Westerns remain a neglected genre but as anyone who caught last year's 3:10 To Yuma can attest, each new arrival is generally worth seeing. E
Star rating ****
Dir: Ed Harris
With: Ed Harris, Renee Zellweger, Jeremy Irons
Westerns remain a neglected genre but as anyone who caught last year's 3:10 To Yuma can attest, each new arrival is generally worth seeing. Ed Harris's Appaloosa is another worthy addition to the western, a labour of love (he co-adapted, directs and stars in it) that follows lawman Virgil Cole (Harris) and best friend Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) as they attempt to rid the town of Appaloosa of a violent rancher Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons) - a task complicated by the arrival of the provocative Allison French (Renee Zellweger). Unfolding at a leisurely pace, Harris's film boasts strong performances and a sharp eye for detail. There are revisionist nods in the gunplay, but the tone is mostly traditional. Mortensen, as ever, rides off with the best moments.
Reviewed by Rob Carnevale
