Review of Appaloosa (2008) by Joel C — 22 Jun 2009

I love westerns, so I really wanted to love this movie. As it was, I thought it was ok.

Appaloosa follows, mainly, the lives of two gunmen who act as lawmen in the embattled old west. Viggo Mortensen is excellent as the omnipresent sidekick to Ed Harris, the tough as nails, no-compromise lawman. As the titular characters, they do a solid job. I found Viggo to be the best cast of the movie, but Harris' character is probably the most interesting one of the film.

Ed Harris also directed the movie, and I have mixed feelings about the job he did. Some of the shots are beautifully framed, and really show off the western surroundings of the movie. Some of the most basic scenes are the best, and Harris does a great job of just setting up the town of Appaloosa; the sets and costumes are gorgeous. In particular, the costumes do a great job of setting up the various characters. Mortensen cuts a distinct profile in his massive boots and shotgun, while Harris looks appropriately somber in his jet-black gear.

I wish the rest of the cast had been as good as the main two, but I just didn't care for the people selected. Jeremy Irons is strictly passable as the main antagonist, although he really didn't have a huge amount to work with. Renee Zellweger absolutely falls flat as the sole female lead, and is the main reason the movie didn't work for me. I really wonder how the chemistry of the movie would have worked with someone else as her character.

A couple of the bit performers are terrific, with Lance Henriksen making a welcome appearance as an aged gunslinger, and Timothy Spall turns in a great performance as the somewhat craven Olson.

It is hard to say why I didn't fall in love with this film, but suffice to say it didn't happen. Chalk it up to a poor cast for the villain and the love interest, and some sophomore-slump Direction by Harris. Appaloosa is a good little yarn though, so if you're a western fan you'll still want to take a look.