Viggo Mortensen is truly amazing. Not only did he write, direct and star in The Dead Don’t Hurt, he wrote the score as well!
After seeing Ezra the night before with it’s cloying music and night scenes, what a breath of fresh air and sunshine to hear Viggo’s music paired with Marcel Zyskind’s wide open mountainous spaces!
Tough not to give this film many superlatives, but it strikes me as hilarious that some reviewers are knocking it. S.B. thought the story telling was out of order (hello, it’s called suspense and mystery) and two female reviewers thought it didn’t overcome the tropes and stereotypes. Excuse me, but we had two quiet, non-combative immigrants who wrestled with differences without being immature. That’s pretty novel! Talked to one of my people at Burns Court who thought it was too slow, probably a difference in generations, he’s I’m guessing late 30’s to my 60. I like scenes that breathe.
Or perhaps I’m just a sucker for romance and unrequited love, especially since the film did not receive any accolades at TIFF and is only playing another day or two at the AMC Cinemas.
While I agree that some of the towns’ folk were cartoonish, if you’ve visited any small town, or for that matter, Sarasota, you may have seen some cartoonish figures. I actually appreciated Viggo’s sprinkle of humorous dialogue along with “the cartoonish’ thugs.
And speaking of leads, Viggo chose a wonderful romantic partner in Vicky Krieps, whose resilient stride was palpable. Solly McLeod was one of the few, and thank goodness since he was the alpha male villain who seemed violently unhinged. Given a subplot which I won’t reveal, this madness may have been intentional.
I’m shocked it received zero nominations for cinematography or score. Not sure why, but am super glad to have seen The Dead Don’t Hurt.
