Viggo Mortensen & Eastern Promises
Lord of the Rings Star Nominated for Numerous Awards
Jan 23, 2008
Viggo Mortensen As Russian Gangster: Oscar Material
Eastern Promises shows actor Viggo Mortensen as a chameleonic, duplicitous, self-serving but dirtily admirable Russian gangster. The London setting and criminal storyline might suggest Snatch. Forget it. These guys make Guy Ritchie's lowlifes look like Snow White and Bambi in Fantasyland.
The words "naked shower fight scene" don't do Viggo's overall performance justice, but the fight is an unforgettable part of the film. Suspenseful, gripping, terrifying. Remember, Russian gangsters fight with knives. Mortensen's performance goes far beyond dialogue and voice, into a physical realm where his body narrates eloquently - no stunt double. He gives us a taut balance of grace, strength, power and strategy.
Mortensen has been nominated for at least eight best actor awards for Eastern Promises. During the next month and a half he'll have to iron his tux three times if he plans to be in the room to hear his name called. With labour issues in Hollywood making red carpet treading a political statement, though, it's possible the tree might fall in the forest a little more quietly than usual. So maybe the tux will stay in the closet.
At any rate, the score so far is Viggo 2, Daniel Day-Lewis 3, with three major awards to go. Here are the dates of the past and future film awards ceremonies where Viggo Mortensen has been nominated for best actor in David Cronenberg's film Eastern Promises.
Award Ceremonies Yet to Come: Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, Oscars
Screen Actors Guild Awards - January 27, 2008 - Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
BAFTA Awards (Orange British Academy FilmAwards) - February 10, 2008 - Nominated for Leading Actor Award
80th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) - February 24, 2008 - Nominated for Best Leading Actor (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role)
Awards Viggo Mortensen Has Already Won for Eastern Promises
British Independent Film Awards - November 28, 2007 - Best Actor (Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film)
The International Press Academy Satellite Awards - December 16, 2007 - Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Awards Daniel Day-Lewis Won Where Viggo Mortensen Was Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards - Winners Announced December 14, 2007 - Nominated for Best Actor - Winner was Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will be Blood
BFCA Broadcast Film Critics Association - The Critics' Choice Awards - January 7, 2008 - Nominated for Best Actor - Winner was Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will be Blood
Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Golden Globe Awards - January 13, 2008 - Nominated for Best Actor - Winner was Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will be Blood
