Appaloosa | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's note: As redundant as a pacing lost soul, I am loathe to admit, Wyatt is probably our most read writer. Over a month ago, March 12, 2012, I was perusing our sister publication, Better Angels Now, and I noticed that so many of Wyatt's reviews, of the many fine films that occupy the public's interest, have not been availed to our readers through our Beaufort County Now publication.

    Consequently, over the next many weeks, we will endeavor to remedy this mild injustice by publishing these reviews, in our current improved format, for your edification. Here below is our tenth in a series of these older articles of interest by our good friend, Wyatt Sanderman Day.

   
The Western Genre Survives, and with Memorable Films like "Appaloosa" It Will Endure

    Thank-you Ed Harris for bringing to the "silver screen," and my 40" Liquid Crystal Display, a subtle and beautifully filmed story of the old southwest that keeps the "Western" motif alive for future generations. Ed Harris; leading man, director, sharing screenplay duties and who actually sings one of the two closing credits songs, is responsible for the film "Appaloosa." And it is a mighty fine film: in fact, it is the fine films, like "Appaloosa," that inspire me to wade through the many lesser movies, some that really should have never been made, to find an "Appaloosa" and expose its qualities to you.

    I must admit, I am a sucker for a well made "Western." I do truly love the old John Ford films with John Wayne. "Lonesome Dove" is my favorite "Western" of all time, and sadly, probably will never be equaled. Of late, Kevin Costner has made "Dances with Wolves," "Wyatt Earp" and the under appreciated "Open Range." Clint Eastwood returned to the "Western" genre to produce with gritty realism "Unforgiven," and in recent years "3:10 to Yuma," and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" are fine "Westerns." And as wonderful as all of these films are, in the genre they represent, there have been precious few made in the last 20 years. Thankfully, most of them that have been made are very good to outstanding: made well enough, that the late great John Ford would add his nod of approval.

    "Appaloosa" is a member in good standing of this august group, and thankfully, will give the collective audience an appetite for more "Westerns," with the hope that directors and producers continue the lofty goal of making them at the attainable level of art. This film mostly uses as a backdrop the fictional town of Appaloosa, New Mexico, where the story unfolds as a morality play of good versus evil, and all other human conditions identifiable in between.

    The townsfolk have lost their town marshal and his deputies, and now with the malevolent Mr. Randall Bragg, portrayed with estimable malice by the talented Jeremy Irons, terrorizing the citizenry, the town aldermen bring in two guns for hire, who in the past have been lawmen. Enter Virgil Cole, a man with some territorial notoriety portrayed by Ed Harris, and Everett Hitch, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer who is an easy talking sidekick, portrayed by Vigo Mortensen, as the new town marshal and his deputy, respectively, and, as their avocation does stipulate, they do impose their will upon all who stand in their way.
In Jeremy Irons, as Randall Bragg, you have the indispensable "Western" villain - rich, powerful, greedy, violent, ruthless. In Virgil Cole, Ed Harris, you have the consummate "Western" hero - poorer, powerful, generous, violent and ruthless: Above. By no means could he, alone, handle Bragg and his boys; however, Everett Hitch, Vigo Mortensen, and his big 10 gauge, had his back: Below.
    Virgil with his reputation as a gunman and his no nonsense approach to law enforcement and Everett with his calm intellect and his imposing eight gauge goose gun (50" long) are a more than capable team to restore the order. Their easy manner around each displayed the quiet strength of the two men, who understood each others moves, motives and moreover, trust each others honor and integrity. The dialogue between these two men is so spare, and yet so rich in the depth of commonality that exists between them. One can read their motivations articulated in the fines lines of their rugged expressive faces. The chemistry between these two fine actors, as they interweave the emotions and rich humor of their characters, is exemplary, and which usually must exist if the "Western" can be transformed into a memorable film.
The classic "Western" saloon / restaurant scene, where villain meets hero, and obligatory woman of questionable repute, here from (left to right): Virgil Cole, Ed Harris - Allison French, Renee Zellweger - Everett Hitch, Vigo Mortensen, Randall Bragg, Jeremy Irons: Above. Renee Zellweger as Allison French, the needy woman in all of their lives: Below.
    Renee Zellweger, as the refined but needful Allison French, walks from the boiling steam locomotive down the main street of Appaloosa, and into the lives of nearly every man, who are together or at odds in this film. Miss French is a widow and on her last dollar, looking for security in a man. Virgil, who takes "Ally" under his wing and into his bed, on several occasions asked Everett, what motivates Ally's nature?

    Everett answered on one occasion, "I think Ally needs a man." And at another juncture, when Virgil and Everett faced great peril, Everett answered, "I think she wants to be with the boss stallion."

    Virgil retorts, "there's only one stallion in a herd."

    And then Everett punctuates the exchange with, "At a time." No verbosity here. Just great dialogue and magnificent acting.
Everett Hitch (left), the best sidekick a violent, ruthless lawman like Virgil Cole (right), Ed Harris, could ever hope to have: Above. Everett Hitch never strayed far from his big 10 gauge: Above.
    "Appaloosa" boasts many veteran actors, aside from Harris, Irons, Mortensen and Zellweger, that not only fill the gaps, but enrich this fine visual tapestry of the Old West. Timothy Spall and James Gammon as two of the town aldermen and Lance Henricksen as the nemesis fellow gunman / lawman Ring Shelton round out a fine supporting cast.

    The cinematography is an important ingredient in any fine film and "Appaloosa" is no exception as it is shot for maximum effect. The attention to the detail of any period piece is paramount and the sets and the costumes are a major component in the presentation of this outstanding film that rates an easy 3 3/4 stars to this reviewer and at 115 minutes of runtime, I not only spent my time wisely, I will probably watch it a second time once I place a copy of Appaloosa in my library.

    Released on DVD January 13, 2009. Rated R.