‘Appaloosa’ is an Old School Western Done Right
-----I was not thrilled to see ‘Appaloosa.’ This isn’t because I’d heard bad things, but merely because I typically find westerns dreadfully boring. However, I did see it thanks to the talented leads Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. The only question now was whether or not its story could hold up.
-----‘Appaloosa’ is the story of traveling law men Virgil Cole and Everett Smith. Partners for about twelve years, they go from town to town and keep order. The latest town they’ve wandered into is Appaloosa. In their way is Randall Bragg, a rancher trying to control the town with his gang and money. It’s business as usual for Virgil and Everett until a lonely widow comes into town by the name of Allison French. When Virgil takes interest, the audience is left to wander whether or not he can balance his love for this mysterious woman with his job, and whether or not Randall Bragg will be able to use her against him.
-----Ed Harris plays the experienced Virgil Cole in one of the better roles I’ve seen him in. Straying from his typical villain archetype, it’s interesting to see him as the wily old gunman. Jeremy Irons plays the cocky evildoer Randall Bragg. This is a role much like his turn in ‘Die Hard: With a Vengeance’ many years back. Relying on his money and his reputation, he plays a greedy and self righteous villain. Renée Zellweger plays the flirtatious love interest Allison French who often seems to have an agenda of her own. She does a fine job, but the bottom line is she looks hideous. To a distracting and unbelievable level, Zellweger looks plump and ugly in her red carpet of hair. She’s nearly unrecognizable and the chances are you’ll begin to wander how anyone in the film could take interest in this irritatingly bad choice of hair and makeup.
-----Despite the many fine performances from the rest of the cast, the true show is put on by the talented Viggo Mortensen as the quiet and humble sidekick to Virgil, Everett Smith. With a stance, look, and even mood all associated to the old west, he’s about as classic a character as you’ll see in any western. With his thoughtful attitude and subtle intensity, he truly steals the show in one of the best performances of the year. With this character, Mortensen continues a line of excellent and versatile roles. Bravo.
-----The cinematography is effective and intriguing. Using authentic locations to set the mood, the sets all keep up with the landscape, along with top notch costumes and weapons. Not to mention an 8-gauge shotgun Everett carries with him nearly everywhere. Seriously, this weapon is more cannon than gun. It’s so big it should have been listed in the credits. IN fact, it’s due to touches like this that many of the showdowns take me back to a western video game for the Super Nintendo I played as a child. It was called ‘Sunset Riders.’ In many ways like this, ‘Appaloosa’ acts as that old school western handled with the modern style that’s been apparent in quality westerns since ‘Unforgiven’ was released. However, though similar in quality to ‘Unforgiven’ and 2007’s ‘3:10 to Yuma,’ ‘Appaloosa’ never tries to redefine or stretch the limits of its genre. That is perhaps one of the things I liked about it most. Appaloosa’ is your classic sort of western that deals with morality, companionship, and the bond between two gunmen that develops over twelve years of living and dying together.
-----‘Appaloosa’ is a surprisingly entertaining western that should be seen by anyone with even a vague interest in the actors or the genre. While Zellweger looks terrible, she doesn’t ruin the movie. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen develop one of the better chemistries I’ve ever seen in a western, and drive the film through their believable friendship. Much reminiscent to Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood in ‘Unforgiven,’ they are the heart and soul of this film. Wrap it all up with a lone cowboy riding off in the sunset and you’ve got a film both neo and vintage in presentation. I’m happy to say ‘Appaloosa’ is one of the year’s best surprises.
