Sunday, October 19, 2008

One step forward, two steps back...



Woot! First movie Ive went to since starting this blog. Unfortunately it was Appaloosa starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen and the she-beast known as Renee Zelweger. I actually like westerns, I know thier popularity have declined over the last few decades but every now and again a good one shines thru the muck released by Hollywood, such as Unforgiven and last years awesome 3:10 to Yuma. Most of the time though, we are subjected to atrocities as The Quick and the Dead and now Appaloosa. Directed by the also starring Ed Harris, Appaloosa tells the story of two peace keepers hired by a town to clear up some bad people who are running rough shod over the town. While dealing with these fellas led by Jeremy Irons, they also deal with the arrival of a woman they both have an eye for even though the woman is played by Renee Zelweger, which does point out one good thing about this film and thats the incredible acting by both Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. This is also what brings about the failing of this film. Once Ms. Zelweger's character is introduced, the film loses track and cant quite figure out if wants to be an actual western or a romance. Seems to be a mish mash of dissapointing action scenes that have very little action and probably the worst gunfight in the history of the western genre with no tension between what is somehow supposed to be a love triangle Im guessing. A whole lot of nonsense and incredibly stupid leaps in logic by many characters and one annoying scenario that keeps repeating itself with nothing being done about it all lead to the complete failure this film becomes. If you like westerns go rent 3:10 to Yuma again and bypass Appaloosa all together. I give Appaloosa, on the Heath-scale a score of 3 out of 10.

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