Appaloosa (2008)

Appaloosa: Directed by Ed Harris. With Robert Jauregui, Jeremy Irons, Timothy V. Murphy, Luce Rains. Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by the arrival of a young widow.

“Appaloosa is based on the 2005 novel of the same name written by Robert B. Parker. Itu0026#39;s directed by Ed Harris, who also co-writes the story with Robert Knott. Harris also stars alongside Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons u0026amp; Lance Henriksen. Music is by Jeff Beal and Dean Semler provides cinematography on location in Albuquerque, Austin and Santa Fe.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAppaloosa is in the grip of bully boy rancher Randall Bragg (Irons), who finally oversteps the mark when the latest Marshall and his deputies are killed in cold blood. The townsfolk decide enough is enough and hire no nonsense travelling lawmen Virgil Cole (Harris) and his sidekick Everett Hitch (Mortensen) to protect and serve the town. Ruling with a rod of iron, Cole u0026amp; Hitch start to bring order to Appaloosa, but the arrival in town of pretty Allie French (Zellweger) causes quite a stir between the two men. Bad timing too since the guys are trying to get Bragg to his rightful execution.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the modern era the Western has been the hardest genre for film makers to tackle. You can probably count on one hand the number of great or agreeable ones that have surfaced post Costner and Eastwoodu0026#39;s efforts of 1990 and 1992 respectively. Enter Ed Harris, who undaunted by the long odds of getting a Western to be successful; and suffering worrying overtures from his backers at New Line Cinema, got Appaloosa made. Well made as it happens.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSince the story itself is etched like the Wyatt Earp legend, thereu0026#39;s really no fresh perspective on offer here. In fact, anyone familiar with Edward Dmytryku0026#39;s excellent Warlock from 1959 will feel some narrative déjà vu. But Appaloosa does have strong performances and lush landscapes to see it successfully home. Slotting in a good helping of action, romance and humour also goes some way to making Harrisu0026#39; movie a worthy modern day Oater. True, the clicheu0026#39;s are many, but Harris wasnu0026#39;t after revisionism, he wanted (and got) old fashioned Oater values. A film that follows those old beloved B movie Western conventions, but one that still retains a topical criminal thread.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe best reward in the film comes from spending time with Harris u0026amp; Mortensen. Their characters are nicely drawn and not over cooked by the script. Cole u0026amp; Hitch are devoted to each other, lots of straight love and respect exists between the two men. Their bond is believably brought to life by Harris u0026amp; Mortensen, who formed a friendship when making A History Of Violence for David Cronenberg in 2005. Zellweger and Irons too are not without high merit value. She (stepping in when Diane Lane walked over delays), is pleasing and captivates in what is the critical glue role. While he is dandy dastardly supreme, a well spoken villain of much intelligence and crafty as a cat.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAppaloosa is a subtle film, both in story and as a technical production. Bealu0026#39;s score is unobtrusive, while Semleru0026#39;s photography manages to deliver that old fashioned feel that Harris was after (the low lighting for the interiors is particularly on the money) . Harrisu0026#39; direction is smooth and unhurried in pace, with the odd inspired bit thrown in for good measure (check out the up-tilt camera work during a train on a bridge sequence). While the production design canu0026#39;t be faulted. All that and you got the likes of Henriksen and Timothy Spall in the support cast too. A lovely film that is as tight as the friendship at its core. 7.5/10”