One of the best Westerns (along with 2007's remake of 3:10 to Yuma) since 2003's Open Range, this refreshingly straightforward horse opera of the “town tamer” school stars Ed Harris (who also directed) as steely-nerved, gun-fighting lawman Virgil Cole, who arrives with his longtime deputy Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) in the New Mexico town of Appaloosa, where he's been hired to bring law and order. Appaloosa is being terrorized by ruthless cattle baron Randall Brigg (Jeremy Irons), who killed the previous marshal and promises the same for Virgil if he gets in the way. Sparks fly when Cole arrests Brigg and puts him on trial for murder, and the rancher retaliates by having the marshal's new lady friend (Renee Zellweger) kidnapped. Adapted from the novel by hardboiled fiction writer Robert B. Parker, Appaloosa sports wry and witty dialogue, plentiful but not gratuitous action, and frontier locations that are picturesquely lensed by ace cinematographer Dean Semler. Although new Westerns are few and far between these days, Appaloosa is a welcome example of the genre. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Ed Harris and screenwriter/producer Robert Knott, an 11-minute featurette on “Historic Accuracy,” a featurette on “Bringing the Characters of Appaloosa to Life” (8 min.), “The Town of Appaloosa” location featurette (5 min.), “Dean Semler's Return to the Western” on the cinematographer (5 min.), and trailers. Also included is a bonus digital copy. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a winning Western.] (E. Hulse)
Appaloosa
Warner, 115 min., R, DVD: $28.99, <span class=SpellE>Blu</span>-ray: $35.99, Jan. 13 Volume 24, Issue 2
Appaloosa
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