Viggo Mortensen — Dunedain Ranger, Rider of Mustangs, Wielder of A Mighty 8-Gauge…
He is, for my money, the most compelling male actor on the scene today. He’s written and directed a Western that looks to be intense and compelling in its own right. Dig the caper:
The Dead Don’t Hurt centers on Vivienne Le Coudy (Krieps), a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen (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. The outbreak of the Civil War separates them when Olsen makes a fateful decision to fight for the Union.
This leaves Vivienne to fend for herself in a place controlled by corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller (Danny Huston) and his unscrupulous business partner, powerful rancher Alfred Jeffries (Garrett Dillahunt). Alfred’s violent, wayward son Weston (Solly McLeod) aggressively pursues Vivienne, who is determined to resist his unwanted advances, and when Olsen returns from the war, he and Vivienne must confront and make peace with the person each has become.
I’m in.
Matthew says
I think Viggo Mortensen was perfect as Aragorn. When I reread The Lord of the Rings after seeing the movies I saw Mortensen as Aragorn even though much of the imagery in my head I retained from the first time I read LotR as a thirteen year old.
Craig Rullman says
As long as there arent any naked bath house fight scenes…
JimC says
Eastern Promises. Savage.
Travis Slusser says
I’m intrigued. I’m a fan of realistic but positive portrayals of married couples facing adversity together. Rob Roy and Outlander also come to mind.
JimC says
Aye! I hear that S8 of Outlander — the final season — is in production.
Wayne says
This looks great! I still want a sequel to Appaloosa.
JimC says
Second the motion.
Geoff Miller says
Robert B. Parker wrote three more books about those characters, so we can hope.
Greg Marshall says
There are NOWHERE near enough decent Westerns. Looking forward to this.
Ugly Hombre says
“Want a sequel to Appaloosa.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDGbtFx5rLg
+3, that’s a really underestimated Western a top ten movie for me. There is some really great Colt action in it- with the venerable 7.5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJQ7JH-KJ4g
And Winchester and 10 Gauge.
Ed Harris dis a fantastic job on it.
Jerry N says
Is it possible that they made a post war western that didn’t make the villians former confederates or confederate sympathizers?
Joe says
All I need to see to buy a ticket is “Viggo Mortensen in an old-school revenge-western”. Sounds like he wrote , director, AND scored the film. A true classical artist rather than a celebrity.
His efforts remind me of one of my favorite Viggo quotes: “There’s no excuse to be bored. Sad, yes. Angry, yes. Depressed, yes. Crazy, yes. But there’s no excuse for boredom, ever.”
I know Jim and many of the readers here relate to this. For every book I want to read, park I want to visit, adventure I want to take, creative project I want to pursue, there’s always a hundred more on the backburner, and that keeps life interesting to say the last.
JimC says
Words to live by.