APPALOOSA

cast: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellwegger, Jeremy Irons

directed by Ed Harris

studio: New Line Cinema

release date: Oct 3, 2008

Hollywood decides to revisit its Western days with the latest flick of that genre. APPALOOSA brings together powerhouse talents of Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons and Renee Zellweger.

The film is directed by Ed Harris himself, his second after POLLOCK.

Set in 1882 in the Old West territory of New Mexico, “Appaloosa” revolves around city marshal Virgil Cole (Harris) and his deputy and partner Everett Hitch (Mortensen), who have made their reputation as peacekeepers in the lawless towns springing up in the untamed land.

In the small mining community of Appaloosa, a ruthless, powerful rancher named Randall Bragg (Irons) has allowed his band of outlaws to run roughshod over the town. After the cold-blooded murder of Appaloosa’s city marshal, Cole and Hitch are hired to bring the murderer to justice.

While establishing new authority with equal parts grit and guns, Cole and Hitch meet provocative newcomer Allison French (Zellweger), whose unconventional ways threaten to undermine their progress and to destroy the two lawmen’s decade-old partnership.

A good ol love traingle, for a good ol western flick ...it is yet to be seen if this one has the legs to stay on course!

PANEL ROOM

Ed Harris makes a rather satisfactory directorial venture from the looks of it. However the film only ends on a rather satisfactory note without really aiming for the skies. So looks like it is a decent westerner that needs to ride on the USP of having Harris and Mortensen together. Actress Zellweger however ends up being the weakling in this one. But it would require a lot of promotion to stay afloat because, afterall it is a Westerner.

Flaws aside, Appaloosa remains a valid reason to be thankful that, while Westerns may no longer be as victorious at the box office , they are not dead. - REELVIEW 3/4

It’s no classic, but the pairing of Harris and Mortensen makes it rather special nonetheless. ONE GUYS OPINION B-

Harris leaves Appaloosa stuck in a limbo: It's too authentic to be populist, yet too familiar to transcend the genre and hang with the bona fide classics. FILMTHREAT 3/5

Overall it's a satisfying journey that doesn't require too much examination, even though Harris won't successfully revive the Western as America's most beloved genre CINEMABLEND 3.5/5

It's less a western than a loping buddy picture. In the end what you have is a mixed bag CHICAGO TRIBUNE 2.5/4