Appaloosa.

Appaloosa is a very old-fashioned western. It does not fit in line with the more recent flux of modern-day westerns such as Assassination of Jesse James, There Will Be Blood, and (to some extent) No Country For Old Men. The most recent comparison that I can think of is 2004's Open Range, which in my mind, was the superior of the two.

This is not to say that I did not enjoy the film. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen have great on-screen chemistry and there are plenty of humorous moments between the two characters.

The film also delivers on the expected quota of shoot-outs that any western fan would appreciate. When they happen they happen fast, a fact that is amusingly observed by the two leads during one devastating gun battle.

The problem with this film is that everything seems overly familiar. Though I cannot always pinpoint where I have seen particular scenes before, I still feel that I have seen them, and you are never in any doubt as to where the film is heading. I went in to this film not knowing that it was an adaptation of a novel. After also hearing that it is a very 'faithful' adaptation I am led to believe that any narrative familiarity is most likely the fault of the source material and not that of Ed Harris, who of course co-wrote the the screenplay. As it stands, Harris' direction is handled very nicely, and the film certainly looks beautiful enough.

The only other gripe I have is the casting of Renee Zellweger. I have nothing against her personally. She's a fine actress who has proved herself many times with the likes of Cold Mountain, Bridget Jones, and Chicago. But she does not fit in the role she is given here and I spent most of her screen time wishing someone else in the part.

Despite these grumbles Appaloosa is a well made example of the genre that probably deserves more recognition than the average Friday night pop-corn trash that Hollywood has a tendency to put out.

6/10