Our regular arts/ents writers select their personal highlights of the year

Without futher ado:

A family raised in the wild has to return to civilisation.

Acclaimed actor Viggo Mortensen was in Dublin yesterday to attend an early screening of his most excellent new movie Captain Fantastic, and he stuck around for a Q&A afterwards.

The one and only Strider, also known as Aragorn, later called by the name King Elessar Telcontar of Gondor is coming to Dublin. He's also called Viggo Mortensen sometimes.

SATURDAY

Here are some of the best things to do this week in Ireland.

Here’s a quick recap of all the weeks entertainment news.

A 38-year-old Wicklow man has appeared at Bray District court today charged with the murder of Anne Shortall, a teacher has threatened to go on a hunger strike over proposed Junior Cert reforms, Cork’s St Patrick’s Street could soon see a car ban and Ed Sheeran has announced who he’ll be lining out with at Croke Park. These are some of the latest and most read news on irishexaminer.com.

The younger stars of Game of Thrones are popping up everywhere on the big screen, writes Colette Keane

AS A secondary school pupil in Carraig na bhFear all Simon McKeown wanted to be was a vet. 

Mortensen has always been happy to follow his heart when choosing his roles writes Shilpa Ganatra

Check out our guide to the best shows on TV tonight.

Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos wrote himself indelibly into his club’s history by scoring the opening goal and then deservedly winning the player of the tournament award in Saturday’s 2-0 Club World Cup final win over San Lorenzo of Argentina.

Hit and Run ****

Billy Bob Thornton is to play a villain in 'Out of the Furnace'.

Viggo Mortensen explores the many facets of Sigmund Freud’s character in A Dangerous Method, writes Declan Cashin

“It’s time to play the music / It’s time to light the lights …” The Muppets (G) seem to have been away for a very long time, a fact not lost on Walter (voiced by Peter Linz), a lonely young Muppet who grew up with Gary (Jason Segel) for an older brother.

Michael Fassbender was asked to leave the after-party for his movie 'A Dangerous Method' on Tuesday night.

Irish actors Brendan Gleeson and Michael Fassbender have both received nominations for the 69th annual Golden Globe awards.

Orlando Bloom feels like 'Lord of the Rings' is in his blood.

AT the moment, there’s just no stopping Michael Fassbender.

At the moment, there’s just no stopping Michael Fassbender.

GEORGE CLOONEY’S third directorial effort, The Ides of March, and Madonna’s second, WE, are bound for the Venice Film Festival, so the paparazzi should be out in force.

As with seemingly every other tentpole release to hit the multiplex this summer, the action thriller 'Cowboys & Aliens' is based on a comic book – albeit a lesser-known one.

Lily Cole is set to join the cast of 'Snow White and the Huntsman'.

James McAvoy never gets noticed in the street.

Viggo Mortensen is set to star in 'The Dark Tower'.

Amy Adams and Viggo Mortensen have signed up to star in new movie 'On The Road'.

Stuart Townsend has pulled out of Marvel Comics’ movie adaptation of 'Thor' because of creative differences, according to sources close to the production.

Viggo Mortensen played a prank on Elijah Wood every day for six weeks.

THE Venice Film Festival has capitalism in its sights this year, with premieres of Michael Moore’s documentary on the USeconomic meltdown and a drama starring Matt Damon as a corrupt corporate whistleblower.

Viggo Mortensen has vowed to give up making movies - because promoting them leaves him exhausted.

The revival in good, old-fashioned Westerns continues with this conventional but entertaining shoot ‘em up yarn about the taking on of a town bully and the subsequent cleaning up of said town, the 'Appaloosa' of the title.

Viggo Mortensen is the latest star to weigh into the debate about who should be America’s next president.

Viggo Mortensen deserved a special Academy Award to recognise his naked fight scene in 'Eastern Promises', according to Christina Ricci.

David Cronenberg’s ‘Eastern Promises’ (Pathé, €24.99) is a chilling thriller, with Viggo Mortensen playing Nikolai, an enigmatic driver-turned-killer for an east European crime lord.

His last role in Russian Mafia movie Eastern Promises may have won him an Oscar nomination, but Viggo Mortensen reckons his success is partly down to good fortune.

OSCAR nominee Daniel Day-Lewis isn’t confident about his chances of picking up the Best Actor award at the upcoming Academy Awards.

He may be one of the favorites to land an Oscar at the 2008 Academy Awards but Daniel Day Lewis was keen to put things in perspective at the Irish Premiere of his new movie 'There Will Be Blood'.