Everything Viggo has done with his life leaves us all with treasures of artistry and all those he participated with. Thank you, Brian. This was truly special and heartfelt. With deep appreciation and respect for both of you.
I've said it in other podcasts that I consider Lord of the Rings to be a great work of literature, and not for any of the reasons it's become so popular and such a cult classic. It's a true epic in the annals of world literature, and only suffers because we know the name of the author, rather than having it descend to us anonymously through the mists of time. That kind of epic work requires epic portrayals to capture the "deeply human and yet more than human" quality of its heroic key characters. Honestly, can you imagine anyone capturing these qualities more completely than Viggo did?
Viggo is a phenomenal actor, I will never understand why he isn't appreciated more. Wholesome, kind, dedicated, professional, empathetic and funny thats Viggo ❤ plus he's a great horseman 😊🐎
Viggo is a treasure, and I think he's universally respected. What sets him apart is that he seems to be immune from what I call "Hollywood narcissism" - he is inquisitive, uncompromisingly ethical, and has a pan-artistic world-view that includes photography, music, poetry, painting, directing and publishing. He commands enormous respect in all of these areas, and takes his art very seriously, deeply researching and preparing for every role. I've seen the concentration and attention to detail he devotes to everything he does - including when he agreed to be Master of Ceremonies for our Glenn Gould Prize presentation to the late, great opera singer Jessye Norman. He was on-stage with her for us in 2019 at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre in what turned out to be her last public appearance, and I can honestly say that Jessye - not an easy woman to impress - was truly smitten! The other thing you need to know about Viggo is his absolute integrity - he would rather do a small, independent art film in Spanish that really speaks to him than a Hollywood Franchise blockbuster that pays many times as much. That doesn't mean he was anything other than awesome in Lord of the Rings, and none of sequels, prequels or Nyquils will ever be as good. But at heart, he's a true artist, and that's what makes him so special in this era of big budget superficial cinematic mental junk food (careful, it'll rot your intellectual teeth!). Thanks for your kind feedback. Please tell your friends about this podcast, subscribe and explore the other Gould Standard treasures!
Viggo Is utterly rare. I don't like idolisation, but I can't help myself with him. If we all looked up to men like this it might be a better place to be. Thanks for this interview, it's wonderful!
Thanks so much, Owen - it was a great conversation, and a chance to really get inside the head of a gifted and relentless creative artist. Viggo brings something unique and original to every new project he tackles, whether as an actor, director, musician, photographer, publisher, poet, painter and all-round great human being. He is incredibly dedicated and hard-workign, and legendary for the research he devotes to each new role. If you have the chance, do try and see his newest film, The Dead Don't Hurt, for which he was writer, director, producer and also composed and performed the music. And it is really a beautiful film!
What an awesome interview! The perspective of caretaking aging parents was spot on and the journey through his acting experience was so enlightening and authentic.
And so beautifully portrayed, fictionally, in Viggo's heart-breaking film, Falling. If you haven't seen it, you simply MUST. (Also Captain Fantastic!).
I love his stories of his past and family and travels, work, his life in general. He seems to have many interests and talents, experiences. 1st experience w acting: The theatre workshop he asked to join and of memorizing 2 texts, (an odd monolgue he made from a short story and an old song) for his audition. He wassuprised there was no play but then he had to pay $ to attend future classes after they accepted him. I liked how he said he had many jobs when he was younger, "I will try this and if it doesnt work, I'll try something else." Many, many auditions, years had passed, but he didnt give up. His mother was supportive. Long apprentiship. All his memories from being on set, costume, hair, camera, shooting scenes, conversations w other actors, directors, communication. Thier tehniques. Even being cut out of films. All his years of acting, and now directing. It is the natural phase. Bravo. He is an eloquent human being which I enjoy his recollections of crew, actors, effeciency in work process, being a team and most importantly learn from mistakes and be open to ideas of others.
The word "journeyman" has somehow come to take on a negative connotation, but Viggo embodies the word in a marvellous way - because every aspect of his life and works is a journey of discovery, a freedom of spirit that enables him to go against the grain in his insatiable curiosity and desire to explore through his art what it means to be human, and to reflect that back to us in his portrayals, his poetry, music, photography, etc. One of the rare ones, indeed! I hope you, too, will take a journey with us and subscribe to the Gould Standard, Paula. Discoveries and many a precious pearl lie within.
A great film..As a son of an abusive father and husband, I could really relate to the father- son relationship..In truth, there is a great depth of love trapped inside the patterns of abuse..
Michael, you perceptively put your finger on something so vital in Viggo's film, falling - its complexity. In a typical commercial film, the father would be a one-dimensional villain and the son's feelings would be presented in an equally cardboard cut-out way. The tendency of our contemporary society is to look at simple good-evil dichotomies that merely caricature the variegated nature of human relationships, power dynamics, social interactions. That over-simplification is convenient because it allows censorious snap judgments, of the kind that litter the social media world, and pollute our minds, narrowing the scope of our humanity. The artfulness with which Viggo was able to find light in the darkness, love amidst pain, humour in awful situations . . . now that's what I look to for art. It expands us, rather than reducing us to inhabitants of a Flatland emotional landscape.
Hmmm - I certainly am surprised at his digs re; Canada's response to COVID. We were pretty much doing the same as Australia and New Zealand. We were on board with the WHO, and following their guidelines - and almost ALL public and essential service businesses made inoculation and the wearing of masks a condition of employment. Kids were NOT in school - were taught by their regular teachers, but were at home and connecting via Zoom. For a country our size (3rd largest in the world) - our numbers were quite low. I am a retired member of one of the largest Unions in Canada (the PSAC - Public Service Alliance of Canada) - and my son works for the same Crown Corporation as I did - so I know that inoculations and masks were a condition of employment in ALL government agencies - no exceptions. Not just in my Union - but in ALL public jobs in Canada. Ditto for people visiting friends or family in Hospitals (no admittance without shots & masks). Double ditto for Health Care workers and all Essential Service workers (which they don't have in the US). Also - our Government made sure that people who weren't working because of COVID had a basic income - and provinces didn't have to have bidding wars with each other to acquire essential items like masks, inoculations (free) and testing kits (also free).
I Agree. I see his point too, but it seems he needed to hear the other side too. Look at Sweden's approach -the opposite but low numbers. Less mental anxiety and stress from isolation and not being able to see love ones But there is a bigger drill to come. I think covid was only a test for sure. Look at another tech test just last Saturday with cloudstrike
Everything Viggo has done with his life leaves us all with treasures of artistry and all those he participated with.
Thank you, Brian. This was truly special and heartfelt.
With deep appreciation and respect for both of you.
Melts my heart seeing Viggo’s adorably sweet smile and eye twinkles when Glenn says Viggo will always be Aragorn, Son of Arathorn.
I've said it in other podcasts that I consider Lord of the Rings to be a great work of literature, and not for any of the reasons it's become so popular and such a cult classic. It's a true epic in the annals of world literature, and only suffers because we know the name of the author, rather than having it descend to us anonymously through the mists of time. That kind of epic work requires epic portrayals to capture the "deeply human and yet more than human" quality of its heroic key characters. Honestly, can you imagine anyone capturing these qualities more completely than Viggo did?
@@BrianLevine-ku1xf I completely agree.
Viggo is a phenomenal actor, I will never understand why he isn't appreciated more. Wholesome, kind, dedicated, professional, empathetic and funny thats Viggo ❤ plus he's a great horseman 😊🐎
Viggo is a treasure, and I think he's universally respected. What sets him apart is that he seems to be immune from what I call "Hollywood narcissism" - he is inquisitive, uncompromisingly ethical, and has a pan-artistic world-view that includes photography, music, poetry, painting, directing and publishing. He commands enormous respect in all of these areas, and takes his art very seriously, deeply researching and preparing for every role. I've seen the concentration and attention to detail he devotes to everything he does - including when he agreed to be Master of Ceremonies for our Glenn Gould Prize presentation to the late, great opera singer Jessye Norman. He was on-stage with her for us in 2019 at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre in what turned out to be her last public appearance, and I can honestly say that Jessye - not an easy woman to impress - was truly smitten! The other thing you need to know about Viggo is his absolute integrity - he would rather do a small, independent art film in Spanish that really speaks to him than a Hollywood Franchise blockbuster that pays many times as much. That doesn't mean he was anything other than awesome in Lord of the Rings, and none of sequels, prequels or Nyquils will ever be as good. But at heart, he's a true artist, and that's what makes him so special in this era of big budget superficial cinematic mental junk food (careful, it'll rot your intellectual teeth!). Thanks for your kind feedback. Please tell your friends about this podcast, subscribe and explore the other Gould Standard treasures!
Viggo Is utterly rare. I don't like idolisation, but I can't help myself with him. If we all looked up to men like this it might be a better place to be.
Thanks for this interview, it's wonderful!
What a wonderful actor Viggo is, especially the last film I saw of the father/son interactions. Thank you Brian for encouraging this review.
Thanks so much, Owen - it was a great conversation, and a chance to really get inside the head of a gifted and relentless creative artist. Viggo brings something unique and original to every new project he tackles, whether as an actor, director, musician, photographer, publisher, poet, painter and all-round great human being. He is incredibly dedicated and hard-workign, and legendary for the research he devotes to each new role. If you have the chance, do try and see his newest film, The Dead Don't Hurt, for which he was writer, director, producer and also composed and performed the music. And it is really a beautiful film!
@@BrianLevine-ku1xf do you know when that movie will be in theaters?
Super interesting to see and hear Viggo talk about his life before and during his career. His childhood was interesting too.
What an awesome interview! The perspective of caretaking aging parents was spot on and the journey through his acting experience was so enlightening and authentic.
And so beautifully portrayed, fictionally, in Viggo's heart-breaking film, Falling. If you haven't seen it, you simply MUST. (Also Captain Fantastic!).
I love his stories of his past and family and travels, work, his life in general. He seems to have many interests and talents, experiences. 1st experience w acting: The theatre workshop he asked to join and of memorizing 2 texts, (an odd monolgue he made from a short story and an old song) for his audition. He wassuprised there was no play but then he had to pay $ to attend future classes after they accepted him. I liked how he said he had many jobs when he was younger, "I will try this and if it doesnt work, I'll try something else." Many, many auditions, years had passed, but he didnt give up. His mother was supportive. Long apprentiship. All his memories from being on set, costume, hair, camera, shooting scenes, conversations w other actors, directors, communication. Thier tehniques. Even being cut out of films. All his years of acting, and now directing. It is the natural phase. Bravo. He is an eloquent human being which I enjoy his recollections of crew, actors, effeciency in work process, being a team and most importantly learn from mistakes and be open to ideas of others.
The word "journeyman" has somehow come to take on a negative connotation, but Viggo embodies the word in a marvellous way - because every aspect of his life and works is a journey of discovery, a freedom of spirit that enables him to go against the grain in his insatiable curiosity and desire to explore through his art what it means to be human, and to reflect that back to us in his portrayals, his poetry, music, photography, etc. One of the rare ones, indeed!
I hope you, too, will take a journey with us and subscribe to the Gould Standard, Paula. Discoveries and many a precious pearl lie within.
Happy 65th Birthday Viggo
I have to find that movie!
A great film..As a son of an abusive father and husband, I could really relate to the father- son relationship..In truth, there is a great depth of love trapped inside the patterns of abuse..
Michael, you perceptively put your finger on something so vital in Viggo's film, falling - its complexity. In a typical commercial film, the father would be a one-dimensional villain and the son's feelings would be presented in an equally cardboard cut-out way. The tendency of our contemporary society is to look at simple good-evil dichotomies that merely caricature the variegated nature of human relationships, power dynamics, social interactions. That over-simplification is convenient because it allows censorious snap judgments, of the kind that litter the social media world, and pollute our minds, narrowing the scope of our humanity. The artfulness with which Viggo was able to find light in the darkness, love amidst pain, humour in awful situations . . . now that's what I look to for art. It expands us, rather than reducing us to inhabitants of a Flatland emotional landscape.
Glenn Gould - and Howard Shore (composer of 'LOTR' and 'The Hobbit' film scores . . . both Canadians. Nice.
Well, you know, we Canadians are known for our "niceness" (and our apologies - oops, I'm so sorry, I almost forgot to mention them).
Great interview!!
Thanks so much. Please share it with friends, Anna, and I do hope you'll subscribe to the Gould Standard - you'll meet some amazing people!
Hmmm - I certainly am surprised at his digs re; Canada's response to COVID. We were pretty much doing the same as Australia and New Zealand. We were on board with the WHO, and following their guidelines - and almost ALL public and essential service businesses made inoculation and the wearing of masks a condition of employment. Kids were NOT in school - were taught by their regular teachers, but were at home and connecting via Zoom. For a country our size (3rd largest in the world) - our numbers were quite low.
I am a retired member of one of the largest Unions in Canada (the PSAC - Public Service Alliance of Canada) - and my son works for the same Crown Corporation as I did - so I know that inoculations and masks were a condition of employment in ALL government agencies - no exceptions. Not just in my Union - but in ALL public jobs in Canada. Ditto for people visiting friends or family in Hospitals (no admittance without shots & masks). Double ditto for Health Care workers and all Essential Service workers (which they don't have in the US). Also - our Government made sure that people who weren't working because of COVID had a basic income - and provinces didn't have to have bidding wars with each other to acquire essential items like masks, inoculations (free) and testing kits (also free).
sounds like a prison state. ugh
heartbreaking to watch Aragorn, son of Arathorn promote a police state instead of freedom over the flu.
yeah, wtf Viggo
I Agree. I see his point too, but it seems he needed to hear the other side too. Look at Sweden's approach -the opposite but low numbers. Less mental anxiety and stress from isolation and not being able to see love ones
But there is a bigger drill to come. I think covid was only a test for sure. Look at another tech test just last Saturday with cloudstrike