Appaloosa
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Movie Reviews of Appaloosa
Movie Review: What a western should be.
Summary: 5 Stars
Tons of great acting & wonderfully subtle moments; what "All the Pretty Horses" tried to be.Movie Review: A solid western with some really nice performances.
Summary: 4 Stars
Lately, the westerns that have come out have all been far more burdened with an undercurrent of sadness then westerns of the past. They also delve more into the psychology of their characters. Long gone are the days when good guys could just be good because they were good people. Now good guys have to carry a burden of sadness or a dark secret or a hidden "bad side." The bad guys also must have some baggage. As movie-goers, we no longer accept (particularly in our dramas) simple tales of black & white.
I'm thinking of recent efforts staring with UNFORGIVEN, and following through with works like OPEN RANGE, 3:10 TO YUMA, even the Australian THE PROPOSITION. Now comes APPALOOSA, starring, directed by and co-written by Ed Harris. It , too, is "fraught" with undercurrents.
You're probably now thinking that I don't like this trend. You couldn't be more wrong. What westerns can do, more than any other genre right now, is show us how nothing is quite black & white anymore. In UNFORGIVEN, for example, our "heroes" are men weary as heck from always relying on their guns. They've tried to turn to more placid lives, only to find that the world of violence and killing is all they are suited for. And the "bad" sheriff, played by Gene Hackman, is actually capable at delivering some sense of order to his town. It's a "complex" story told in a genre that relies more on archetypes and formula than anything other than perhaps the sports-underdog genre.
APPALOOSA tells the story of another Western town, where the business leaders are under a reign of terror from local rancher and all-around bad guy Jeremy Irons. Irons has killed the local marshal, so the town-leaders employ famous "marshal for hire" Ed Harris, who shows up along with his long-time deputy, Viggo Mortensen. Harris is made the new marshal, and given pretty much unlimited power to do what it takes to clean up.
This part of the plot is not actually terribly interesting. It is done well, but there are no glorious shoot-out scenes. The violence (and there's enough) is fast, brutal and blunt. But most of the time, Mortensen & Harris spend a lot of time sitting around with their guns, just watching for the bad guys. This builds tension, and allows for some nice camera-work and some fun dialogue between Harris and Mortensen. But if there were nothing else to the film, it would be a failure.
However, as with any good western, you've got to have a lady. In this case, that lady is played by Renee Zellweger, a woman of limited means who comes to town and immediately captures the fancy of Harris. While this portion of the movie goes down some very original, surprising and even complex places...I will tell you no more, because I'm not sure how I could without spoiling the fun. Zellweger's character simply shakes up what all these characters think they know...and also defies our expectations of how her relationship with Harris, Mortensen & Irons will play out.
And as you might expect in a movie directed by a laconic, easy-going actor like Ed Harris, the actors are given plenty of room to "act." It's all very low-key, (almost minimalist for Harris and Mortensen), it also very well done.
Irons has the most clichéd character. He lives up the billing of the "bad guy"...but as you might expect, he brings his usual oily smoothness to the part. What he also brings is a touch of indignation. He honestly seems to think that he's not such a bad guy...he's just a rancher determined to run his business. We'd almost buy it, if we hadn't seen some of the other stuff he's capable of. Irons also looks great in the part...western garb seems to suit him.
Zellweger gets a character full of surprising complexity to try on for size, and she mostly acquits herself well. She's becoming so gaunt now that her eyes have nearly disappeared, and she can't quite get by on simply looking cute and spunky anymore. But the film requires more of her, and she delivers. She's not afraid to be unlikable when called for, and that is not something we've seen much from her before. It was a good choice for her because she gets to stretch just a bit, but not completely out of her comfort zone.
Harris does a very nice job as well. As a lawman/gun-for-hire, his character is extremely self-assured, competent, and merciless. But when his heart is captured by a lady for the first time in his life, we see his internal struggle to adjust himself to the idea of trying to make another person happy. This is all done with small gestures and a minimal of talking...but Harris lets us see everything clearly. Director Harris has also made actor Harris as handsome and well-dressed as he possibly could be! Is there any other actor working today who feels more "American?"
Most interesting of all may be Viggo Mortensen. He's the guy who is the "faithful companion" to the more charismatic Harris. He carries the big gun, he does what he is told and he knows when to speak and when to keep quiet. His needs appear to be simple, and his love for his boss is quite evident (just to be clear, this is the "love" between friends). Yet we can also tell that he sees the dynamics of things more clearly than Harris. He understands much sooner and much more deeply just what Zellweger wants and needs. And ultimately, he's willing to risk death to help things work out. His performance also twinkles ever so slightly with good humor, and he and Harris have an easy chemistry that makes us believe these two men have been riding and killing together for a long time. They are beyond thinking if they trust each other...they are, when it comes to shooting and law-making, at least, almost operating as one. (One down note: Mortensen has to deliver some voice-over narration at the very beginning and end of the film. This device feels cheap and unneeded.) Oh, and since I dwelled on everyone else's appearance (something I seldom do), Mortensen looks great as well, except he's given a beard the looks dreadful when filmed from the side.
APPALOOSA doesn't really break any new ground in the genre. But it is still very entertaining, full of surprises and tells a good story. It has humble aspirations, and fills them nicely. You could certainly do far, far worse for two hours of entertainment.
Movie Review: Traditional, Simple, Western that Proves to be a Refreshing Experience
Summary: 4 Stars
I have to say, I have always been a fan of westerns. Honestly, the past few years have been mostly a hit or a miss; some are good, while others always come way short of instant western classics such as "Unforgiven" and "Tombstone". With the recent releases such as "3:10 To Yuma" and "The Assassination of Jesse James" in the U.S., even Asian filmmakers have gotten into the western bandwagon with "Sukiyaki Western Django" from Japan and " The Good, the Bad and the Weird" from Korea--seems like westerns are making a comeback. "APPALOOSA" is the most recent western entry based on a novel by Robert B. Parker and directed by Ed Harris who also plays the lead role along with a very stellar cast. Such a film demands attention, and "Appaloosa" doesn't disappoint.
1882 in the U.S. Mexican territory, two hard cases named Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) have been summoned to Appaloosa because they get the job done and they are the best at what they do--they keep the peace even if it meant creating laws to do it. After the supposed disappearance of the previous town marshal and his two deputies, Cole and Hitch have been hired by desperate town leaders who sign over the town in a matter of minutes. The culprit is a wealthy rancher named Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), who has his band of enforcers and who has been stirring up trouble in the small town. Cole and Hitch are set on a collision course with Bragg's band of hired guns, and to make things much more complicated for Cole, the arrival of Allison French (Renee Zellweger) and this enigmatic woman may be destined to change their lives forever.
The film does have the usual elements of gunplay, friendship and camaraderie, but it also gives a quick look at sacrifice and the means to survive during these dangerous times. Thankfully, this is no sappy love triangle with Hitch, Cole and Allison, otherwise, I wouldn't waste my time. The film does serve up an effective study of the film's situation and harsh times. While much of it is expressed around Cole and Allison's relationship (or lack there of), the relationship between Hitch and Cole is also explored. The time of their partnership is unspecified, but it is a very long time, their partnership had become friendship. Randall Bragg may represent the ultimate opportunist and represents the unfairness of politics while the brothers Ring and Mackie Shelton (Lance Henriksen and Adam Nelson respectively) is the exact opposite of Hitch and Cole. All in all, these folks are doing what they can to survive.
The film's pace is a little slow-moving and for a film with a 115 minute run time, it does feel longer. The direction does have a curiously episodic feel and seemed divided into 3 acts. But this is not a negative comment, since Harris' direction does manage to keep the screenplay interesting and the proceedings did flow nicely. The cinematography is quite impressive as the viewer is given quite a view of its western backdrop (shot mostly in New Mexico) and the costumes look pretty nifty and accurate. "Appaloosa" does feel like a contemporary western, that reveres its genre.
While the film does carry the usual cowboy trappings, the characters are quite compelling. I think the lack of a solid background for its lead characters proved to be an advantage since it maintains some hints of an enigma and the viewer gets to know each one as the film goes along. Harris does manage to flesh them out in a methodical way to favor certain habits, peculiar to each character, that strengthens their actions and reactions, which promotes emotion and serves up characters that breath and their body language says a lot about them. There are also some nicely placed touches of humor with Cole's interactions, whenever he finds himself grasping for the right word.
While the film does have its share of gunfights, which are shot realistically, there aren`t a lot of them. But to its credit, they are nicely executed and kept me guessing as to who would survive that encounter. The film also manages to be a little unpredictable and the closing act does reinforce all the characteristics we've been privy to. It's a good credible pay off and it kept me on my toes, despite its somewhat slow-moving pace.
The performances of its cast is real good and matches Harris` great direction.There is strong chemistry between Mortensen and Harris and they seem to be in familiar territory, they did have some practice working together in the film "A History of Violence" and the two has all the dynamics needed to pull it off. Renee Zellweger is an excellent actress although I have to admit this is not her best role to display her talents, but she does make the most out of what she's got on her plate. Irons is the bad guy and well...he's very bad. Our "heroes" wouldn't be much if weren't for a good villain. The actors are indeed the right people for the right job.
The film's greatest strength is its simplicity and its respect for the western tradition is refreshingly cool. If you're expecting a "shoot-them-up" western then you're more than likely may become disappointed. However, it's slow-moving, but never dull screenplay does pay off and I think "Appaloosa" is a fine addition to the list of western films which stayed true to its traditions and style. Its simplicity is embodied in a tone that is very familiar to fans, realistic doses of violence with a warm, thought-provoking statement.
Highly Recommended! [4 Stars]
The Dvd does sport a great picture and sound quality. The picture is clean although there are some noise in some scenes especially in the dark scenes. The colors are a little muted but they look natural. The 5.1 Dolby Digital track is fitting for this type of film.
Movie Review: REAL WEST
Summary: 4 Stars
For years the movie going public has been fed one of its long term staples, the western, as a story of good versus evil, purity versus villainy, the stalwart angelic hero versus the dirty nasty bad guy. From Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey to James Stewart and Henry Fonda, the good guys remained pure for the most part. But that sort of short changed history.
Good guys were there to uphold the law but at the same times on occasion made the laws to suit their needs. And if they were to break the law, who was there to stop them? And so it goes that while this breed of hero was portrayed as pure in film, the reality was that they weren't quite as nice a good guy as we were led to believe.
That being said, they were good guys. They did protect people. They did uphold the laws brought about by people in towns across the West. And of course, they did kill people. So where does that leave the movies when it comes to depicting the old west and its heroes?
We've either been given the glossed over examples seen most recently in TOMBSTONE (great movie by the way) or we've been given the good guys who are really bad in films like THE WILD BUNCH. But now and then we get a gem of a film that portrays these men of the West for who they actually were, a combination of the two. APPALOOSA is such a film.
Produced by, directed by, screenplay by and starring Ed Harris, the film is a more realistic look at the old West than most have offered. The film opens with a Marshall going out to the ranch of Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons) to arrest two of his men for a murder in town. Bragg refuses to release these men and as the Sheriff and his deputies attempt to arrest them, he shoots and kills them all.
With no where to turn, the folks of Appaloosa turn to Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his friend Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) to help them. Gunslingers, ex-soldiers and previous lawmen, Cole and Hitch do what they do better than anyone. They take on the responsibilities of the town by inflicting their own rules, all of which are of benefit to the townsfolk and not greeted warmly by lawbreakers. Cross the line and you take the chance of being taken down by them both.
As the town's new Marshall and deputy, they decide that the best way to take Bragg in for the killing of the Marshall (and Cole's old friend) is to take him by surprise, which they do. Of course Bragg's men attempt to stop him but back down when faced with no choice. Now it's up to a judge to convict Bragg.
While all of this is going on Allison French (Renee Zellwegger), a young widow, moves into town. Catching the eye of Cole, the pair becomes inseparable. At the same time, Miss French seems to have a roving eye for Hitch as well. But, being the friend he is, Hitch rebukes her advances and holds his tongue for the sake of his friend.
The judge arrives and a guilty sentence is passed. On the train ride to take Bragg to prison for execution, it's jumped by gunslingers Bragg has hired, both old acquaintances of Cole. With Allison as a hostage, they escape but not for long as Cole and Hitch track them down, only to find a surprise waiting for them (nope, no spoiler here for some of you).
The President of the United States, an old friend of Bragg, commutes his sentence and things in Appaloosa change. Loyalties alter, the desires of the town's city fathers changes and Cole and Hitch find themselves still enforcing the law but with a bit of a jaundiced eye. It's only a matter of time before a final showdown, a final confrontation and a fitting end to the twisted tales that revolve around one another come to a conclusion. And it's not what you might expect.
The movie plays well, offering a realistic glimpse of the old West. It doesn't sugar coat it but at the same time offers tribute to what it was as well. One need not go for the creased jeans of Roy Rogers but at the same time sink into the whiskey addled minds of the Wild Bunch. Instead we have a combination of the two and a more telling tale of those who dared to enforce the law by any means necessary.
Harris does a fantastic job, especially for wearing so many ten gallon hats while making this film. His character is a violent man who longs for more peaceful times. But this doesn't mean his anger won't flare on occasion. Mortensen has become a force to be reckoned with in his own right as an actor over the years. His portrayals of heroes from the Rings trilogy to this film offer more complex heroes than we've been offered in the past. And everything increases in value because of this. Irons does bad guys like no one else. You seriously want to be the one to take him down. The weakest of the leads here is Zellweger who for me just doesn't feel believable to me.
The film feels like a combination of the old and the new, the story of a good guy who might not be so good on the outside but whose heart helps in a lawless land. It tells the tale of a dedicated friendship that plays between the main characters. And it offers that glimpse of the West in action and location that makes you wish you had the chance to explore the hills and towns seen. Its perhaps one of the best westerns I've seen in ages and ranks among the best ever. For fans of the genre, this is one not to miss.
Movie Review: A Well-Crafted, Enjoyable Western
Summary: 4 Stars
Last year I saw a trailer for Appaloosa, the cinematic adaptation of Robert B. Parker's western novel, directed by Ed Harris, starring Harris and Viggo Mortensen. This trailer got me very excited, as I've been a huge fan of Parker's for a very long time, I love westerns, and Ed Harris is not only a damn fine actor but a superior director as well (proven in 2000's Pollock). And Viggo's no slouch either, nor is Jeremy Irons, who's also in the film.
But Appaloosa had actually sat unread on my shelf for a couple of years because Parker's previous foray into the old West, Gunman's Rhapsody (a novel about Wyatt Earp, one of my favorite historical figures), had been a disappointment. I'd intended to get to it (thus the fact it was on the shelf at all), but hadn't yet. Since I generally prefer to read a book before seeing the movie it inspires, I immediately rescued Appaloosa from its lonely spot and dove in.
Short review: the book's awesome. These old West peacekeepers walk the same metaphorical mean streets as Parker's other tough guys, like Spenser, Hawk, and Jesse Stone, dusty as the streets in the town of Appaloosa may be. The familiar Parker themes are all here, the honor and friendship between men, the unflagging devotion to a woman loved (even when it's probably not deserved), the violent life lived according to a code...and all that stuff works perfectly in this milieu. Additionally, as Parker himself has aged, his treatment of these themes has deepened; there is more of a sense of human fallibility in his characters these days, and the codes they live by don't always serve them well.
Finishing the book, I was even more jazzed about the movie. But for various reasons, I didn't manage to get out to see it in the theater, so my excitement shifted to the day it was due on DVD (and, more importantly to me with my PS3, Blu-Ray), which was this past Tuesday.
I watched it, and really enjoyed it, though it doesn't ascend to the level of some other westerns in recent years, like 2007's dynamite remake of 3:10 to Yuma. It's full of great performances, very true to the novel, gorgeously shot, and every detail onscreen is researched and thought out, from the stamped tin stars worn by the lawmen to the varying architectural styles of a frontier town built piecemeal over time by people of differing cultural backgrounds. It's not an action film, maintaining the low-key and straightforward tone and pace of Parker's novel, and ultimately works best as a character drama rather than an adventure story. To some, it may actually be too realistic for a good western. To others, it may rise above other films in the genre for that very reason.
Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen have incredible chemistry, both laconic but Harris very stolid and forthright while Mortensen's more playful and ironic. Jeremy Irons is, go figure, a great villain, but beyond that, he is such a perfect western bad guy it's amazing he's never been in one before. The cast beyond them is full of great character actors like Lance Henriksen, Timothy Spall, and James Gammon, who all bring their characters vividly to life. The only role I'd have cast differently was Allie: Renee Zellweger doesn't really bring much to the character.
The book was more satisfying overall, though I have little doubt I'd have enjoyed the film more had I not read the book first. Still, I did really like the movie, and it put me back in the mood to read Parker's follow-up books, Resolution and Brimstone.
One odd note, especially considering the incredible effort Harris and his team put into making a film so authentic to its period, was that as the credits roll, a Tom Petty (Mudcrutch) song starts to play. It's a fine enough tune, but I hate when Hollywood does this. It just doesn't fit. Then, as is my wont, I let the credits play, and after the Petty tune, another more appropriate song started up, and I instantly recognized the voice of the singer: Ed Harris. I watched the credits to see if I was right, and sure enough, the song "You'll Never Leave My Heart" was not only sung by Harris, it was co-written by him. And while Harris's rough performance doesn't reach Johnny Cash levels, he does hover in Robert "Thunder Road" Mitchum territory, and fares far better than Lee "Born Under A Wanderin' Star" Marvin. Not only was the song absolutely appropriate for the film, unlike the Petty, it was good enough I now have it on my iPod.