Appaloosa (2008)
APPALOOSAreally turned out to be the right movie for Ed Harris to star in and direct. I It’s aslow paced film in the way films should be slow paced: to allow for characterdevelopment and subtle plot development. The reason you’re not bothered by the film’s pace is that it’s filled by the relationship between these two men and an authentic feel for days spent waitingto kill or die essentially. Viggo Mortensen does and excellent job as playing the straight man across from Harris in this picture. He is poised and has a centre of gravity in this picture I haven’t seen before. Perhaps if the film was cut a different way his performance wouldn’t have been so fitting but one can deduce that this was all planned well in advance. The female in this love triangle as it were is played by Renée Zellweger who instead of playing the manipulative bitch plays a more multi layered version of a woman who is more of a vulnerable and weak survivor making her far more affable to the audience. What the hell is Jeremy Irons doing in a western? I asked myself the same question when I read the back of this DVD and then I watched the film and got it immediately. He really did have something that was particular to this role as a calculating outlaw. Overall, the casting in this film was right on the money.
The story itself is a great story in terms of narrative paradigm. Both lead characters start out one way and end another way-and like most stories about growth they go their separate ways. The film is also a narrative for life in some ways—we all have to break our own rules to live better or to become better people. Also, the film is a beautiful indication that we can usually see the road ahead will change long before it does and that sometimes a certain level of uncertainty is the only thing that lets us know life is worth living. I would recommend this film to anyone who wanted to see something that looks and feels authentic. I have
not been this interested in a western since Tombstone and really do think that although they may look different you will get the feeling that in the end things do finish as they should—with a new beginning.
Released: Friday September 19, 2008/Tuesday January 13, 2009 (dvd/video) Running time: 114 min. Director: Ed Harris Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Lance Henriksen, Tom Bower, Ariadna Gil