Mikes Film Talk

The 2008 western Appaloosa turns gunfighting on its head. There is no quickdraw here. Instead we have the “who shoots straightest wins.” Ed Harris co-wrote this one, along with Robert Knott. It is adapted from the Robert B Parker novel.

Ed Harris is one of the best in terms of acting. His directorial skills, are also top notch. He proves it in this 2008 slow but interesting western. Starring in, co-writing the script (based on the Robert B. Parker novel of the same name) and Harris also produces this one. It shows just how much the star wanted this film made. Choosing Dean Semler (Dances With Wolves, Maleficent) as his DP shows how much he wanted his vision to look spot on.

A few problems

In fact, the only real shame, or problem, with Appaloosa was the necessity of having to recast Allie. Diane Lane was the original choice and Zellweger was a last minute replacement. Certainly the Bridget Jones star was acceptable in the role, but, with Lane in the part, one imagines sheer perfection. (I will admit a certain prejudice here, I do like Renee Zellweger but, I adore Diane Lane.)

Taking almost a literal view of the westerns genre, the two main protagonists resemble Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. I have not read the Parker book which the film is based on. So it is not clear idea comes from. Regardless of where it originates, the allusion works. It should be pointed out that appearances are where these resemblances end. Both Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are very different from the real-life western icons they favor.

The story

Virgil and Everatt are hired to tame a town where the last sheriff was murdered by a local rancher. The rancher and his men are running roughshod over the town and its citizens. These two men are well equipped to handle this task as is evidenced with their first lawful act.

Virgil is a taciturn man who can only really focus on one task at a time. While trying to better himself, reading the works of Emerson and checking with West Point graduate Everett (played wonderfully by Viggo Mortensen) when the vocabulary proves too taxing, he kills when his potential prisoners resist arrest. Hitch, his educated former Army officer partner of 12 years, is also quick to shoot and backs Cole’s plays whatever they entail.

This tale deals with, on its surface, the story of a long partnership of “mobile lawmen.” Rancher Randall Bragg (played by Jeremy Irons) finally stumbles when he personally murders the city marshal and two deputies in cold blood in front of a bevy of witnesses.

Only one young man steps forward to testify. This is enough to guarantee a noose for Bragg’s neck. The rancher is to be transported to a local prison. There they will help him meet his maker. Things do not go as planned and the remainder of the film is about personal issues between the three men and the woman who tries to play with all of them.

Allie French is a woman who confesses to Virgil that, “I’m afraid of everything.” At his urging she reveals a list of things that terrify her. Near the top of the list is her fear that she attached to the wrong man. This leads to her tendency to sleep with any Alpha Male she comes across. She is in a relationship with Cole. So this is troublesome. It does seems that Virgil accepts this “character flaw.

Something to notice

The film is a great treat for western fans as it does look fantastic. The sets, the lighting, the props, the guns are authentic and used properly, and the costumes all appear pretty much spot on. What is interesting is the way that Cole has opted to film the gunfights.

Appaloosa choses Clint Eastwood’s The Outlaw Josey Wales method of gunplay. There are no Spaghetti Western quickdraws here. Where the protagonist whips out his six gun and fans the hammer back to quickly shoot down multiple adversaries before they clear leather. The film starts, when town leaders hire Cole and Hitch take on four of Bragg’s men in a saloon.

The story part deux

When two of the toughs, who are urinating in the bar’s spittoons, brace the new marshal and reach for their guns, Virgil almost leisurely pulls his pistol, cocks and shoots each one with deadly results. Hitch takes care of one cowboy behind Cole with his 8-gauge shotgun and the fourth declines to become involved in this mini bloodbath.

Later in the film, two more gunfights erupt and in each, the participants enter the fray with guns already drawn. Revolvers held down at their sides, the men face one another and “make their move” when they believe that the advantage is theirs. The gunfights are fast, “That happened quick,” says a prone Hitch. “Everybody could shoot,” replies Cole who is laying flat on his back with a “busted knee.”

As the traveling marshal points out early in the film, and later Hitch does the same, gunmen who become lawmen do so because “they can.” In other words they have the ability to shoot straight and fast with no thought of their own safety. The film’s penultimate shootout proves that not all gunmen are created equal. Even those considered excellent can be killed.

In the film’s romance, Zellweger’s piano playing Mrs. French and Harris’ single-minded marshal make an odd couple. Their relationship is interesting as it is awkward. Just as awkward is Allie’s tinkling of the ivories. At all times more perfunctory than musical. Full of mishit keys and notes, the playing matches the woman’s personality. Something about Allie just does not fit and focussing on her mangled playing of the piano highlights this perfectly.

The verdict

Appaloosa proves yet again that Ed Harris sits well in the director’s chair, his previous film was Pollock (2000). The film is a good 3.5 out of 5 stars; mainly because of Zellweger and the slow pace of the film itself as well as the offbeat soundtrack. Harking back to Howard Hawks’ El Dorado and its ultra modern music that, to me, was a mistake. *Although as time has gone by, I’ve grown to appreciate the score.*

Appaloosa uses a similar musical theme and it does not fit. *This may just be a personal bugbear of this viewer.* The film is available to stream on roku and YouTube. Fans of the genre need to check this one out if they have not already done so.

the trailer