tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5691401987880452768.post8684485956468299904..comments2022-03-25T07:04:39.303-07:00Comments on Themroc - Blog für Genrekino, Arthouse, Mainstream: Lakonie: Ed Harris' APPALOOSAthemrochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688704404958708358noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5691401987880452768.post-50063819537905868452009-04-28T01:10:00.000-07:002009-04-28T01:10:00.000-07:00I saw Appaloosa on the plane and I was quite surpr...I saw Appaloosa on the plane and I was quite surprised by the film. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen are always reliable actors as is Jeremy Irons, but the sore point of the movie is Renee Zellwegger. She was bad, and it just seems to me she gets worse with every movie.<br /><br />Like you, the movie reminded me of early 1990’s westerns such as Tombstone or the lesser known Quigley Down Under. Two old dogs riding into town, wanting to settled down a bit after a famous career but getting involved in a last bout for justice. But what was actually interesting about the film is the very low-key tone and profile. Harris’ character doesn’t try to make waves and is quite simple in his way of life. Mortensen’s character is expected to be flamboyant, perhaps due to his «Doc Holliday» style, but he’s also quite simple. And as far as bad guys go, Jeremy Irons is both sympathetic and unabashing, which fits Irons acting style quite well.<br />As for the shots themselves, they contained (perhaps this was due to the tiny screen I watched it on) very tight frames that seldom focused on the faces or provided landscapes. Was the movie shot for television? The camera work certainly gave that impression and gave the impression of 1950’s tv theatre.<br /><br />My knowledge of westerns is somewhat limited but a character movie rather than a gunslingin' classic always seems more appropriate to me for this type of movie. After all, the West was about breaking the barrier, about people longing for a new life. In this sense, Appaloosa is not only spot on on but also one of the year's best surprises.Ymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06156168747296657237noreply@blogger.com