How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:151
Fresh:115
Rotten:36
Average Rating:6.6/10
Consensus: A traditional genre western, Appaloosa sets itself apart with smart psychology, an intriguing love triangle, and good chemistry between the leads.
Theatrical Release:26-09-2008
Synopsis: Actor Ed Harris takes only his second stab at directing, following the Oscar-winning feature POLLOCK (2000) with this spirited western. Harris draws on a strong cast, many of whom have acted with... [More]
Starring: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons
Director: Ed Harris
It is as though Harris could not decide whether he was making the classic western of his boyhood dreams, or merely a pastiche of it. The result, falling somewhere between the two, ends up being neither here nor there.
A gentle, warmly human and quietly compelling western with a wry sense of humour and some engaging performances from a group of fine actors.
Hardly a fresh perspective on genre traditions, it’s still got the performances and glorious landscapes to win you over.
Top CriticWhile there's nothing particularly original about the plot, the characters and the way they interact with each other are strikingly played
Enjoyable, frequently offbeat western with an intriguing script and terrific performances from Harris and Mortensen.
This, though, is not so much a comedy as a western with the ironic undertones that someone like Hawks would appreciate while telling a story such as Rio Bravo.
Too much romance makes the movie sag near the end and the plot could have gone in a more interesting direction. But if you are wild about Westerns, saddle up for Appaloosa.
In all, it’s a magnificent ride and certainly one of the finest films of the year.
If a western is going to be this slow, it needs to have a lot more tension, and deeper meaning, than this one.
A classics-steeped western that rams home tradition over reinvention, Appaloosa kicks it hard as a buddy pic on horseback. Harris and Mortensen’s study in laid-back companionship is the principal pleasure, leaving Zellweger mired in role that does her and
As comfortable as an old saddle and as sharp as an Apache arrow, this a Western for the modern era.
A pity that Harris's homage to westerns should be compromised so intrusively. For most of its length, in terms of its themes, pacing and visual sweep, it's a treat.
Top CriticPhotographed handsomely with wide-angled majesty, the film does precious little myth-making, though Harris subtly twists some of the genre's conventions.
Top CriticThis is no revisionist western designed to shock life into an unfashionable genre, rather a film that respects the conventions of the traditional western.
Top CriticA western that moseys along in amiable style, largely thanks to the chemistry between Harris and Mortensen.
Top CriticThese are horse-opera fundamentals; having given them short shrift, the film just shuffles down its lonesome trail into the horizon and out of your memory.
Top CriticA dusty, old-fashioned Western with a dusty, old-fashioned vibe. You can all but smell the saddle soap as the story unfolds.
There's considerable pleasure in Appaloosa's respect for the undramatic. It doesn't go where you'd expect...
Click to read the article
True, the film is a little long, and it loses momentum at one stage, but generally speaking this is a most enjoyable return to what was once the cinema’s most popular genre.
April 18, 2009:
Crackling eccentric verbal wit as Harris' marshal seeks to 'button up this town tighter than a nun's corset' while overcome by Zellweger's irresistible flirty charms, because she 'chews her food nicely and even takes a bath before going to bed. 
More...
January 13, 2009:
Crackling eccentric verbal wit as Harris' marshal seeks to 'button up this town tighter than a nun's corset' while overcome by Zellweger's irresistible flirty charms, because she 'chews her food nicely and even takes a bath before going to bed.
More...
January 10, 2009:
Crackling eccentric verbal wit as Harris' marshal seeks to 'button up this town tighter than a nun's corset' while overcome by Zellweger's irresistible flirty charms, because she 'chews her food nicely and even takes a bath before going to bed.
More...
October 02, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Chihuahua to Overtake Multiplexes
Hollywood kicks off the fourth quarter with a stampede of new releases that will test the elasticity of the marketplace. Ambulances are already on standby to rush the high... More...
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN.com |
GameSpy |
Comrade |
Arena |
FilePlanet |
GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox |
Planets |
Vaults |
VE3D |
CheatsCodesGuides |
GameStats |
GamerMetrics
AskMen.com |
Rotten Tomatoes |
Direct2Drive |
Green Pixels
IGN RSS Feeds
Comment
