Viggo Mortensen’s Closet Picks

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.

[SamL]

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

[saintsalieri]

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

[therealcolombeat]

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

[dbanner]

Viggo just needs his own YouTube show where he talks movies

[HBICTiff]

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

[nebusnevermore]

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

[brynleyjones]

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.

[fernandopelaezfilm]

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

[pnwtreehugger]

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.

[dw]

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"

[Marcelorubio]

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

[brendonla]

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!

[movieman]

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.

[deaconpeters]

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

[codyinthecinema]

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.

[azohundred]

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

[tylerdalton]

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

[m.dorado]

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

[TheCollectorCave]

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

[LucavanGrinsven]

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