Audiences expect certain things from a Western: stock characters, dusty plains and men of few words who occasionally deliver well-placed one-liners (we all remember Eli Wallach's stoic delivery of, When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk,"" in ""The Good, the Bad and the Ugly""). These audiences understand surprises are limited to who's going to get shot and who's going to live. But somebody's definitely going to get shot. The important thing when filming a Western is to do it well, keep those one-liners memorable instead of corny and provide those classic moments of frontier-man bravery.
""Appaloosa"" uses its strong characters, well-developed relationships and great cinematography to distinguish itself just enough, and it doesn't hurt that Jeremy Irons makes one hell of a bad guy.
Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen play longtime pals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, respectively. Cole is the sheriff and Hitch is his deputy, and they've been hired to police a small town that's been over-run by bad guys (led by Irons and his raggedy crew of buffoons with bad teeth). Cole, meanwhile, is a man who fights his feelings and, appropriately, has trouble articulating himself. Hitch, the trusty sidekick, is constantly finishing Cole's sentences and making sacrifices for him. Their deep-seated friendship is beautifully crafted: they understand each other, put an enormous amount of trust in each other and can communicate with a wink, nod or grimace.
This dynamic duo forms the movie's foundation, even as their friendship is put to the test by a feisty female played by Renée Zellweger. Zellweger's character, Allison French, appears to be a refined and well-mannered woman. However, what fuels this untraditional female character is her desire for social and economic security. This desire manifests itself in her allegiance to whoever has power. No one blames her, though. Life is hard for women too, and in the western world, it's every man and woman for him/herself. Except, of course, when it comes to Cole and Hitch's unwavering relationship.
The only problem is there's no real danger in the movie. It never seems to reach a climax. Instead, it glides along effortlessly, showing the audience the everyday trials and tribulations of a couple of old-time lawmen. Life is hard. Sometimes people shoot at you. But you have to make a living somehow, and if you're good with a gun, well...
Grade: AB
