Appaloosa Movie Review

Appaloosa doesn't try to be different. It fits in with all the old westerns. It's an enjoyable cowboy film with beautiful cinematography and beautiful costuming.

Viggo Mortensen is a great cowboy. Of course we already saw him as Frank T. Hopkins in Hidalgo, his character here is a little new and different. He and Ed Harris play great off of each other and their conversations were my favorite parts of the whole movie.

Zellweger is good, but nothing special. But she doesn't really have a likable character either. And though she does it well, it is really her character that ruins the ending for me. Hitch's (Viggo) actions are honorable, but it's hard not to find Cole (Ed) a little dumb and Mrs. French (Zellweger) somewhat repulsive.

I thought, after first seeing it, that the ideal ending would have been to have her get shot jumping in front of Bragg and for both Cole and Hitch to ride away together. But with time to let the movie soak in, the actual ending has sort of grown on me.

The story is fairly simple, but interesting. It perhaps could be a little tighter, but overall I enjoyed it and it's definently one of the best films I've seen in theaters in a while.

I would recommend it and give it 3 stars.