It is All about Balance: Appaloosa

January 9th, 2011 | By Rono | 154 views | 3 Comments »

The western genre is certainly not dead. 2008′s excellent Appaloosa is a testament to that fact. Another notable movie is the Coen Brother’s 2010 True Grit, which we reviewed here. Appaloosa is a carefully crafted piece which all fans of the genre will appreciate for what it is: an instant classic, in the tradition of High Noon, Rio Bravo, Once Upon a Time in the West, etc.

Two against four. Both heroes face a runaway criminal and his hired guns (ground level); these last two are good.

This is the story of two gentlemen (nicely played by Ed Harry and Viggo Mortensen) who work as marshals of the United States. They have been called to rescue a small town succumbing to chaos and injustice, under the stronghold of a ruthless Rancher named Bragg (Jeremy Irons).

The partners

Even though they are a boss and an assistant, the two lawmen balance each other like brothers. They entertain a strong, careful and tested relationship that gives them confidence and blind trust in each other. For example, Cole knows Hitch is not lying when Ally comes between them. He knows she lies and Hitch does not.

Virgil Cole (co-writer/director Ed Harris) and Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) discuss the fall of their predecessors

They do not talk very much; they do not need to talk to understand each other. This kind of balance comes from several years of working together and trusting each other in dangerous situations. And those are numerous.

The balance

Randall Bragg, the villain, stands opposite the two partners; later, he even stands between Virgil Cole and Allison (Renée Zellweger). The story shows him, in the first scene, as good with a rifle and ruthless. He is also power hungry, clever and connected, so that he is not easily getting rid of.

Randal Bragg (Jeremy Irons) makes a great villan, ruthless, clever, connected, also capable with a weapon

The story is concise and effective, although slow paced. We feel a less-talk-more-action atmosphere where the heroes are extremely experienced lawmen who know the ropes and get where they are going while engaging in casual conversations.

The balance of power established early: Cole not in the least scared and with confidence. Being outnumbered does not mean a thing; he gets the job done. Hitch is efficient as a backup with a powerful weapon that commands respect.

Our heroes must go through their prisoner's posse, armed and ready to die for their boss, to bring him to jail

Another demonstration of their efficiency: outnumbered, the duo arrests Bragg when a witness comes forward. Later, when a group of Bragg’s men try to bust their boss out of jail, Hicks runs back from Virgil’s house to join his partner in harm’s way. They calmly stand up to the posse; just another day at the office.

Unbalance: Allison French

At minute 18, the element that will unbalance the current order arrives by the noon train: Mrs. Allison French. She stands out. This unbalance quickly turns Cole into an impressed teenager around her. Hitch looks more comfortable around women.

Allison French (Renée Zellweger) pours her heart out when she reveals her insecurities to the two heroes

The newly arrived widow is needy and opportunistic; she needs protection, so she plays the field to assure her future. We come to understand, as the story unfolds, her pressing motivations. She is vulnerable, and “scared all the time” as she herself puts it. Allison even makes a pass at Everett very early. His girlfriend is lucid and smart and very accurate when she describes Allison:

GIRLFRIEND

Ally has you in reserve.
(...)
Virgil dies, you replace him.

The Shelton brothers

These new bad ones appear by the midpoint; they change the equilibrium in favor of Bragg for a while. Cole describes them as “excellent” to his partner.

The Shelton brothers (Lance Henriksen and Adam Nelson) are not here to fool around. They share enough gun skills to constitute a serious obstacle.

Where the posse’s attempt to free their boss fails (their superior number did not mean anything), the Shelton brothers succeed more easily in upsetting the balance. They are good. With Bragg, these are the true antagonists. They free him and kidnap Ally; now the marshals are on the chase.

The inevitable pursuit

As an effective force for evil, the Shelton Brothers effectively render the marshals and sheriffs powerless during the take over operation. Those men are good and will prove to be worthy adversaries to the duo.

The Shelton brothers succeed where Bragg's men failed earlier, pictured here

They run off with the helpless woman and a bragging Bragg (excuse the pun). The situation seems hopeless. Cole demonstrates his stubborn side and we get another demonstration of the ease of cooperation between the two heroes. Hitch effectively finds Cole’s position when he comes back from town with fresh horses for the chase. With coffee.

They do work without silently without any need for much talk. Some of their differences are expressed one night around the fire. Cold is cold and calculated, focused on his job. Hitch worry about his partner’s feelings, because Ally is in harm’s way.

COLE

I worry about Ally in Town.
I'll worry about her when I get
her back. But right now, there's
something running and we need to
catch it.

You cannot be more explicit and professional than that.

The first demonstration of the marshalls' skills and chemistry: Cole defeats two gunmen with a hand in his pocket.

Solid storytelling

Appaloosa is a serious piece of entertainment. You will like it. You will savor some truly great dialog and original and strong characters, and a story that takes you places you will not anticipate. It feels real; it feels like news, like a slice of yesterday life, not a story. You will love the heroes. You might love the villains even more.

The good guys: down to earth and extremely simple, skilled and experienced, professional. Likable.

I was moved by the heroes’ conversation in the third act, and especially Hitch’s decision to save his partner’s career and love life. There is also a duel in the end of the chase that you will enjoy unequivocally, as a western fan, as an action fan, even as a great drama fan. Thanks, Ed; as a fan of good western, I am grateful.

Appaloosa