appaloosa

this is a pretty good western if you’re into westerns.  otherwise you ain’t missing much.

what makes it a true western i think is the way they used the scenery as part of the movie.  very john ford-ish.

ed harris is the bad assed, grizzley old law man that just happens to have writing credit on the screenplay that falls for renee zellweger who apparently came to the frontier to hook up with some old grizzled something.  i really have no idea what she’s doing way out there if it ain’t whoring.

she plays the piano at one of the nicer saloons.  not even a dead husband rancher backstory.  nothing.  she’s pointless except ed harris needs someone to fall in love with.

viggo mortenson plays ed harris’s bad assed sidekick who’s always got ed’s back thanks to a twenty gauge, lever action rifle.  and that is pretty bad assed.

jeremy irons plays the bad assed guy with all the money who’s trying to take over the town first with his thugs, then with his money.  just basically to get under ed harris’s skin is what the part of jememy irons plays.  and he plays it well.  i wanted to come across the screen and smack his snide face a couple of times.

so like i said, if you’re into westerns, check it out.  i give it two ten gallon hats out of five.