Viggo Mortensen’s Closet Picks

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  • Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
  • The award-winning actor and director goes deep on his favorite westerns, highlighting Gregory Peck’s psychological performance in THE GUNFIGHTER and Barbara Stanwyck’s fierceness in THE FURIES, Leonard Cohen’s music in MCCABE & MRS. MILLER, and Budd Boetticher’s lean, mean Ranown films.
    Shop Viggo's Closet Picks! www.criterion....

КОМЕНТАРІ • 686

  • @SamL12345
    @SamL12345 Місяць тому +975

    It's actually quite cool to see a guest picking out only from a specific genre, and Viggo sure knows his Westerns 🐎

    • @CountOrlok22
      @CountOrlok22 Місяць тому +8

      Yeah, I really want to see someone do this with jidaigeki and chanbara films.

    • @MrRazorblade999
      @MrRazorblade999 Місяць тому +24

      He obviously promoted his own film. In a subtle way.

    • @mikesilva3868
      @mikesilva3868 Місяць тому +1

      ​@@CountOrlok22agreed 😊

    • @rallogump
      @rallogump Місяць тому +1

      @@CountOrlok22 Yes!

    • @324cmac
      @324cmac Місяць тому +2

      @@MrRazorblade999 He's a classy guy.

  • @saintsalieri
    @saintsalieri Місяць тому +1073

    Rating actors on their ability to mount a horse is a deeper level of cinephile granularity than i knew existed.

    • @gmenezesdea
      @gmenezesdea Місяць тому +49

      My family largely originates from rural areas and I grew up watching westerns with them while hearing commentary on the ability of the riders on screen and even on the horses' breeds, weight, hairstyling... Lol.

    • @saintsalieri
      @saintsalieri Місяць тому +21

      @@gmenezesdea That's so funny. I thought I was a western fan but I'm a lightweight haha.

    • @ErenTheWarcriminal
      @ErenTheWarcriminal Місяць тому +6

      @@gmenezesdea you must be a fan of Red Dead Redemption 2 and their horse… realism.

    • @gmenezesdea
      @gmenezesdea Місяць тому +9

      ​@@ErenTheWarcriminalI haven't had the chance to play rdr yet. I'm a pc gamer but sadly my pc doesn't meet the minimum requirements.

    • @gmenezesdea
      @gmenezesdea Місяць тому +13

      ​@@saintsalieriwhat's funny is their enjoyment of westerns is very much linked to watching the horses and cattle. If the horses aren't good-looking they'll often complain "the director couldn't even bother to pick a decent horse"
      I don't know much about the animals but the experience certainly helped make me a huge fan of Westerns.

  • @therealcolombeat
    @therealcolombeat Місяць тому +642

    Man basically outlined an entire syllabus for a “Pre-Spaghetti Western Western Cinema” film studies course. Fantastic picks.

    • @Anthony-hu3rj
      @Anthony-hu3rj Місяць тому +9

      Except for McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1972).

    • @user-gv5wz9nn4m
      @user-gv5wz9nn4m Місяць тому

      McCabe and Mrs. Miller is post-spaghetti western, and it's from 1971

    • @therealcolombeat
      @therealcolombeat Місяць тому +40

      @@Anthony-hu3rj That can be the final film of the course, screened as a bridge to next semester’s course: “The Revisionist Western.”

    • @bobcobb3654
      @bobcobb3654 Місяць тому +2

      Well, there’s a lot more to that era than just John Wayne.

    • @therealcolombeat
      @therealcolombeat Місяць тому +17

      @@bobcobb36542 out of the 12 movies he picked star John Wayne. But go off, King.

  • @nebusnevermore
    @nebusnevermore Місяць тому +323

    Please bring Viggo back as a running series to choose some of his favourites from ALL the genres :D

    • @sirtorchington
      @sirtorchington Місяць тому +7

      Love this idea

    • @electrikalstorm
      @electrikalstorm Місяць тому +2

      Word. This is necessary.

    • @lorainemasterton6240
      @lorainemasterton6240 24 дні тому

      Yes! We would all profit from Viggo continuing to share his own working & studied knowledge. Please do this, Criterion.

    • @iv4nGG
      @iv4nGG 9 днів тому

      I’d like to visit him at his home.

  • @1dbanner
    @1dbanner Місяць тому +201

    Viggo just needs his own UA-cam show where he talks movies

    • @324cmac
      @324cmac Місяць тому +17

      And art, books, poetry, music, horses, and so much more. He's got many interests.

    • @austinmozer4638
      @austinmozer4638 Місяць тому +2

      I don't really follow celebrity podcasts but I would definitely listen to a short podcast series with him just talking about his passions.

    • @cornbredx
      @cornbredx Місяць тому

      First 10 episodes will be exclusively about Young Guns 2.

  • @brynleyjones2674
    @brynleyjones2674 Місяць тому +159

    Honestly it's so nice to see someone talk about a bunch of westerns instead of going straight to Bresson or Bergman like everyone else.

  • @HBICTiff
    @HBICTiff Місяць тому +508

    This is what I like to see when I get off work

    • @drumbum3.142
      @drumbum3.142 Місяць тому +2

      *..And Wake Up. ..And Go to Bed.

    • @kimvarki
      @kimvarki Місяць тому +5

      This is what I like to see when I get off

  • @Dudeshere007
    @Dudeshere007 Місяць тому +553

    This man knows his stuff

  • @dw4124
    @dw4124 Місяць тому +385

    If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be "Try to have a successful film career so you can get invited into the Criterion Closet"

    • @kevinkoch6900
      @kevinkoch6900 Місяць тому +12

      What a treat. Dude's a beast. Some day my script will make it. Many great directors have seen it. Never stop trying.

    • @christophershank3399
      @christophershank3399 Місяць тому +3

      Let's make it happen.

    • @jibinpk5974
      @jibinpk5974 Місяць тому +2

      It never too late to become a great director

    • @hlmitchel
      @hlmitchel Місяць тому

      @@jibinpk5974 YES!!!!!!!

  • @fernandopelaezfilm
    @fernandopelaezfilm Місяць тому +183

    The best thing about these videos, is that they’re all about people loving movies. That’s why I love them

  • @pnwtreehugger806
    @pnwtreehugger806 Місяць тому +150

    Mr. Mortensen is one of the smartest actors around. I loved that his selections had a theme, and there wasn't a single questionable film in his choices. In general these Criterion-closet videos are such a gift. Thank you.

  • @Marcrubio16
    @Marcrubio16 Місяць тому +185

    I feel like this means we're one step closer to see David Cronenberg in this series

    • @puneeification
      @puneeification Місяць тому +3

      Yes please

    • @magicknight13
      @magicknight13 Місяць тому

      Yes!!

    • @marcyfan-tz4wj
      @marcyfan-tz4wj Місяць тому +2

      @@magicknight13 well, you do have "crash" already. i'd like to see "maps to the stars" get the criterion treatment.

    • @jamesrowden303
      @jamesrowden303 Місяць тому +3

      @@marcyfan-tz4wj I assumed they meant picking movies, not having his movies here. He already has 6 in their collection :P

    • @mattturner5429
      @mattturner5429 Місяць тому +1

      I believe he already did do this.

  • @deaconpeters2994
    @deaconpeters2994 Місяць тому +114

    Great to see him in here! One of the best actors ever!

    • @324cmac
      @324cmac Місяць тому +2

      He needs an Oscar. How many times does he have to get nominated to get it?

  • @movieman1556
    @movieman1556 Місяць тому +29

    Growing up in the sixties, I have seen many of my favorites slowly leave us. It's so nice to see one from the next generation of actors with such respect for those who came before him. A gifted actor and a class act.

  • @codyinthecinema
    @codyinthecinema Місяць тому +46

    It's impossible to overstate the influence of Westerns on other great films, and I love seeing a terrific actor like this highlight the genre for many who may not have experienced it.

  • @LucavanGrinsven
    @LucavanGrinsven Місяць тому +10

    if Viggo Mortensen hasn't done any audiobooks, now is the time. what a voice.

  • @ErnieCT1987
    @ErnieCT1987 Місяць тому +7

    Viggo Mortensen is the kind of great actor that doesn't always standout because he eases into his roles so well. It looks so natural. His screen presence never outshines the character. (Even in movies like Eastern Promises and Green Book he still manages great restraint)

  • @brendonla
    @brendonla Місяць тому +10

    3:39: "...he [Randolph Scott] had kind of a Virginia twang as opposed to Gary Coopers's Montana lilt..." -- such attention to detail and knows how many movies those two actors were in. Not shocked this guy has such a great mind: actor, artist, writer/poet, photographer, activist -- a true Renassiance man!

  • @azohundred1353
    @azohundred1353 Місяць тому +45

    Viggo picking all these great classic Westerns has now become my favorite Criterion Closet episode!

  • @tylerdalton6212
    @tylerdalton6212 Місяць тому +50

    I'm about to watch all of the Westerns because of Viggo

    • @Clyne-sv4hd
      @Clyne-sv4hd Місяць тому +6

      Good move you won't be disappointed they are all cracking films.....😊

    • @hankworden3850
      @hankworden3850 Місяць тому +1

      You'll love it!

    • @CJ-jf9pz
      @CJ-jf9pz Місяць тому +1

      You won't be disappointed.

  • @VFRSTREETFIGHTER
    @VFRSTREETFIGHTER Місяць тому +14

    I loved Appaloosa, Viggo and Ed Harris had such great chemistry. I also loved Far From Men, not a western in the classic American sense, but very much a western style story. I Can't wait to see Viggo's new western film.

  • @elentomo-zw1jr
    @elentomo-zw1jr Місяць тому +10

    Viggo is the best! His natural speaking voice is so different from Aragorn too, never realized

    • @tommythetrain1945
      @tommythetrain1945 Місяць тому

      he actualy had Aragorns voice be dif when he was known as strider u can hear the dif.

  • @m.dorado6966
    @m.dorado6966 Місяць тому +7

    Gregory Peck's acting ability had a wide bandwidth. This guy did everything but musicals. One of my favorite actors.

    • @hannahl8
      @hannahl8 5 днів тому +2

      I always loved his work, but when I watched The Boys from Brazil I was amazed!

  • @scottishfilmhistorian
    @scottishfilmhistorian Місяць тому +37

    I understand that he was focusing on Westerns but I was surprised that *The Passion of Joan of Arc* didn't get a shoutout. He gave a brilliant mini-lecture and Q&A on the film at the Toronto Film Festival that really showed his love for the film. Since he didn't do this, I will, see this film! It is an awesome example of silent cinema, and potentially the best performance I have ever seen by an actor of that era, if not all-time. It is a movie that everyone should see at least once.

    • @zmani4379
      @zmani4379 Місяць тому +5

      I think this is the greatest performance captured on film
      Also see Dryer's Day of Wrath for another masterpiece

    • @Clyne-sv4hd
      @Clyne-sv4hd Місяць тому +3

      JofA is a great film which Viggo loves but he is picking westerns and JofA is not a western...simples🎭

    • @f.w.2054
      @f.w.2054 Місяць тому

      Its obvious he's focusing on westerns here, maybe he's doing one right now. Dreyers Joan is probably my all time favorite film, I'd love to hear his lecture on it! Falconetti gives the greatest performance ever and never made another film because she thought they'd all be as stressful! She was working with the strict disciplinarian Carl Dreyer!

    • @holyspacemonkey
      @holyspacemonkey Місяць тому +1

      Thanks for mentioning that. I love that film but didn’t know about his talk. I’ll look for it.

    • @marcelineetyvan3665
      @marcelineetyvan3665 Місяць тому +1

      @@f.w.2054 Apparently there''s an interview with Falconetti's daughter that denies Dreyer's treatment of her on set, actually there are lots of myths arround it that it's hard to know which one to believe.

  • @TheCollectorCave
    @TheCollectorCave Місяць тому +15

    I always wish these vids were longer but I'll take 5 minutes of Viggo talking about Westerns any day!

  • @thegeorgiacreekwalker491
    @thegeorgiacreekwalker491 Місяць тому +27

    Been a Viggo fan since I watched “The Indian Runner” in the early 90’s, if you haven’t seen it you should check it out, Sean Penn wrote it and directed it, he based it off the song “Highway Patrolman” by Bruce Springsteen, Viggo plays the rebellious brother just returning from Vietnam, David Morse plays his older brother who’s also the town sheriff, Charles Bronson plays their Dad, one of my top ten favorite movies of all time, there’s a music video for “Highway Patrolman” on UA-cam that’s made from clips from the movie if anyone wants to watch it, it’s pretty good, I hope Viggo teams up with Cronenberg again soon, they make a great team!!

    • @parisgreen4600
      @parisgreen4600 Місяць тому +3

      Fantastic movie! I'm glad to see someone give it a mention.

    • @thegeorgiacreekwalker491
      @thegeorgiacreekwalker491 Місяць тому

      @@parisgreen4600 it’s a great movie, I personally think it’s viggos greatest performance ever, probably my favorite that Sean Penn directed as well, I looked for it on dvd for years and I finally found it at movie stop, I let a friend borrow it and never seen it again but I’ve watched it dozens of times, one of my biggest dreams is to be a screenwriter, I got all these movies in my head but I’ve never tried writing them down but movies like “The Indian Runner” are the types of movies I want to write with characters that stick with you, the fact that Sean took that story in that song and turned it into a movie is just brilliant, he’s a great actor as well, “At Close Range” is my favorite movie he’s acted in, another movie I found at movie stop, loaned out and never seen again lol, I’m building my collection back up now though, been finding some really good movies at goodwill, I would absolutely love to get to pick through the criterion closet, I’m so jealous of these people lol, anyway I could talk about movies for hours, have a great weekend my friend, God Bless!!!

    • @thegeorgiacreekwalker491
      @thegeorgiacreekwalker491 Місяць тому +1

      @@parisgreen4600 I made a long reply to your comment earlier but UA-cam keeps making my comments disappear for some reason but yeah I absolutely love “The Indian Runner” such a great movie, have a great weekend my friend, God Bless!!

    • @jonathanaldecoa1099
      @jonathanaldecoa1099 Місяць тому +1

      I recently got The Indian Runner on blu ray and finally watched it and it’s awesome?😎🕺

  • @happy_camper
    @happy_camper Місяць тому +7

    A warrior, scholar, and a poet. Viggo is an awesome human being.

  • @VULGARxRM
    @VULGARxRM Місяць тому +5

    McCabe & Mrs. Miller is a must watch for everyone seeing this. The only snowy western out of Viggo's picks, and it features one of the most frightening villains in western movie history in my opinion.

  • @bo8fett.
    @bo8fett. Місяць тому +29

    I’ve been really getting into westerns from the 40’s to the 60’s, so it’s nice to see him mention films I’ve recently seen as he too enters his western phase.
    Highly recommend The Tall T and Forty Guns!

    • @ErenTheWarcriminal
      @ErenTheWarcriminal Місяць тому +3

      I feel like he’s been into westerns for a long time ha!

    • @Laertes883-o8s
      @Laertes883-o8s Місяць тому +4

      Check out out 'The Man who Shot Liberty Valance' 'My Darling Clementine' and 'The Ox-Bow Incident' for three great ones. Each a little different than the ''conventional'' formula's of westerns.

    • @abaddon1371
      @abaddon1371 Місяць тому +1

      Viggo Mortensens have been into westerns for a long time, and starred in a few. Not sure what you mean by "as he too enters his western phase" He is brilliant in the modern western Hidalgo for example, aired in 2004 I think it was. He is also quite the accomplished horserider, both with modern and western saddles.

    • @CJ-jf9pz
      @CJ-jf9pz Місяць тому

      Next you should get into the film noir flicks of the 40s and 50s of you haven't yet.

  • @holyspacemonkey
    @holyspacemonkey Місяць тому +10

    Excellent! I love all of Viggo’s picks except McCabe (just not to my taste). My favorites are “3:10 to Yuma” and “The Furies.” Actually also “The Gunfighter,” although “Yellow Sky” is my favorite Gregory Peck western.
    Viggo’s comments about Glenn Ford are so astute! I’ve read Ford was also the fastest draw in Hollywood.
    I love that Viggo chose the Budd Boetticher box set! But my favorite of Boetticher’s films with Randolph Scott is “7 Men from Now,” which is not included in that box set.
    In any case, I love listening to Viggo talk about film, or about anything. He always has interesting thoughts and a unique point of view, and he never seems to be ego-driven. He just loves the art and craft of film, like I do. ❤️

    • @jimbeller7948
      @jimbeller7948 14 днів тому

      I'm kind of surprised Viggo wasn't aware of Peck's prowess as a bad guy or in Westerns. Peck is one of the all-time best! "The Gunfighter" was outstanding, as were "Yellow Sky" and "The Bravados," as far as solid stories and Peck tackling more complex characters. None of those 3 Peck characters were really "good guys." And if Viggo doesn't think Peck can pull off being a bad guy, he needs to check Peck out in "Moby Dick" and "The Boys from Brazil."

  • @MirrorDomains
    @MirrorDomains Місяць тому +7

    Who else went to look up Glenn Ford riding horse after this? You should it's awesome! Thanks Viggo!

  • @robertkapler6227
    @robertkapler6227 Місяць тому +5

    One of the best film selection commentaries i've seen on this channel. His appreciation for the art of the Western comes through. I'll check out his picks.

  • @Fake_Robot
    @Fake_Robot Місяць тому +5

    His collaborations with David Cronenberg are so unique and masterful. The opening moments of Crimes of the Future blew me away. Brilliant beautiful soul on this guy, even though I know he’s universally loved I think he’s somehow underappreciated as an actor and for all his other talents.

  • @CyrilBdok
    @CyrilBdok Місяць тому +4

    This is one of the best entries in this whole franchise of youtube videos. Viggo just picking Westerns really narrows it down and makes it more meaningful.

  • @1997residente
    @1997residente Місяць тому +33

    You guys have no idea how popular this guy is in Argentina .
    He comes here exclusively to see the final match of his favorite football team (San Lorenzo)

    • @jmchez
      @jmchez Місяць тому +6

      I guess that, If Viggo and Anya Taylor-Joy did a movie together, it would be the highest earning film in Argentinian history.

    • @GuineaPigEveryday
      @GuineaPigEveryday Місяць тому +3

      @@jmcheznever been to argentina but it’d be cool if they did a Argentinian biopic epic with all the Argentinian Hollywood big names the way they did with Irish actors in Michael Collins for example

  • @JefferyEPetrone
    @JefferyEPetrone Місяць тому +20

    Stunning array of films. Some of Criterion's finest westerns.
    With "The Tall T" (one of the Ranown Westerns) there is something that excites my interest greatly. What you have is Burt Kennedy, a writer (& director) that Boetticher highly regarded, taking on a story written by Elmore Leonard.

  • @thebossman80s
    @thebossman80s Місяць тому +94

    I’ve never clicked so fast

  • @totostamopo
    @totostamopo Місяць тому +3

    Thanks Viggo! I got my film education from my father, who loved westerns. You picked some real gems and some I never got to see screened. Really appreciate you doing this and thank Criterion for having you in their closet.

  • @jakedanx
    @jakedanx Місяць тому +109

    Fun Fact: did you know that when he kicked…

    • @michaelminch5490
      @michaelminch5490 Місяць тому +9

      That's it. I'm ded.

    • @chappie_nottherobot
      @chappie_nottherobot Місяць тому +9

      Screams in Aragorn

    • @adamtherock2008
      @adamtherock2008 Місяць тому +4

      He kicked the helmet and then pooped himself. That’s the real trivia.

    • @ErenTheWarcriminal
      @ErenTheWarcriminal Місяць тому +5

      Did you know the blade the Uruk-Hai threw at him was a real sword? He didn’t know this and deflected the blade in one take by pure luck!

    • @bornanagaming3329
      @bornanagaming3329 Місяць тому +2

      bravo vince

  • @cine_caro
    @cine_caro Місяць тому +68

    One does not simply walk into the Criterion closet.

  • @edkiely2712
    @edkiely2712 Місяць тому +2

    Can definitely tell Viggo is a connoisseur of film, not just an actor with a superficial interest in films! Good post!

  • @Largentina.
    @Largentina. Місяць тому +9

    Anyone that mentions Sam Fuller is cool in my book. Great picks here.

  • @RobHoughton
    @RobHoughton Місяць тому +2

    What blows my mind with this and other 'closet' episodes is the deep movie knowledge and understanding that each of the artists have - they pick movies that I either never knew of or would think that they'd appreciate.

  • @walteranders167
    @walteranders167 Місяць тому +3

    I wish my dad was here in this earthly life still. The western films he's mentioned would definitely spark the fire of his love of the genre. Great appreciation and respect for all his roles appeared in. Lord of the rings all the more unforgettable because of you.

  • @chiefchimp2789
    @chiefchimp2789 Місяць тому +7

    I had the pleasure of meeting Viggo about 15 years back and he graciously signed my bluray of Eastern Promises. Surprised he didn't pick any Cronenberg films!

    • @RandomAccessDreams
      @RandomAccessDreams Місяць тому +1

      Great choice, great film. Really wish we could've gotten the next chapter of Nikolai's story based on where it ended in Eastern Promises, but alas.

    • @fOODfiGhtEXploitS
      @fOODfiGhtEXploitS Місяць тому +2

      Cronenbergs never done a Western lol

  • @ronbo11
    @ronbo11 29 днів тому +2

    I loved the story about his taking Aragorn's steed from "The Lord of the Rings" back to his home ranch after filming was complete. I also loved the film "Hildago" and his performance in it. Viggo is a true horseman at heart!

  • @charlesheck6812
    @charlesheck6812 Місяць тому +5

    I am a fan of every single western you pointed out, including the Bud Boetticher films, which I’ve seen them all… I also appreciate what you said about Glenn Ford… I got into his movies about 10 years ago binged everyone I could find on video; great actor and he said westerns were his favorite genre to act in. Yours was the best one I’ve seen so far in the Criterion closet series. The Gunfighter is one of my favorites up there with: My Darling Clementine,Jubal, 7 Men From Now, and many others. 👍👍👍

  • @CelestialShaman44
    @CelestialShaman44 Місяць тому +10

    Viggo is a definitely an true intellect of films and a great actor; hands down.

  • @kostasbr51
    @kostasbr51 Місяць тому +6

    Good selection. Old westerns always in our memory. Thanks a lot to Viggo Mortensen.

  • @vanishing_girl
    @vanishing_girl Місяць тому +4

    Ben Johnson was the best horse-rider of any western actor, he was a rancher and then a world-champion rodeo cowboy before he got his start as an actor.

  • @jbjacobs9514
    @jbjacobs9514 Місяць тому +1

    Viggo always has such a menacing sense to him in his roles, even when he is a good guy - just kind of bubbling under the surface. But in real life, just a gentle softy (at least seems so!). Love those western picks. Funny about Glenn Ford - One of my faves but I always associate him with Blackboard Jungle. 🙂 Barbara Stanwyck is one of the cinema's greats. You can never go wrong with her, and I love that you pick her more "bossy" roles (lol). Gregory Peck is a fave when he is hero (Gentleman's Agreement!), but he has a lot more range than people give him credit for. I adore your love and reverence for film. You really know your craft.

  • @BermondseySteve
    @BermondseySteve Місяць тому +2

    I've learned so, so much more about film this 'Closet' series than I'd ever expected! How wonderful to hear all these tales and inside info, and interpretations from movie insiders! When the series began, I thought that it wld attract only a niche group of cinephiles; instead, the 'Closet' has hosted the best of the best! Thank you Criterion Channel - what a success this has been.

  • @horseenthusiast1250
    @horseenthusiast1250 Місяць тому +3

    I'm so glad to see Viggo Mortensen here! He's one of my favourite actors (and usually I don't give much of a hoot who plays what), and he's a delight in every film I've seen him in. It's interesting seeing what he picked; I'll have to check out that soundtrack with Leonard Cohen. I'm not huge on westerns (I prefer the newer films of True Grit and 3:10 To Yuma, and I enjoyed the Dollars trilogy, and that's about it), but the old ones have really got some incredible music.

  • @bluetruckwithflames
    @bluetruckwithflames Місяць тому +2

    The amount of love he shows and displayed( in a humble way ) for western films was so cool to see- Viggo always seems like he is that one cool cinephile uncle at the party

  • @rittdalton8749
    @rittdalton8749 Місяць тому +1

    Glad to see that old Viggo and I think alike. I'd been thinking about "Red River" recently, and now he closed the deal. I took my copy off my shelf and am watching it now. SUCH a great film. Definitely my favorite Western. It's got it all. Fascinating cinematography and story with the gamut of emotions and peppered with laugh-out-loud humor. Absolutely top drawer.

  • @whimbird6538
    @whimbird6538 Місяць тому +2

    Beautiful person. Just rewatched "The Road" a couple weeks ago. Stellar actor. Great DVD picks! 🎖

  • @michaelwalsh2498
    @michaelwalsh2498 Місяць тому +2

    Fantastic group of westerns! Gregory Peck showed something of his dark side in the underappreciated western Yellow Sky, directed by Wellman a year or two before The Gunfighter.

    • @holyspacemonkey
      @holyspacemonkey Місяць тому +2

      Yes! “Yellow Sky” is my favorite Gregory Peck western, one of my favorites of his films. I love William Wellman. He directed my favorite western, “Westward the Women.” And he was one of the greatest pre-code directors. “Wild Boys of the Road” and “Other Men’s Women” are phenomenal, and of course “Public Enemy,” “Night Nurse,” and many others. 👏👏👏

    • @f.w.2054
      @f.w.2054 Місяць тому +2

      Wild Bill Wellman could tackle any genre with success! His versatility put him on the wrong side of the auteur critics like Andrew Sarris and Pauline Kael! Yellow Sky is fabulous!

  • @glockensig
    @glockensig Місяць тому +3

    Selecting westerns!! Red River! Forty Guns! 3:10 to Yuma! The Renowns! Seven Men From Now! What a great man!! These are my exact picks!

  • @ArchieAndy27
    @ArchieAndy27 Місяць тому +2

    Viggo is a legend ❤he really knows his stuff, his passion shines through the screen. A lesson in classic westerns!

  • @PennycrossLassie
    @PennycrossLassie Місяць тому +1

    Loved this. Lots of great memories watching these movies with my Dad. Nice to see older mainstream movies featured. Thank you Viggo and Criterion.

  • @BronxLens
    @BronxLens Місяць тому +2

    Just ordered McCabe & Mrs. Miller from the library. ¡Gracias compadre Viggo! Thanks Criterion!

  • @sebeckley
    @sebeckley Місяць тому +8

    For an excellent history of John Ford, listen to TCM's podcast The Plot Thickens, season 5. I have no affiliation.

  • @TheJohnDoeLibraryRoom.
    @TheJohnDoeLibraryRoom. Місяць тому +4

    Without hyperbole, this is my favorite Criterion video ever, ever. Even better than the Gaspar Noe one. Anthony Mann should be so much more better known than he is.

  • @DocMcCoy109
    @DocMcCoy109 Місяць тому +3

    He ages like fine wine so i pray he will still get the opportunity to keep directing more movies.

  • @nicklager1666
    @nicklager1666 Місяць тому +5

    I love his collaborations with David Cronenberg.

  • @tygerstripes3752
    @tygerstripes3752 Місяць тому +1

    Just going by the thumbnail for a start, but yeah, Red River is my favorite western.
    Randolph Scott lived in Malibu with Cary Grant for awhile in the '30s. They called their house 'Cirrhosis by the Sea'.

  • @RolandDeschain1
    @RolandDeschain1 Місяць тому +2

    Viggo co-starred in one of the best traditional westerns of recent times, with APPALOOSSA.
    Starring and directed by Ed Harris, it was based on the novel by Robert B. Parker and should have started a franchise. Very highly recommended. It's just a good story very well told.

  • @davidfraser6950
    @davidfraser6950 Місяць тому +6

    Watched the Konbini Video Club with him and he has a massive Video Tape collection.He still watches them occasionally.

  • @Paul-xs9ii
    @Paul-xs9ii Місяць тому +3

    His latest film… The Dead Don’t Hurt is fabulous. Made a point of seeing it at the theater.

  • @MoreMovies4u
    @MoreMovies4u Місяць тому +1

    Superb selections. Great to see someone bigging up the old classic westerns. 🤠

  • @matthewpaul6904
    @matthewpaul6904 Місяць тому +5

    I await your word, Viggo!
    Tell me what to watch!

  • @-haso
    @-haso Місяць тому +8

    Red River is fantastic

  • @MM-jc7uv
    @MM-jc7uv Місяць тому +3

    One western that almost never gets love is “The Proposition” directed by John Hillcoat who later directed Viggo in “The Road.” Probably the most underrated westerns of all-time and one of my favourites

    • @nicknewman7848
      @nicknewman7848 Місяць тому

      Good film, good cast, good soundtrack. Looks like a western but it's set in Australia so I don't know if it qualifies.

    • @fOODfiGhtEXploitS
      @fOODfiGhtEXploitS Місяць тому

      ​@@nicknewman7848It qualifies

  • @tobiasmeissner1967
    @tobiasmeissner1967 Місяць тому +1

    Great choices, all of these movies are worth our time. I wouldn't doubt Gregory Peck's ability to be "dark enough". He's still the best Captain Ahab, and Ahab is essentially a madman. Peck has this brooding quality, he's good at being dark. (By the way: My favourite classic Western is THE OX BOW INCIDENT by William Wellman, 1943. The most gut-wrenching but beautifully filmed movie about human stupidity I have ever seen.)

    • @holyspacemonkey
      @holyspacemonkey Місяць тому

      Agreed about Gregory Peck! William Wellman also directed my favorite western, “Westward the Women” and another top favorite, coincidentally starring Gregory Peck, “Yellow Sky.”

    • @goodowner5000
      @goodowner5000 Місяць тому +1

      ...and he was thoroughly bad in "Duel in the Sun" w/Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, & Lionel Barrymore.

  • @leespiderpod
    @leespiderpod Місяць тому +1

    Great choices! I’d add ‘Winchester 73’ and ‘The man that shot liberty valance’ to that awesome list

    • @ReachForTheSkyVideo
      @ReachForTheSkyVideo Місяць тому

      I'm baffled as to why Criterion hasn't released Winchester 73. I heard they teamed with Scorsese to remaster it YEARS AGO. Where's the disc already?

    • @leespiderpod
      @leespiderpod Місяць тому

      @@ReachForTheSkyVideo it would look great remastered - the existing version is very grainy

  • @elizabethann9152
    @elizabethann9152 Місяць тому +1

    I loved this. Thank you, Viggo. My favorite genre of movies is yours. Lol. I love how much you throw yourself into the Western (American) ethos in your work. I know you are a dedicated horseman. There are two people I would allow to ride my horse, who is very precious to me. I'm one of them, and you are a strong candidate for #2.

  • @tobiesoftstudio823
    @tobiesoftstudio823 Місяць тому +1

    Red River! Classic with Montgomery Clift.

  • @user-zl6hk1kp4o
    @user-zl6hk1kp4o 18 днів тому

    I already had a ton of respect for Viggo. LOTR is one thing, but Eastern Promises, The Road, and History of Violence are three of the best performances in the last 20 years. This commentary on Westerns just moved him up a few more notches.

  • @InvisibleMan95
    @InvisibleMan95 Місяць тому +12

    Seems like Viggo really likes westerns.

    • @ariescustom
      @ariescustom Місяць тому +3

      He's also doing this to promote his own... 😉

    • @MrRazorblade999
      @MrRazorblade999 Місяць тому

      @@ariescustom Exactly

  • @scottboswell6406
    @scottboswell6406 Місяць тому +1

    I LOVE that he went in one direction and went Hard!! I agree with most of these picks, except McCabe and Mrs. Miller (when I finally saw it I was almost depressed). Now I have to look for The Furies!! Viggo's 'Hidalgo' is very, very good!

  • @jb8280
    @jb8280 18 днів тому

    I know there will be that one guy who’ll call me out as a liar coz that what they do…but, ironically I used to work in Santa Monica and me and a co-worker were movie buffs in the heyday of collecting DVDs when they came out. Back in the 00s, we rushed over to a now defunct dvd store on Wilshire to get the first Lord of the Rings box-set. There was a small line and in front of us was Viggo buying a box-set. He turned to us and held his up box-set and we returned the gesture. My co-worker said, “New Line didn’t comp you a set?” Viggo shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, while smiling. Down to earth guy. Bet he got comped…only much later.

  • @tymstewart
    @tymstewart Місяць тому +2

    Such an incredible acting career. Cool to hear him talk about his favorites. ❤

  • @thomascovenant665
    @thomascovenant665 13 годин тому

    Love his passion for Westerns. If my dad was in that closet he would pick much the same flicks... Especially Red River.. Kudos Viggo..

  • @TheArtOfJerry
    @TheArtOfJerry Місяць тому +17

    I love his performance in Green Book. But I first know him in The Lord of the rings trilogy. He should be given an Oscar for Green Book

    • @saintsalieri
      @saintsalieri Місяць тому +3

      Green Book is a pretty unjustly maligned film, I think. It's one of the best comedies of recent times and a great movie about friendship, anchored by two amazing performances and a hilarious script. Also kind of a crypto-Christmas classic. I think people overburden it with the task of offering a final historical summation of racism in America, or something. Your options when making a film are to create a diverse cast and portray racism as the story requires, create a diverse cast and pretend racism doesn't exist, or create a homogenous cast and pretend it doesn't exist (the most common Hollywood approach until recently). I can't see why the first option isn't the preferable one.

    • @ContraMundumPress
      @ContraMundumPress Місяць тому

      He's a crackling live wire in Sean Penn's debut film as a director, Indian Runner. One of his greatest performances. Incandescent.

    • @endogladry
      @endogladry Місяць тому

      @@saintsalieriYour comment has made me curious to watch it now...

  • @ryangettig274
    @ryangettig274 Місяць тому +1

    Viggo was great in Witness.I heard/read Sean Penn saw Viggo's role in Fresh Horses-1988 film & that led to him being cast in The Indian Runner-Sean;s stellar directorial debut!I just saw Viggo on Kelly Clarkson show talkin' Dwight Yoakem concerts:)Way Cool....

  • @johnnytyler5685
    @johnnytyler5685 Місяць тому +2

    Speaking of "a little movie called The Searchers", how is THAT not a Criterion Collection western yet?!

  • @SLB4523
    @SLB4523 Місяць тому

    Ive been trying to find a movie for years with no success. It’s about a mexican sheriff pursuing a woman accused of murdering her husband who is in turn being pursued by the wealthy landowner who framed her, aided by a gang of comancheros. I thought the sherrif was played by Burt Lancaster, but it’s not in any of his bios. The sheriff catches up with the women then becomes her defender, sniping the pursuers from great distances until they are finally run down to a showdown with the landowner, with the comancheros displaying respect for the sheriff and deserting the landowner. Great movie which I’d love to find.

  • @scrainbow1234
    @scrainbow1234 20 днів тому

    I didn’t have Viggo loving Westerns on my 2024 bingo card, but now that I think about everything I know of him and all the roles he’s done, nothing has ever made more perfect sense.

  • @johnshahbazz8945
    @johnshahbazz8945 Місяць тому +2

    Great selections. Duke involved a little something called THE SEARCHERS. Check out Viggo in APPALOOSA , an under the radar western , with Ed Harris an Jeromy Irons.

    • @alexanderclaylavin
      @alexanderclaylavin Місяць тому

      thx

    • @tygerstripes3752
      @tygerstripes3752 Місяць тому

      I wouldn't call a 3-hour movie a 'little something'. The Searchers is exhausting.

    • @johnshahbazz8945
      @johnshahbazz8945 Місяць тому

      @@tygerstripes3752 Agreed. I thought I was quoting Viggo from this clip .

  • @JorgeTorres-tl7vo
    @JorgeTorres-tl7vo Місяць тому +1

    Always love seeing love for Macabe and Mrs Miller. A masterpiece.

  • @TomsManCave
    @TomsManCave Місяць тому +1

    I'd love to sit and listen to Viggo talk about movies.

  • @JohnDWJ
    @JohnDWJ Місяць тому

    Interesting point about Gregory Peck, he usually played the upright, as Viggo says, but he goes extra dark in Moby Dick (1956).
    His Captain Ahab takes all of his kind charisma and turns it into obsessive madness.
    It’s a sight to behold.

  • @richardharris8399
    @richardharris8399 Місяць тому

    Now that I'm in my 60's and retired, my idea of a good Saturday night is making a typical southern style dinner, you know, country fried anything, and sitting in my favorite chair, putting on a classic western from the 50's and 60's, and playing with my toy cowboys and indians.
    Just because I can.

  • @PrimarchX
    @PrimarchX 24 дні тому

    I could listen to Vigo discussing film for days.

  • @Guminyourhair
    @Guminyourhair Місяць тому

    We need more westerns, specially starring Viggo!!

  • @Krazog
    @Krazog Місяць тому

    If there's a stagecoach in a movie - from westerns to horror - it's gonna be a good one for me. One of my favorite tropes, and in my opinion one of the ones least recognized explicitly despite its prevalence... Overall a fantastic selection!

  • @ScotianDoomer
    @ScotianDoomer Місяць тому +2

    Man knows the real classics.Thank you!

  • @lnl3237
    @lnl3237 Місяць тому +2

    A Stanwyck movie I haven't seen...thanks, Viggo!

  • @GuineaPigEveryday
    @GuineaPigEveryday Місяць тому

    I really wanted to go see his new film Dead Don’t Hurt in the theatre but it was gone in a week or so, Viggo is always so fascinating to watch, and the way he can move between commercial and indie so effortlessly, like Crimson Tide and Captain Fantastic are so vastly different yet he’s great in both, and his work with Cronenberg, The Road, Alatriste, Thirteen Lives. Super interested what he’s planning to direct nexr after this and The Falling

  • @snailbait
    @snailbait Місяць тому

    I love it when you're not sure about a character in a role when you hear about it, but then you see it and it works. I felt that way about Jimmy Stewart in Winchester '73.

    • @f.w.2054
      @f.w.2054 Місяць тому +1

      Not to mention Dan Duryea!

    • @snailbait
      @snailbait Місяць тому +1

      @@f.w.2054 This was my first film with him in it so I'll have to check out more. I was sold on him being a cowboy.