Viggo Mortensen

Ryan Murphy and APOLLO 18 Scribe to Pen Untitled Sci-Fi/Horror Film for Sony

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 21st, 2012 at 2:51 pm

Ryan Murphy is having a very good year. His smash-hit Fox series Glee is currently enjoying its third season, his horror anthology series American Horror Story broke ratings records on FX, and just yesterday we reported an impressive cast featuring Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, and Alec Baldwin will star in his next feature directorial effort The Normal Heart. Now, Variety reports that Murphy is set to pen an untitled sci-fi/horror project for Sony Pictures with Apollo 18 scribe Brian Miller.

Absolutely no details regarding the project are given beyond the fact that it’s a sci-fi/horror movie, and it’s not clear if Murphy will also direct.  Apollo 18 didn’t exactly break box office records, and critical reception was lackluster, so this isn’t exactly the most exciting news ever. Murphy has a knack for coming up with fantastic concepts, but his execution is incredibly hit-or-miss. That said, hopefully we’re in for at least a cool concept. Production on The Normal Heart is set to begin this summer, and Variety’s report notes that Murphy’s eyeing Viggo Mortensen for a role in the pic, which is based on the Tony Award-winning play of the same name.

Aragorn Poster for LEGO LORD OF THE RINGS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 10th, 2012 at 9:30 am

We’re all pretty excited about the upcoming LEGO sets based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.  LEGO is now starting up their marking push for the sets, which will begin to roll out this summer.  Today, LEGO has released a poster featuring LEGO Aragorn in his The Return of the King poster pose.  That’s right, kids: Viggo Mortensen in LEGO form.  That’s happening.  Let us rejoice.

Hit the jump to check out the poster.  Look for more LEGO Lord of the Rings images in the weeks ahead.

2012 Oscar Preview: Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 24th, 2011 at 9:20 am

Ah, November. Leaves are falling, colder weather is here (depending on where you live), and the 2011 movie season is coming to a close. While angry shoppers and red Starbucks cups generally mean it’s time to start preparing for the many awkward/tense family encounters that are sure to come, it’s also time to start thinking Oscar. We’ve seen a few contenders throughout the year, but a plethora of heavyhitters will be opening over the next 5 weeks.

To aid in your Oscar polls (or to quench your curiosity) we’ve compiled a state of the race preview as of this lovely Thanksgiving week. Granted, a lot can change from now until February, but a good portion of the major players have already been screened and we’re starting to get a sense of how it could all play out. We’ll be examining all the major categories over the next four days, kicking things off with the infamously unpredictable Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Hit the jump to see where things stand.

A DANGEROUS METHOD Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 22nd, 2011 at 6:33 am

[This is a reprint of my review from the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.  A Dangerous Method opens tomorrow in limited release.]

Psychoanalysis is a funny profession. Its doctors aren’t like cardiologists or gastroenterologists. Your heart is your heart, your intestines are your intestines, and so forth. Psychoanalysis, on the other hand, attempt to impose rationality on the irrationality of emotions. It works from a vague definition of “normal” and then tries to determine why a behavior deviates from that unspecified norm. Sigmund Freud believed it was not the place of psychoanalysts to simply point out the abnormality, while his protégé Carl Jung thought that the practice was worthless if it couldn’t be advanced to help those in need. These two figures illustrate the clash of the ego, id, and super-ego in David Cronenberg‘s A Dangerous Method, a film which brilliantly explores Freudian concepts and how we wish to indulge our base emotions but instead build a wall of reason and science to imprison our desires. However, in attempting to convey this blockade, A Dangerous Method inadvertently cuts off its emotional connection to the audience.

Fox Passes on David Cronenberg’s THE FLY Sequel; Viggo Mortensen Still Attached to EASTERN PROMISES 2

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 18th, 2011 at 8:59 am

Last month, we received confirmation that David Cronenberg had written a sequel to his 1986 classic horror film, The Fly.  At the time, Cronenberg explained “The Fly is not exactly a remake, it’s sort of a sequel, kinda. Yeah, that was a thing. I’ve written a script of that, and I don’t know if that’s going to really happen, but that has to do with Fox.”  According to The Playlist, Fox has made their decision and that decision is to pass on the movie.  This doesn’t mean Fox won’t remake The Fly at some point, but if they do, it probably won’t be with Cronenberg.  On the one hand, it frees him up to visit new territory, but it also opens the door that some hacky director could come in and deliver a pointless new version (e.g. The Thing).

However, Cronenberg isn’t moving on to completely new material.  Hit the jump for an update on Eastern Promises 2.

Three New Clips from A DANGEROUS METHOD Starring Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 7th, 2011 at 8:32 am

Three new clips from David Cronenberg‘s A Dangerous Method have gone online. The movie focuses on the real-life relationship between doctors Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and the complicated patient between them (Keira Knightley).  These clips show the growing relationships between the characters, but they also demonstrate the sterile conversations between the characters.  All emotions are house in clinical terms, which is the point, but I found it created too much distance between the audience and the characters.

Hit the jump to check out the clips.  A Dangerous Method opens in limited release on November 23rd.

22 New Images from David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 24th, 2011 at 8:54 am

Sony Pictures Classics has released 22 new images from David Cronenberg‘s A Dangerous Method.  Here’s the brief synopsis:

Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) as his patient in A Dangerous Method. Jung’s weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Both men fall under Sabina’s spell.

I liked the film when I saw it at TIFF but found it a bit too sterile.  However, it’s Cronenberg which means it’s at least worth your time.  Hit the jump to check out the images.  A Dangerous Method also stars Vincent Cassel, and opens in limited release on November 23rd.

TIFF 2011: A DANGEROUS METHOD Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 9th, 2011 at 8:08 pm

Psychoanalysis is a funny profession.  Its doctors aren’t like cardiologists or gastroenterologists.  Your heart is your heart, your intestines are your intestines, and so forth.  Psychoanalysis, on the other hand, attempt to impose rationality on the irrationality of emotions.  It works from a vague definition of “normal” and then tries to determine why a behavior deviates from that unspecified norm.  Sigmund Freud believed it was not the place of psychoanalysts to simply point out the abnormality, while his protégé Carl Jung thought that the practice was worthless if it couldn’t be advanced to help those in need.  These two figures illustrate the clash of the ego, id, and super-ego in David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method, a film which brilliantly explores Freudian concepts and how we wish to indulge our base emotions but instead build a wall of reason and science to imprison our desires.  However, in attempting to convey this blockade, A Dangerous Method inadvertently cuts off its emotional connection to the audience.

New Images from 50/50, A DANGEROUS METHOD, ANONYMOUS, THE IDES OF MARCH, and RAMPART

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 26th, 2011 at 10:31 am

With the announcement of films playing at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, plenty of new images have been release.  After the jump you’ll find new images from 50/50 (starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen), A Dangerous Method (starring Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen), Anonymous (starring Rhys Ifans and Vangessa Redgrave), The Ides of March (starring Ryan Gosling), and Rampart (starring Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster).  All of the films will be playing at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and we’re going to have plenty of new images to show you throughout the morning.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  We’ve also provided the synopses.  The 2011 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 8th – 18th.  Expect coverage everyday from the Festival.  50/50 opens September 30th, Anonymous opens October 28th, The Ides of March opens October 7th.  A Dangerous Method and Rampart currently do not have US release dates.

Talks With Viggo Mortensen for SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN Break Down

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 25th, 2011 at 4:44 pm

It’s no secret that Viggo Mortensen has been in talks with Universal to star in the fairy-tale update Snow White and the Huntsman for quite some time now. Well, it looks like the reason talks have taken so long is that the two parties are having trouble coming to an agreement, with Heat Vision reporting that talks with the actor completely fell apart last night. Mortensen is reportedly asking for $8 million plus gross participation for his work in the film, with Universal reportedly none too happy with the demand.

The report states that talks all but disintegrated once before, explaining Mortensen’s flirtation with the villain role in Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot, but the two parties came back to the table. Now, talks have frayed once again and Universal is moving on for the moment. Hit the jump for more.

Viggo Mortensen is a “Person of Interest” for General Zod in Zack Snyder’s SUPERMAN Reboot

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 25th, 2011 at 11:12 pm

While most of you know that Henry Cavill has already been cast as the iconic hero, the remaining roles for director Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot have yet to be filled. We know that Lois Lane will indeed be in the film, but aren’t sure which actresses Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan have in mind. Also, recent reports have named Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Clark Kent’s adoptive father.

The villainous front is a little more defined as we’re fairly certain that Kryptonian badass Ursa will feature prominently.  And now, we’re hearing reports that Snyder and Nolan are interested in Viggo Mortensen to play the major villain General Zod!  Hit the jump for more:

Viggo Mortensen in Talks for SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN – Update: Kristen Stewart and Emily Browning Vie to Play Snow White?

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 26th, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Viggo Mortensen was one of two leading contenders to assume the starring role in Universal’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, but it appears that contract has been offered to his competitor, Javier Bardem.  But that won’t keep Mortensen from his return to big-budget fantasy follwing the conclusion of the Lord of the Rings series.

Mortensen is in talks to play the huntsman in Snow White and the Huntsman.  Charlize Theron continues negotiations to play the evil queen, while Universal is on the lookout for a fresh face to star as Snow White.  Hit the jump for more on the studio’s approach to this update on the classic fairy tale.

[Update: A new report suggests Kristen Stewart might assume the role of Snow White.  Details below.]

Universal Considers Javier Bardem and Viggo Mortensen for Roland Deschain in THE DARK TOWER

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 30th, 2010 at 7:19 pm

By virtue of ambition, Universal’s undertaking to adapt Stephen King’s The Dark Tower novels ought to be fun to track through the development process.  Ron Howard is signed to direct the first film of a planned trilogy.  The intent is to fill the gap between each film with the season of  Dark Tower on television.

The Hollywood agencies are understandably doing everything they can to get their clients in a room with the producers of such a hot property.  The studio has reportedly narrowed down the list of actors to play Roland Deschain, the main character from the books.  At the moment Javier Bardem is the leading candidate; Viggo Mortensen is a “close second.”  More after the jump:

New Images from David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD Starring Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, and Michael Fassbender

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 19th, 2010 at 8:43 am

New images from David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method have gone online.  The film is based on Christopher Hampton’s 2002 play The Talking Cure and centers on the relationship between Carl Jung (played by Michael Fassbender), his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), the woman who came between them.  I’m a huge Cronenberg fan and his previous collaborations with Mortensen have been terrific.  Throw in great actors like Fassbender and Knightley and you have one of my must-see films of 2011.

Hit the jump to check out the images.

Amy Adams and Viggo Mortensen Join Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, and Garrett Hedlund ON THE ROAD

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 4th, 2010 at 7:38 pm

The cast of Walter Salles’ adaptation of the classic Jack Kerouac novel On the Road is rounding out nicely, as Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams have signed on to join stars Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart, Sam Riley, and Garrett Hedlund.  Mortensen will assume the role of Old Bull Lee (a William S. Burroughs surrogate), while Adams will play his junkie wife, Jane.  According to Deadline, Adams and Mortensen will shoot their scenes later this month.

Jose Rivera has scripted the adaptation, which revolves around a series of cross country trips taken by writer Sal Paradise (Riley).  Hit the jump for a richer synopsis.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design