Viggo at TIFF

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:51 pm

From Entertainment Weekly:

Toronto Film Festival: No Internets, but Viggo shares chocolate!

Sep 7, 2008, 02:34 PM | by Missy Schwartz

Holy hot spots, PopWatchers! It's day four of the Toronto film festival and I finally have access to the Internets! Since landing up here in Canadia last Thursday, I've had little to report except for my ongoing battles with the gods of high-speed connectivity in my room at the Sutton Place Hotel. (I'll refrain from using my not-so-nice nickname for said establishment.) So I've resorted to hijacking the laptop of my video editor/producer/all-around EW.com Renaissance man Jason Averett and taking advantage of the uninterrupted connection at a swish lounge called Lobby, where my friend and colleague Dave Karger is getting ready to interview the lovely Julianne Moore. (Her movie, Blindness, had its North American debut here last night.)

Before coming up here, the best movie I'd seen was Jonathan Demme's family-drama indie Rachel Getting Married, and I was eager to see if the buzz surrounding Anne Hathaway performance would hold up here. In short: yes. Nearly every insider I've talked to about the film floats some version of, "Anne is amazing in it!" I had the pleasure of talking to Hathaway yesterday morning, and she struck me as a lovely, gracious, smart young woman...who just might be on the verge of her first Oscar nomination.

Ed Harris' Western starring Renee Zellweger and Viggo Mortensen, Appaloosa, also played well -- and had a terrific Friday night party where Dave and I witnessed Harris gamely autographing a cardboard VHS box of Milk Money for a starry-eyed fan. Good times. I met up with the two chiseled guys Saturday morning for a chat. Fans of David Cronenberg know that Harris and Mortensen tore up the screen in 2005's A History of Violence (another Toronto fest favorite). In Appaloosa, they play best buds, and they clearly appreciate each other's company off-screen, too. (During our interview, they joked about how Zellweger needed no help asserting herself on the testosterone-heavy set.) I'd heard that Viggo had written a satirical song about John McCain's controversial running mate Sarah Palin, but when I asked him about it, he said he couldn't remember the words. "It's probably for the best," he said, smiling. Bummer, man. But I forgive you, Viggo, 'cause you came to the interview sporting your footwear of choice (i.e. none) and offered me dark chocolate. Think I'm gonna turn down Belgian macadamia noir? Not on your life, friends. The good chap even gave me some for the road. It was delicious. So thanks for that, Viggo. (Mortensen has another movie here as well, a drama set in WWII-era Germany called Good. Viggo in a Nazi uniform? Chilling.)

Yesterday was pretty much one long, 12-hour stretch of interviews with no time for screenings, sadly. After Hathaway and the Appaloosa boys, I chatted with Michael Cera (adorably shy and sweet), The Duchess' Ralph Fiennes (who, like many Brits have told me over the years, said he was "curious about my name"), and his costar Keira Knightley (tired but friendly, and eager to get to her end-of day, well-deserved cocktail). Dave and I met up at the Rachel Getting Married party before heading to the bash for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, where we caught up with our colleague Adam B. Vary (a.k.a. "ABV" or "the Beeve," depending on the day). Despite a last-minute cancellation by Vampire Weekend, the Nick and Norah party had a great turnout: Elizabeth Banks, Adam Scott, Jason Reitman, and Kat Dennings all seemed to be having a ball, as did Toronto-area native son Cera, who brought his parents. All together now: Awwwww...

Okay, gotta sign off now to run to a screening. I'll be back in the next few days to report on Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, which arrived here buoyed by terrific reviews from Telluride; Management, a road-trip comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn; The Other Man, starring Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, and Antonio Banderas; Mike Leigh's Happy Go Lucky; and The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky's drama starring Mickey Rourke, in what some are saying is a triumphant, return-to-form performance.

Until then, feel free to tell me what Toronto movie you're most excited about. Have at it, eh?

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Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:46 am

Odd Lot's Brian O'Shea, "Good" stars Jason Isaacs, Jodie Whitaker, director Vincente Amorim and star Viggo Mortensen at a party for the film in Toronto. Photo by Peter Knegt.

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DISPATCH FROM TORONTO | Sunday Night at TIFF: An indieWIRE Diary

8:22 p.m.: My brother meets me on the corner of Bloor and Bay to accompany me to the next round of events. We head to Pangea for the party for Vincente Amorim's "Good," which premieres Monday night and is about a "good" man (Viggo Mortensen)'s descent into Nazi collaboration.

8:35 p.m.: Inside Pangea, the film's lovely publicist gathers together Amorim and the film's cast - Mortensen, Jason Isaacs and Jodie Whitaker - for a photo opportunity. Amorim jokes that if I cut him out of the picture "he'll cancel his subscription to indieWIRE." Viggo shakes my hand, I narrowly avoid responding with a meaningless pubescence grunt and I remarkably remain standing. Everyone is very nice.

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:08 am

From the New York Times:

Oh, Canada. Never Mind.
By MICHAEL CIEPLY
Compiled by JULIE BLOOM
Published: September 8, 2008

'The actor Viggo Mortensen has apologized to Canada after inadvertently accusing the country of policy misdeeds for which he meant to chastise political leaders of the United States.

The go-round occurred Sunday night at a panel discussion introducing “The People Speak,” a documentary about dissent and resistance to power based on the book “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn. Mr. Mortensen wore a T-shirt that read: “Impeach Remove Jail.” By way of explanation Mr. Mortensen, in Toronto to promote the movie Appaloosa, began a plaint about things “that have been happening in the last eight years in this country.” He was checked by the moderator, Tom Powers, the festival’s documentary programmer, who asked if Mr. Mortensen was referring to Canada. “Ladies and gentlemen, the angry left,” said a laughing Matt-Damon, who was joined on the panel by Josh Brolin and Marisa Tomei, among others. Mr. Mortensen allowed that Canada may have committed misdeeds of its own, without leveling a specific charge against either country. “My apologies,” he concluded.

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:44 am

Viggo Mortensen on the red carpet at the Visa Screening Room for the premiere of Good during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2008. (CNW Group/VISA Canada)

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Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:35 am

Excerpts:

Toronto Film Festival Update: TIFF So Far #1
Source Edward Douglas
September 10, 2008

There are a couple of movies playing this year that might be seen as derivative due to their genre but feature such good writing and great performances that it's hard not to take them seriously. Viggo Mortensen is getting a lot of attention for the number of movies he's appearing in this fall after his Oscar nomination last year, but the better of his two at TIFF is Good (THINKFilm - Dec. '08), a drama based on the play by C.P. Taylor, about a German literature professor whose fiction novel is embraced by the Third Reich during their early days, allowing him to live luxuriously even as his marriage falls apart. Viggo is very good in this but it's the performance by Jason Isaacs as his long-time friend and colleague, an affluent Jewish scholar whose life crumbles as his friend's star is on the ascendant, that leaves a lasting impression. (And I'm not just saying that because I learned that Isaacs often reads ComingSoon.net!)

Ed Harris' adaptation of Appaloosa (Warner Bros. - Sept. 19) co-starring Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellwegger is a fairly decent, very conventional take on the Western genre compared some of last year's offerings. Like Ritchie's movie, it takes some time to get going, as much of the first half of the movie takes place in the type of lawless town we've seen in so many other movies and on "Deadwood," and Harris and Mortensen are the lawmen who arrive to clean the town up. Zellwegger is the weak link, playing the same smirking know-it-all she seems to be playing in every other recent movie. While Harris and Mortensen are both as good as always, it's Jeremy Irons as the bad guy who steals the movie and who is especially menacing when he turns over a new leaf and becomes the town's benevolent benefactor. This isn't a big shoot 'em up Western, but there are a couple of tense stand-offs that should appease those looking for them.

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:55 pm

From holymoly.co.uk:

Published on Wed 10 September 2008
by IanMcShane

VIGGO MORTENSEN FORGETS WHICH COUNTRY HE IS IN

Viggo Mortensen is a fine actor (as anyone who saw his turn in 'Eastern Promises' will confirm, even the bit where he gets attacked whilst naked and his tig is flapping around all over the place), but it looks as though geography isn't his strongest subject as he proved on a recent trip to Canada.

He appeared on a panel at the Toronto Film Festival, discussing the movie 'The People Speak' a film addressing dissidence and resistance to authoritarianism, and immediately Viggo raised a few eyebrows with his attire. He wore a t-shirt which seemed to be referring to the President of another country (not a million miles away), emblazoned with the words:

“Impeach- Remove- Jail.”

Still, the evening was going swimmingly until Viggo launched on a rant about imperialism and began to complain about things:

"That have been happening in the last eight years in this country."

Cue hundreds of Canucks wondering just what Viggo had against fighting during ice-hockey games and sexing up a moose. Eventually somebody pointed out the bleeding obvious to the actor, who looked ashamed and muttered "My apologies."

Thank God he didn't make such a mistake in 'The Lord Of The Rings' trilogy. Imagine him fighting deadly Orcs and hideous stunted creatures, only to find

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:09 pm

**Appaloosa After Party 9.9.2008**

Appaloosa After Party 9.9.2008

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Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:19 am

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:20 am

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:05 am

Guest

Thanks for keeping this board a happening place, Jen. Good reporting and pics. cool

And as for the new aritcles and absurd sites that claims Viggo was 'forced' to apologize to the Canadian government I only have this to say to them:

scratch

@ #$%*@# Freaking idiots! Get a life!!

I don't think any of the news reports are from Canada in any case. th_at

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:13 am

Copyright WireImage:

Viggo at TIFF - Page 2 Zzz3

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Sat Sep 13, 2008 7:37 pm

Subject: Re: Viggo at TIFF Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:03 am

Thanks Jen and Luci!
I love the pics! Also the one with the tounge! I just can't stop laughing.
When I meet him in Roskilde next month I will tell him that I like him because he is the funny man he is. I just can't be sad, angry or in a bad mood when I look at him. I just can't help smiling and laughing at him. He is better than a pill against sadness and bad mood.

About his mistake of the countries. I think he was tired and forgot where he was. Anybody can say something wrong sometimes. It's human I would say.