Review of Appaloosa (2008) by Jim H — 04 Nov 2010
After this film, I can't say anything good about Ed Harris as a director. I remember Pollock being really good, but Appaloosa is a total directing abortion. All of the shots are static, wide-angles, and the camera would never be cited for a moving violation. Even the action sequences, which often define the modern western, are obscure. Additionally, although he is a great actor and his work in Reversal of Fortune almost changed the way I hold my cigarette, Jeremy Irons is horribly miscast. Throughout most of the film, he seems to do a bad Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood imitation. Finally, in order to restore justice, Cole demands carte blanche, which sends the type of political message that Bush and company are only too happy to receive. The only positive point I can see is how it mildly - and I mean oh, so mildly - defies Western genre conventions by casting doubt on the probable success of the French/Cole relationship. But even this is left unexplored.
Looking at this film from every possible way, I can't imagine liking it.
This review of Appaloosa (2008) was written by Jim H on 04 Nov 2010.
Appaloosa has generally received positive reviews.
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