When Viggo Mortensen begins his voiceover narration in “Appaloosa,” you might wonder whether he just woke up from a nap — but no, it turns out this flat, laid-back delivery is the style of the rest of the movie.
This Western, directed by and starring Ed Harris, is as laconic as the old cowboy stars, even if it has a running joke about the main character’s fondness for fifty-cent words. Slow and dry, but not without humor, this film is destined for audiences who aren’t wired to quick cuts and regular explosions.
It’s based on a novel by Robert B. Parker, the writer whose terrific private-eye character, Spenser, is his main claim to fame. Harris and Robert Knott adapted the screenplay, which springs from an age-old Western format: the lawman who comes to clean up a dirty, dirty town.
In this case, the marshal-for-hire is Virgil Cole (Harris), a man who has developed a defined system for keeping the peace: Lay down strict laws, shoot the bad guys when they resist.
Mortensen plays Virgil’s longtime compadre, Everett Hitch, a fellow who lets his interesting facial hair do his talking. Both men excel at gunplay, indulge in occasional (but brief) philosophical musings and keep their hats on. There are only rare moments when we see either character without his wide-brimmed Stetson.
That’s one of the reasons I liked this movie. It is clearly for people who enjoy the business of cowboys, horses and varmints.
Chief varmint in this cast is one Randall Bragg, a typical land-grabbing bully with a posse of mysteriously loyal henchmen. He’s played by Jeremy Irons, an interesting casting gamble that doesn’t quite pay off.
The movie’s humor emerges with the arrival of Mrs. French (Renee Zellweger), a lady with her own very specific character. Virgil takes a shine to her, and much to Everett’s barely registered surprise, soon sets up house with her.
Many more things will happen, especially when Virgil decides he’s going to arrest Bragg. It’s all nicely judged without being terribly urgent, or even necessary, which seems to be the way Ed Harris wanted it.
By playing out some scenes in a single shot, and by allowing enough time between lines of dialogue for a tumbleweed to roll past, Harris is rebuking the mindlessly rapid pace of most current movies. This will limit the audience, but it’s a pleasant change.
“Appaloosa” plays as though everybody just wanted to toss off an enjoyable Western. It’s a modest goal, but they succeeded nicely.
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