Review of Appaloosa (2008) by Ephraim H — 28 Jul 2009

The movie is based on a book by Robert B. Parker and was a disappointment.

Ed Harris is the lead. He directed and produced the film and was one of the screenwriters. I think he took on too many tasks.

Set in 1882 in the New Mexico Territory, the story centers around a very small desert town that is being bullied by the local thug and his gang. Harris and his long-time friend who is played by Viggo Mortensen have been called in by the townspeople to protect them from and rid them of this menace played by Jeremy Irons.

Those three acquit themselves reasonably well in portraying two quirky good guys and one vicious bad guy. Rene Zellwegger who rides into town one day on the weekly train, however, was terribly miscast. Her character, Emily, was never developed and an annoying distraction at almost every turn. While she proves to be quirky, not a word is spoken to explain why she traveled alone to a town smaller and dustier than Outer East Podunk. Just a few sentences would have been fine, but we didn't get even that. It is clear that Harris has problems with women, though what they are isn't explored. You'll make some inferences about those issues and you'll probably be right. However, inferences aren't enough to support his almost immediate attraction to her character.

The violence is by no means gratuitous and is kept to a minimum in spite of how bad the bad guys are. The dialogue is catchy at the outset, but it bogs down. The scenery, costumes, and slow pace are excellent and consistent with the period and locale.

So much more could have been explained and presented within that slow pace. Appaloosa is not bad, but it isn't good enough. If westerns are at the bottom of your list, don't go.