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Viggo Mortensen in Hidalgo
Hidalgo Cast and CrewViggo Mortensen: Frank Hopkins Other leading roles: Hidalgo SynopsisAn old-fashioned tale of adventure and courage, this film pits a down-on-his-luck cowboy (Viggo Mortensen) and his unpedigreed mustang, Hidalgo, against a hostile desert environment, the purest-blooded Arabian racehorses, and their riders, some of whom are determined to win at any cost. Hidalgo Brief ReviewThough the story is implausible in spots, the movie's earthy, wholesome values, beautiful cinematography, and solid performances by Viggo, Omar Sharif and the rest of the cast make for good family entertainment. Hidalgo Soundtrack1. Main Title Hidalgo Articles & InterviewsThe Return of the King - Native Voice, January 2004 Viggo Mortensen rides back in 'Hidalgo' - Chicago Sun-Times, February 29, 2004 [Brego.net] Ageless Adventure - American Cowboy magazine, March 2004 Hidalgo Upholds Cowboy Image - American Cowboy online review, March 2004 Viggo Mortensen interview - Virgin.net, March 2004 'Rings' actor riding horses in 'Hidalgo' - JAM! Movies, March 2, 2004 Interview: Viggo Mortensen for Hidalgo - RopeofSilicon.com, March 2, 2004 IGN FilmForce interviews Viggo Mortensen - IGN FilmForce, March 3, 2004 Review: Hidalgo - The Onion A.V. Club, March 3, 2004 Rings' king Viggo Mortensen talks about celebrity, the cowboy mystique and starring solo in Hidalgo - Kalamazoo Gazette, Michigan, March 4, 2004 [Chronicles] After Aragorn - Christianity Today, March 5, 2004 Viggo Mortensen - The Onion A.V. Club, March 10, 2004 Reluctant hero riding high in the saddle - The Daily Telegraph, March 18, 2004 Viggo Mortensen: 60 Second Interview - Metro.co.uk, April 2004 On Steeds and Sonnets - FilmCritic.com, April 14, 2004 Comes a Horseman - Film Review Special Issue #51, April 29, 2004 Hidalgo Articles & InterviewsIGN Interviews Viggo Mortensen - Viggo talks with the interviewer about learning Lakota, his interaction with TJ and the horses of LOTR, and the book The Horse Is Good.
Interview: Joe Johnston, John Fusco and Viggo Mortensen - Four-page interview with Hidalgo director Joe Johnston, screenwriter John Fusco and star Viggo Mortensen. Johnston: "Frank goes [to Arabia] in a very humble way. To say, 'I'm here to race and go home.' He's not there to show them all about American superiority. In the end, he makes peace with everyone, even his biggest competitor, the prince.... He even gives Omar Sharif a gun at the end and goes home.'"
Hidalgo Fan SitesFrank and His Horse - Hidalgo fan site includes quotes, bloopers, guest-written reviews, samples from the soundtrack, and a small but active forum. Many images, including wallpaper and a assortments of avatars and Photoshop brushes.
Hidalgo Photo GalleriesOutNow.ch: Hidalgo - Almost 100 images from Hidalgo, including 15 production shots. Interesting to see how the cameras are rigged for action scenes of horses. Most photographs are offered at high resolution (e.g., 1400x900). Nice large thumbnails make it easy to see what you're getting. Site also has movie review in German.
Val's Screencaps: Hidalgo - Almost 300 screen captures of Viggo Mortensen in Hidalgo. Mostly full-screen, some cropped. Larger than the average screencap, good clarity.
Hidalgo ResourcesAmerican Humane Association Film Unit Review: Hidalgo - Fascinating analysis of the care, training and use of horses and other animals Hidalgo. Describes in great detail how several scenes were shot so as to minimize the risk to the animals. Even the locusts were well cared-for ("120 locusts came to the set and all of them left alive and well at the end of the day"). The AHA monitored the filming and rates Hidalgo as Acceptable.
Daily Movie News: Filming Hidalgo - Several photographs taken by one of the extras during the filming at the Wild Horse Sanctuary near Hot Springs SD. Brief notes from the photographer include: "Viggo was so down to earth and one of the most friendly actors I have ever met...."
Frank Hopkins Official Tribute Site - Tribute to the legend and lore of America's great distance/endurance rider and early-day champion of the Mustang horse: Frank T. Hopkins. Photographs, biography, information on the Spanish Mustangs and on Frank's training and racing techniques.
Hidalgo in Fifteen Minutes - Irreverent parody of the Hidalgo screenplay.
MoviesOnCable.com: Hidalgo - Lists upcoming showtimes for Hidalgo on US premium cable channels. Site also has a brief review and links to related websites.
Official Hidalgo Site - The official Touchstone Pictures Hidalgo site offers the usual high-quality trailers, video clips, wallpapers, and screensavers, along with brief background information on the film, Frank Hopkins, awild mustangs. Downloadable educators' packet available in PDF format.
SoundtrackNet: Hidalgo Soundtrack - Detailed description and review of James Newton Howard's Hidalgo soundtrack, including track listing and release information. Reviewer Brian McVickar speaks highly of the score's excitement, joy, sensuous melodies, and its use of Native American and Middle Eastern elements. He also tips his hat to the star, saying "I had the distinct impression that Viggo Mortensen could continue to star in Westerns and never want for anything else in his film career. The man could have been serious competition for male Western stars in the genre's heyday of the 1930's through the 1960's, more contemplative than John Wayne, better with fisticuffs than Gary Cooper and more mysterious than William Holden."
The Long Riders' Guild: Hidalgo - Equestrian group dedicated to long-distance rides labels Hidalgo a deception, and presents its evidence that Frank T. Hopkins was a charlatan.
Hidalgo ReviewsAmerican Western Magazine: Hidalgo - Detailed review aimed at horse lovers finds nits to pick in Hidalgo's plot, but rates it good entertainment nonetheless: "It's long on adventure and short on logic, but kudos must be given to the filmmakers for making a horse movie that really celebrates the horse. Hopkins really and truly loves his painted pony, and Mortensen conveys that relationship with poignant poise and pathos." Though they consider Hidalgo himself to be the star, they appreciate Viggo as well: "Mortensen's gap-toothed countenance is cowboyed up with a deeply lined tan, topped with a wide-brimmed hat, and his blue-blue eyes crackle with concern, consternation, and contentment in all the right moments. "
DVD Review: Hidalgo - Guido Henkel offers a detailed review of the film, plot, cast and DVD production values, and describes the DVD extras. The only flaw he finds in the DVD is what he considers to be excessive edge enhancement. As for the film, Henkel says, "The story has a lot going for itself but sadly the overall story is very predictable and never offers many surprises.... The acting on the other hand is great with Mortensen putting in a wonderful Frank Hopkins, who is believable and tangible in his pain."
Movie Gazette: Hidalgo - Review by Gary Panton uses dry humor to describe the film and rate it as "an enjoyable, if bumpy ride." Excerpt: "Does [Viggo] really have the pulling power and screen presence to hold his own as a serious big-namer now that Pete Jackson and his Hobbits are safely back in the Shire? Hidalgo, a genre-bending western from Jumanji director Joe Johnston, is his chance to shout 'Yes!'. Or at least mumble it as, given his standard method of dialogue delivery, is probably more likely."
PopMatters Film Review: Hidalgo - Lengthy, energetic article is more of a retelling of the story than a critical review (warning: lots of spoilers). Still it's a fun read. "Lady Davenport [makes] a tentative effort to arouse Frank's manhood one dry desert night. She can't know, of course, that his heart belongs to Hidalgo."
Roger Ebert Review of Hidalgo - Generally complimentary review of Hidalgo from Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times: "Hidalgo is a throwback to a more innocent time when heroes and their horses risked everything just because life was so damned boring in the slow lane."
Hidalgo Video ClipsUnfortunately a lot of the Hidalgo promotional video clips have disappeared this past year. We're posting the ones we had archived. If you know of other video clip locations or have something archived that you would like to share, please contact us. CineMovies.fr Hidalgo Clips «6-Jun-05» - French film site offers an assortment of Hidalgo trailers, interviews and clips (extraits) in QuickTime and RealVideo formats.
hid-05: Far Rider «17-Oct-06» - This clip was captured from DVD for a friend who wanted to hear Viggo speaking the Lakotah language. It is the scene between Frank and the old chief in which the chief explains why he calls Frank "Far Rider." The video quality isn't the greatest because the scene was at night ... very dark!
Quicktime video 320x240 (01'56, 8.2MB)
hid-101: Hidalgo Trailer «6-Jun-05» - Official movie preview trailer has lots of great sequences. Resolution is good enough for clips. These are BIG files, so please download once (right-click and save), thanks.
hid-102: Hidalgo Super Bowl ad «6-Jun-05» - Thirty-second television spot packs a punch with lots of action and nice crisp resolution. First aired during the January, 2004 Super Bowl football game.
Quicktime video 640x480 (00'30, 6.2MB)
hid-103: Interview with Viggo Mortensen about Hidalgo «6-Jun-05» - In this promotional video from Touchstone Pictures, Viggo Mortensen talks about the film, Frank's story, and the story's relevance to today's political situation.
Quicktime video 480x360 (01'28, 16.3MB)
hid-105: Muslim Round Table Interview with Viggo about Hidalgo «17-Oct-06» - If you are interested in Viggo Mortensen's perspective on the inter-cultural issues present in Hidalgo (cowboys, native Americans, Muslims), we highly recommend this video interview with Viggo about Hidalgo by Zaki Hasan of Muslim Round Table. We also enjoyed Zaki's interview with Hidalgo director Joe Johnston. Thanks to Zaki and Mr. Boy Productions for giving us permission to host these clips. Visit Zaki's Corner for commentary on current events and pop culture.
Hollywood.com: Hidalgo Interview Video «25-Jul-05» - This 4'27" video clip interweaves scenes from the film in between interviews with Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Zuleikha Robinson and director Joe Johnston. View at Hollywood.com in Quicktime, Real or Windows Media format, or download our copy of the Quicktime version.
Quicktime video 320x240 (04'27, 17.3MB)
Sachie's Hidalgo Links «25-Jul-05» - Sachie has links to Hidalgo video clips from around the world, including Spain, Scandinavia, Mexico, Argentina and of course Japan.
Hidalgo Photo Gallery |