Inside Movies The Place Where Movies and Stars Align

Viggo Mortensen isn't your average Hollywood leading man. He speaks no fewer than five languages, writes poetry, paints, plays music and was once a truck driver in Denmark. And since his star-making turn as the heroic Aragorn in Peter Jackson's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy -- a role which he would have turned down had his son not begged him to do it -- he's pretty much steered clear of Hollywood blockbusters. Instead, he's opted to tackle grittier fare such as 'A History of Violence' and 'Eastern Promises,' the latter of which earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination and hordes of female fans, thanks in part to a savage all-nude knife fight that's become the stuff of movie legend.

Incidentally, Mortensen is also the kind of guy who'd rather do a post-apocalyptic epic on a shoestring budget with an indie director like John Hillcoat than do a $200-million-budgeted special-effects extravaganza with Roland Emmerich (no offense to Emmerich, whose films seem to do pretty well regardless of who's in them). Hence, this Thanksgiving, moviegoers won't see Viggo in '2012,' but rather in the haunting adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Road,' in select theaters Nov. 25.

Light on the one-liners and F/X and heavy on the drama and breathtaking cinematography, 'The Road' tells the tale of a man and his son (newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee) -- simply named "the Man" and "the Boy," respectively -- who, in the wake of an unspecified global catastrophe, traverse the barren, cannibal-roamed ruins of America with just one goal: survival. It's grim stuff to be sure, but also ultimately uplifting in its depiction of the simple love between father and son. And it's earning tremendously positive notices from critics and some Oscar buzz for Mr. Mortensen and his young co-star.

Moviefone caught up with Viggo in New York last week over breakfast, and Mortensen talked passionately about his hope that 'The Road' connects with audiences, dished on teaming up with David Cronenberg for a sequel to 'Eastern Promises' ... and revealed whether Aragorn, aka the king, will return in Guillermo del Toro's 'Lord of the Rings' prequel 'The Hobbit.'

With vampire fever gripping the nation (or at least the teenage girl segment of it), now's as good a time as any to take a look back at 'Atom Age Vampire,' a 46-year-old vampire movie that happens not to include a single vampire.

The 1963 Italian film, dubbed into English, tells the convoluted story of a scientist whose work with Hiroshima survivors has lead him to two discoveries. One, a serum that is a curative for scarring; the other a serum that turns humans into scar(r)y monsters.

With Roland Emmerich's '2012,' destroying the world daily in movie theaters, we welcome some post-apocalypse survivors in John Hillcoat's 'The Road,' opening this week in adjacent venues.

Adapted from Cormac McCarthy's brutally grim novel, 'The Road' stars Viggo Mortensen as a man leading his young son over an ashen landscape devoid of life save for marauding cannibals.

Before '2012' opened, we discussed the enduring attraction for films about the end of the world, postulating that it's a cyclical trend prompted by concerns over wars, plagues, the potential of nuclear holocaust as well as doomsday scenarios about the death of the sun and the approaching collision between Earth and meteors.

Nicolas Cage at his, um, craziest -- the most over-the-top roles of his career. [TWOP]


Two posters and 'Nine' lovely ladies. [JoBlo]


When "nipples" are turned into "pimples" and 398 'Casino' f-bombs become a single "stupid sucker," see the 10 worst movie editing blunders on TV. [Ask Men]


They just wouldn't give it up -- see 10 star-crossed lovers in film. [Rotten Tomatoes]


You didn't think Cameron would stop at a $500 million epic, did you? Get more on 'Avatar: The Game.' [GameDaily]

Ten films out of the 37 submitted for the Best Animated Short Oscar have been given the go-ahead through the Academy's voting process.

Pixar Animation's 'Partly Cloudy' -- a whimsical tale of storks, clouds and baby-making -- is the most high-profile entry, due to its enviable spot as theatrical lead-in to the studio's 'Up' this year. However, judging from past years, that doesn't guarantee a win, noted the Los Angeles Times. There are no corresponding advance awards like the Golden Globes nor critical hoopla to nudge voters toward certain shorts, plus academy voters must view all the nominees, so they often wind up voting for their actual favorites (imagine!).

He's a mercenary, a thief, a warrior, a killer, a lover, a leader. Conan the Barbarian? No, it's Kull the Conqueror, and he's coming soon to a multiplex near you.

According to a report at SuperHeroHype, Paradox Entertainment is fast at work on a new movie adaptation of 'Kull,' based on the novels of Robert Ervin Howard, who also wrote the 'Conan' series and single-handedly created the sword-and-sorcery genre of fiction in the 1920s and '30s.

Missed all the latest small-screen news? Here's what's got us buzzing over at Inside TV.

-- The biggest divas in the world -- Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Janet Jackson and Lady Gaga -- performed at the American Music Awards Sunday night, but all anyone is talking about today is Adam Lambert's performance of his first single, 'For Your Entertainment.' Was the racy number, which closed out the show and included simulated oral sex and a male-male kiss, too much for TV? Watch the video and tell us if you were entertained or scandalized.

-- If you're looking for the spiritual, uplifting side of this year's AMAs, check out the video of Whitney Houston's emotional comeback performance.