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APPALOOSA

With Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Lance Henriksen, James Gammon, Timothy V. Murphy, Rex Linn

Written by Robert Knott & Ed Harris (based on the novel by Robert B. Parker)
Directed by Ed Harris

This labour of love brought together some prominent names to tell the story of a lawman for hire and his deputy (in the 1820s), settling in the town of Appaloosa when hired to maintain law & order. Briggs, the local badass and his posse of scumbags killed the previous sheriff when he came to arrest two of them for rape and murder. The new law in town is fearless and brings him in. These two men don't take any shit, not even when outnumbered by the gang of itchy-trigger-fingers. But men are often very similar even when found at opposite ends of the law, but the choice comes in to do the right or the wrong thing.
As to be expected, the men upholding the law are also flawed human beings.
This character-driven piece retains a lot of what one would expect of a Western, but focuses on the relationship between Virgil, the woman he falls for and his quiet but deadly deputy. When Virgil's love interest is kidnapped by Briggs it further shapes their fates, revealing even more truths and disappointments in this new land of opportunity.
Harris lends a sense of reality to this well-known setting and scenario, digging into the emotions of the characters as opposed to creating a flash spectacle.

Extra features include a look at the making of the movie and some of the historic accuracies, from the clothing to the weapons.

4 / C
- Paul Blom


0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B
- C


6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temp.
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice

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