Hey all! It's James from Out 1 Film Journal here to wish a happy 50th birthday to one of my favorite actors Viggo Mortensen. With the fresh intensity he brings to every role he is in, especially in the last few years with an incredible performance in A History of Violence (how did he not get an Oscar nomination!?) and his striking prominence in the burgeoning Lord of the Rings trilogy, it's easy to forget that good ole Viggo has been with us for a long while. Starting with supporting roles in Witness to Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3, Viggo really got things going in the mid 90s with strong, while still small, parts in Carlito's Way, Crimson Tide, and A Perfect Murder. Lucky for us, Peter Jackson helped launch Viggo into the bigtime. While remaining selective in taking roles, Viggo is always memorable and certainly nice to look at (especially in gruesomely awesome naked knife fights.) With his upcoming work in The Road, Viggo will hopefully cement his status as a greatly versatile and important actor in modern cinema.If I had to pick a favorite role, I'd choose his subtle, yet incredibly stirring role as Tom Stall in the great David Cronenberg's A History of Violence. What's your favorite Viggo performance?
