Viggo Mortensen Talks Powerful New Western
Viggo Mortensen is a throwback actor in a lot of ways. Intense on the screen, doesn’t need a ton of words to get across his message, and it feels like when you’re watching him on screen it’s real. We talked with Viggo before the theatrical release of his western “The Dead Don’t Hurt”
Viggo Mortensen on Acting AND Directing (and writing)
It’s always interesting to talk with someone of his caliber who’s not only starring in the movie, but wrote and directed it as well. We talked about the dual role:
(Jim) Were there moments that you became aware of both roles that you’re acting in it, but you still got to look at the overall scope of the scene?
(Viggo Mortensen) Yeah, it’s a strange thing. I mean, I had this experience in both movies I’ve made. The first one was called Falling with Lance Hendricks and playing the main role. I played his son in that. In both cases, I wasn’t originally intending to be in it, but ended up doing so. And in a funny way, you’re more efficient. You do a better job as an actor when you’re directing.
And that’s because, let’s say, I’m in a scene facing, in this case, Vicky Kriep, who plays Vivienne. She’s my partner in this story, the dead don’t hurt. I’m acting with her. I’m listening to her. I’m observing her gestures, everything about her, but also everything around her, the lighting, the objects, everything that’s in the frame that the audience is going to see. So I’m completely present and available and reacting to what’s there from moment to moment.
Whereas if I’m just acting, I might think, I just said that line really not too well, maybe I’ll get another take. I’m not totally present. but in a funny way you’re you’re more present as a director and I found that I needed you know not many takes a take or two and the one the one thing is I was exhausted by the end of each day when I was done both things you know realize that until the end of the day but and I did enjoy the days where I didn’t have to to act also because I could stay on the set the whole time and not go away and interact with the crew in a different way But it’s it’s not impossible to do It’s a beautiful movie.
The Dead Don’t Hurt – It’s a Throwback
Yep, it’s a Western. And that’s a good thing…check out the official movie description:
The Dead Don’t Hurt is a story of star-crossed lovers on the western U.S. frontier in the 1860s. Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps) is a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen). After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, she agrees to travel with him to his home near the quiet town of Elk Flats, Nevada, where they start a life together.
Here’s what I took away after watching the movie. Vicky Krieps is an absolute scene stealing movie star. She’s got this wonderful Meryl Streep quiet confidence in her acting that resonants as you’re watching.
The deep connection between her character Vivienne and Viggo Mortensen’s Olsen is powerful to watch. Viggo has a long history of carrying scenes with a look or a smile, and the two of them definitely have wonderful chemistry (and respect) for each other.
The Dead Don’t Hurt is a throwback to the great Westerns of the past – you’ll notice right away that the pacing of the film makes you take a deep breath and relax. Turn off the phone and go to a different time and place. It’s a wonderful watch with great acting. And isn’t that what we want in a good movie?