Viggo Mortensenis one of the most fascinating actors working today because of his complete disregard from what would generally be considered “mainstream.”It would have been very easy for a star of Mortensen’s reputation to simply coast on his popularity and earn a major recurring role in a comic book or blockbuster franchise. However, Mortensen’s interests have become more niche; he even claims that his next filmwill contain no recognizable actors.
In addition to working with some of the best filmmakers in the industry,Mortensen has become a very accomplished director in his own right.After his debut filmFallingwas released to great acclaim, Mortensen’s subsequent directorial effortThe Dead Don’t Hurtopened several major film festivalsand earned praise for revamping the classical notion of the western genre. Here are the top ten most rewatchable Viggo Mortensen movies, ranked.
10‘Green Book’ (2018)
Directed by Peter Farrelly
While it’s arguably the most mainstream and crowd pleasing project that he has ever worked on,Green Bookalso contains one of the funniest and warmest performances of Mortensen’s career.Based on an incredible true story of a real friendship,Green Bookexplores the relationship between the Italian driver Tony Lip (Mortesen) and the piano player Don Shirley (Mahershela Ali) as they tour the south during the height of racial segregation. Ali took home the Best Supporting Actor prize for his performance, but Mortesen was also nominated in the Best actor category.
Green Bookwas the second film Mortensen appeared inthat won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and it’s easy to see why. While some critics may have accused the film of being too stagey and not nuanced enough in its condemnation of racism, the excellent chemistry between Mortensen and Ali makeGreen Bookvery rewatchable, particularly during the holiday season.
Green Book
A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.
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9‘A Dangerous Method’ (2011)
Directed by David Cronenberg
A Dangerous Methodwas yet another example of why Mortensen has had such a successful creative partnership with David Cronenberg, who shares many of his non-commercial sensibilities. While Cronenbergtends to make body horror filmswith a strong science fiction element,A Dangerous Methodis a biographical drama that explores the emergence of psychoanalysis and sexual research as a legitimate field of scientific study.
Although his role is a supporting one,Mortensen has excellent chemistry with Keira Knightley and Michael Fassbender that makes the film more entertaining as a character drama; he even adds a snarky sense of humor in the right moments. Biopics can often feel very ornate and dull, butA Dangerous Methodis so charged with creative characterization that it is easily one of the most rewatchable films that Mortensen has appeared in thus far in his career.
A Dangerous Method
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Directed by John Hillcoat
Cormac McCarthy’shighly influential post apocalyptic novelThe Roadis notorious for its darkdepiction of humanity at the verge of extinction. It may be a particularly uplifting entry within the road trip movie canon, butThe Roadis an amazing character drama that features one of the most emotional performances of Mortensen’s entire career.He stars as a protective father who tries to travel to safety with his young child (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as society begins to collapse around them.
The Roadis much more of a methodical character study than a standard sci-fi action movie,but the performances from Mortensens and Smit-McPhee are so empathetic that it is completely exhilarating to watch. Considering that Mortensen is often cast as tough and domineering characters, it’s nice to see him play a softer, and surprisingly sincere paternal figure inThe Road.
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7‘Appaloosa’ (2008)
Directed by Ed Harris
It’s perhaps not that surprising that Mortensen returned to the western genre forThe Dead Don’t Hurt, as one of his best performances was in another classic gunslinger film directed by a great actor.Ed Harris’ directorial debutAppaloosais a great throwback to the “golden age” of Hollywood westernsthat contains all the action, suspense, and romance that fans of the genre could ask for. Mortensen is perfectly cast as a loyal lawman who swears a duty of chivalry to both his profession and partner.
Although it’s a film that does a great job at establishing tension,Appaloosais also a deeply romantic film that containssome very steamy moments.A love triangle that develops on screen between Mortensen, Harris, andRenée Zellwegerin a standout role helps add some emotional tension ahead of the film’s exhilarating action shootout in the final moments.
In the Old West town of Appaloosa, two lawmen, hired to bring order, confront a ruthless rancher who imposes his will on the townspeople. As they uphold the law, complications arise with the arrival of a new woman in town, challenging their partnership and the stability they seek to establish.
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6‘Captain Fantastic’ (2016)
Directed by Matt Ross
Captain Fantasticis a very oddmovie about dysfunctional familiesthat succeeds thanks to Mortensen’s unique charisma.He stars as the patriarch of a large family who chooses to live with his children “off the grid” where they do not have to interact with the rest of society; unfortunately, circumstances force the family to adjust very quickly and begin integrating themselves back into reality. Although the entire cast is terrific, andGeorge MacKayearned a breakout role, Mortensen’s performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Captain Fantastichas fun celebrating the unusual charms of its characters,and succeeds in telling a powerful story about the importance of adjustment and understanding. There’s certainly a good deal of dramatic weight to the story’s conclusion, but there’s also a surprising amount of humor that makesCaptain Fantasticone of Mortensen’s more entertaining projects thus far.
Captain Fantastic
5‘A History of Violence’ (2005)
A History of Violenceis easily one of the greatest comic book movies ever made,even if ithas nothing to do with superheroesor intergalactic battles. Based on the acclaimed graphic novel from DC of the same name,A History of Violencestars Mortesnen as a small town bartender who kills a robber in self defense, thus becoming a hero to his community; however, this act of violence reveals to his wife (Maria Bello) that he is actually a former hitman who is attempting to escape his dark past.
Mortensen gives an amazing performance filled with regret, trauma, anxiety, and a repressed desire to seek revenge.Although the dialogue is often sparse, Mortesnesn gives a three-dimensional performance thanks to his physical mannerisms. The profound reexamination of popular cliches in action cinema makeA History of Violenceone of Mortensen’s most rewatchable films.
A History of Violence
A mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.
4‘Eastern Promises’ (2007)
Mortensen earned his first Academy Award nomination forEastern Promises, and it couldn’t have been more deserving. In another collaboration with Cronenberg, Mortensen stars as an undercover British spy who has become accepted as a member of the Russian mafia. His position is challenged when he forms a bond with a nurse (Naomi Watts) who discovers a child that could be linked to the crime family’s dangerous patriarch.
Mortensen does a great job at playing a scary, intimidating characterwho nonetheless wants to see that justice is carried out under the law. The film is perhaps best known for its infamous bathhouse fight scene, in which Mortesnen pushed his body to its physical limits. Most actors would be nervous about filming such an exposing and intimate scene, but Mortensen’s bravery resulted in a masterful and haunting sequence that is impossible to forget.
Eastern Promises
3‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
Directed by Peter Jackson
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingmarked a great conclusion to Peter Jackson’s incredible trilogy of J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations, but it also gave Mortensen some of his best material to work with as Aragorn. The story sees Aragorn finally becoming the king who legend predicted, as he helps lead Gondor in its battle against Sauron and the forces of darkness. Mortensen delivers some of the most incredible and inspirational monologues in the entireThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy.
While its extended edition is well over four hours in length,The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingis so packed with memorable moments that it never becomes boring.In fact,the success of the recent theatrical re-releaseseemed to indicate that audiences were interested in seeingThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingagain in the best possible format.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron’s army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
2‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towersisn’tjust a great middle chapter,but a thrilling war epic that shows Middle-earth at its most dangerous. Mortensen’s depiction of Aragorn is arguably at his most vulnerable; after having to let Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) venture into Mount Doom alone, Aragorn is forced to join forced with Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys Davies) in order to rally the forces of men to protect from the upcoming attack from the Orcs.
While it’s arguably the slowest chapter in the trilogy,The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towersends with the iconic battle of Helm’s Deep, which easily ranks among the trilogy’s most stunning sequences. It’s in this conflict that Aragorn truly proves himself as a leader, showing the physical prowess and dramatic intensity that Mortensen commands as an actor.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron’s new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.
1‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringis as perfect as fantasy movies can get,as it beautifully turned the lucious locations of New Zealand into an authentic depiction of the intimate world of Tolkien’s fictional universe. Although it’s a film that largely focuses on Frodo accepting the burden of responsibility thatcomes with carrying the One Ring,The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringoffers a perfect introduction to Aragorn, who initially masks his identity by appearing as the Ranger known as “Strider.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringis also arguably the most romantic installment in the trilogy,as there is a healthy amount of time spent developing Aragorn’s connection with the Elven woman Arwen (Liv Tyler). Mortensen proved that in addition to being an amazing action hero, he could also be a very compelling romantic lead.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
