotes from Dennis Hopper, Diane Lane, art dealer Robert Mann, and several others Viggo has worked with. Photographs (including cover) by Bruce Weber, plus several from his childhood.   [Brego.net]

Guerriero per la PaceGuerriero per la Pace - Vanity Fair Italia, January 2004
Sorry, no translation available.   [Brego.net]

The Return of the KingThe Return of the King - Native Voice, January 2004
  [Brego.net]

Viggo MortensenViggo Mortensen - Pavement, Summer 2003/2004, January 2004
Long, detailed, personal interview with Viggo Mortensen about the filming of The Lord of the Rings. Lots of wonderful quotes and anecdotes from Viggo and his co-workers. When asked what he is taking away from the marathon filming experience, Viggo answers, "How we treat everyone else and whether we try to be compassionate or merciful is what makes a difference, what makes a community, and, ultimately, what makes society. That's pretty obvious but a lot of people will just say, 'Oh, yeah, that's all very nice.' But what else is there? That's something that this story is trying to tell you; that everybody has to play their part and do what's right. This movie has just strengthened my perceptions and convictions about that."   [Viggo-Works]

Viggo MortensenViggo Mortensen - HoBO Magazine, January 2004
This photo essay, featuring self portraits and other works by Viggo Mortensen, celebrates Mortensen's ability and willingness to "translate [his] dreams and hopes into thoughts, ideas and actions." The author goes on to say that "as an artist he takes the time to look carefully at the world around him. The moments he captures are based on lived experiences."   [Brego.net]

Viggo Mortensen: The magician of The Lord of the Rings - Paris Match, January 8, 2004
  [HobbitTale]   [Brego.net]

Actors' politics pollute 'Ring' - USA Today, January 11, 2004
Michael Medved criticizes Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davies, and other actors who make political statements, saying that "controversial off-screen pronouncements color our on-screen perceptions of Aragorn or Gimli, and threaten the perceived—and heroic—unity of the Fellowship of the Ring."

Cash isn't King - Toronto Sun, February 3, 2004
Discussion with Viggo about how he picks movie projects, and of course some comments on foreign policy.

What Was Medved Thinking?What Was Medved Thinking? - Hollywood Jesus, February 14, 2004
Scroll down past the blinking Hollywood Jesus banner and the ads, and you will find an excellent in-depth article interview with Viggo Mortensen on the relationship of Tolkien's work to today's international situation, the artist's right to speak out politically, the great themes of the Lord of the Rings, and the translation from book to film.

I Still Ask WhyI Still Ask Why - Parade, February 29, 2004
Viggo Mortensen talks about his youth and how felt he was affected by it, and about the paths he followed before becoming an actor. He concludes, "We each have only a limited amount of time here. We have to do more with it—pay attention, explore, be open to all of life. Because we have only one chance, we have to make life seem longer than it really is."   [Brego.net]

Viggo Mortensen rides back in 'Hidalgo' - Chicago Sun-Times, February 29, 2004   [Brego.net]

Ageless AdventureAgeless Adventure - American Cowboy magazine, March 2004

Hidalgo Upholds Cowboy ImageHidalgo Upholds Cowboy Image - American Cowboy online review, March 2004
Descriptive review focuses on the moral depth of Hidalgo, as Frank Hopkins "chooses the narrow road and makes his motives clear to those trying to weaken his resolve or make him weak." The reviewer concludes that Hopkins embodies the best of the ideal of the American cowboy.

Talking To Me? - Scanorama, March 2004
"Poet, photographer, painter and actor, Viggo Mortensen has always had a keen sense of his own worth. Now his role as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings movies has given him the global recognition he craves. Gunnar Rehlin crosses swords with an uncompromising, and in some ways eccentric, actor."   [Brego.net]

Viggo Mortensen interview - Virgin.net, March 2004
Standard Hidalgo interview with a nice quote from Viggo about working with Omar Sharif: "One of the great things about this experience was working with Omar; his casting was very important to the movie. It was already a good story, but him playing that part was a perfect piece of casting. It lifted the movie to another level, and personally it was a lot of fun to work closely with him and pester him for stories about making Lawrence of Arabia with David Lean and Peter O'Toole."

'Rings' actor riding horses in 'Hidalgo' - JAM! Movies, March 2, 2004
Interview about Hidalgo touches on politics and Viggo's choice of films. Excerpt: "I'm pretty long in the tooth," the 45-year-old says. "Money and fame don't seem very rewarding. Of course there is the 'iron is hot' argument. Who knows? Maybe in 10 years I'll look back and say I should have gone for the money," he adds with a grin.

Interview: Viggo Mortensen for Hidalgo - RopeofSilicon.com, March 2, 2004

IGN FilmForce interviews Viggo MortensenIGN FilmForce interviews Viggo Mortensen - IGN FilmForce, March 3, 2004
A laid-back interview about the pleasures of learning Elvish and Lakotah, purchasing his equine co-stars, and his new book, The Horse is Good. He talks about Uraeus ("Brego"), Kenny ("Hasufel") and T.J. ("Hidalgo") as unique individuals who became good friends. About Uraeus: "He kind of came into the movie similar to the way I did. You know, didn't have much preparation and was just thrown in and had to swim, basically. And it was rough on him and it took a while for us to kind of get in sync and for him to be comfortable around the set. So we got to be close and I wanted to stay in touch with him. And, you know, by the end he became almost a real ham. He became so good at it that he was just relaxed and happy."

Rings' king Viggo Mortensen talks about celebrity, the cowboy mystique and starring solo in Hidalgo - Kalamazoo Gazette, Michigan, March 4, 2004   [Chronicles]

After AragornAfter Aragorn - Christianity Today, March 5, 2004
Interview about Hidalgo touches on mythology and philosophy of life. When asked about whether it troubles him that the facts behind the film are in question, he points out that "our identity as a nation is largely based on myth, on storytelling, making up stories, exaggerating the accomplishments of extraordinary individuals," and goes on to talk about the themes of tests and ordeals in the film.

Movie star tag not for MortensenMovie star tag not for Mortensen - Denver Post, March 7, 2004
The subject is Hidalgo; the interviewer focuses on Viggo Mortensen's modest manner. "Mortensen is a bit like Aragorn, the Lord of the Rings character he imbued with warrior grace and more than a bit of ambivalence. He seems primed for a kingdom. Yet Mortensen doesn't appear to need the glory. He's happy forming alliances. He's comfortable doing the work. He's not quite as at ease promoting the work, or rather himself."   [Chronicles]   [Brego.net]

Viggo MortensenViggo Mortensen - The Onion A.V. Club, March 10, 2004
Excellent interview with Viggo Mortensen about the Hidalgo, his version of "method" acting, and how painting, writing, and fishing can take the place of resting between takes. "People talk about Method actors... The right method is whatever works for you. And what works for me on any given day is oing to be different."

Reluctant hero riding high in the saddle - The Daily Telegraph, March 18, 2004
Interview addresses Hidalgo, Viggo Mortensen's films, and his other pursuits: "As a kid, you wonder about all the adventures you are going to have and you imagine exploring the world," he says, in his soft, deliberate manner. "Most people, after a while, sort of repress that desire and instead live in a box and never attempt it but I wanted adventure, still do, and so I try a lot of things."   [Brego.net]

FearlessFearless - L'Uomo Vogue Italy, April 2004   [Brego.net]

Viggo is KingViggo is King - GQ, April 2004
The photographs are fun, and the article includes a biography and extensive interview about Viggo's film career, family, the challenges of stardom, and philosophy of life. "However simple the task, I always turn it into an ordeal."   [Chronicles]   [scans at other]

Viggo Mortensen: 60 Second Interview - Metro.co.uk, April 2004
The interview quickly turns from Hidalgo and the cost of fame into ordeals (including the interview itself) and politics. "In accepting that [all life is sorrowful] and realising you can't change it, you can also change your attitude towards it and celebrate it in a sense by making the most of life, valuing people who have gone rather than forgetting and never paying attention. If George W Bush had read anything about Churchill's involvement in Iraq in the 1920s, maybe he wouldn't have done things quite the same way."

Viggo Mortensen On CowboysViggo Mortensen On Cowboys - Sueddeutsche Zeitung, April 3, 2004
Interview in a German magazine. Topics include mate ("terribly bitter"), hippies ("if you equate closeness to nature and a certain openness with being a hippie, then I was a hippie and I still am."), becoming older, riding, goat families, the truth or fiction behind Reynolds' story, and cowboys ("a cowboy is knightly").   [Brego.net]

"Life's Too Short to Do All This Work and Not Do It Right""Life's Too Short to Do All This Work and Not Do It Right" - Morphizm.com, April 6, 2004
This interview mentions Miyelo and then moves into a discussion of the mission of Perceval Press and aspects of American and international politics. Viggo explains the main reason he decided to visit Cuba: "If you don't think of Cubans or Iraqis as actual human beings with jobs and day-to-day lives, if you don't see them or hear their voices, then it's easier to be against them. They're faceless." Follow the Along With the Ride link on the page for the full text of "Back to Babylon."

On Steeds and Sonnets - FilmCritic.com, April 14, 2004

Comes a Horseman - Film Review Special Issue #51, April 29, 2004
"The heroic action star follows up the Lord of the Rings saga with another epic that calls upon his equestrian skills. John Millar finds out just why Hidalgo became his best friend in the desert. 'It's not only an epic adventure story but it is moving and transcends national boundaries and points of view.'"   [Brego.net]

Viggo after the reign - JAM! Movies, August 5, 2004
The author concludes that "someone should make Viggo Mortensen an honorary Canadian," based on his passion for the Montreal hockey team. The interview also touches on Hidalgo, Viggo's music, and the upcoming filming of A History of Violence.