The Telescope

Issue Date: 10/6/08

'Appaloosa' puts audience to sleep

By Kelley Foyt

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo Norah (Kat Dennings) and Nick (Michael Cera) star in "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist."

Typical western movies involve cowboys, Indians and fast draw shooting. There's not many new things Hollywood can bring to the table. Though "Appaloosa" does bring somewhat of a twist to this tired formula, the end product is still pretty mediocre.

The plot is hardly satisfying, and leaves room for more. Don't get yourself hyped up for any intense action scenes before seeing this movie.

"Appaloosa" is actually a story predominantly based on friendship, with underlying themes of love and adventure.

Based on the book of the same name by Robert B. Parker, the story is told through the eyes of Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortenson).

There are no. interactions between characters unless Everett is somewhere in the scene. The movie opens with Everett's and Virgil Cole's (Ed Harris) arrival in Appaloosa, a town afflicted by a greedy rancher named Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons). The two friends strike a deal with the town leaders, and they are hired to save the town from Randall. Virgil becomes the town marshal, while Everett suits up to a position as Virgil's sidekick, the deputy.

Allie French (Renee Zellweger) arrives to complicate matters. A beautiful and fashionable widow, Allie captures the eye of both Virgil and Everett. Allie falls for Virgil while Everett stands by and watches. The plot unfolds as a witness comes forward to announce that Randall was the one who killed Appaloosa's previous deputy and sheriff. Randall is arrested, tried and sentenced, but his followers free him, leading to a long chase through the Wild West.

"Appaloosa's" saving grace is the humorous dialogue mixed into the drama. The audience remained engaged throughout the scenes due to the character's witty and sharp remarks, and there were more than a few laugh-out-loud moments.

At one point in the movie, Allie bluntly asks Virgil how long he's been killing people for a living.

Without missing a beat, Virgil replies by saying, "I don't kill people for a living. I enforce the law. Killing is sometimes a byproduct." Harris' satirical tone makes the statement more amusing than morbid.

The second worthwhile aspect of "Appaloosa" is centered on the set and costumes. The audience chattered the whole way out of the theatre about how they felt like the set was so realistic that they almost felt like they were actually in the Wild West.

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