Appaloosa

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Appaloosa

R

2008

1h 56m

Western

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

162 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his longtime friend and partner Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) travel the 1880s Southwest, bringing justice to lawless towns desperate enough to hire them. In the mining town of Appaloosa, malevolent rancher Randall Bragg and his cronies ride roughshod over the frightened citizens. As Cole and Hitch work to end Bragg's reign of terror, an unconventional widow (Renee Zellweger) arrives, complicating the job and threatening their bond.

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Critics Consensus

A traditional genre western, Appaloosa sets itself apart with smart psychology, an intriguing love triangle, and good chemistry between the leads.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

03/13/2009

3.5/5

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.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

03/06/2009

3/5

Brush away the dust and you'll find a sense of nostalgia and romanticism about lost American values and altered social hierarchies.

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

10/03/2008

Dialogue, much of it lifted straight from Parker's novel, proves mostly engaging.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

04/02/2024

3/4

Appaloosa bridges the gap between the old-fashioned Westerns from Hollywood’s distant past and the revisionist oaters that have been in vogue for the last half-century.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/20/2024

3/4

The film tells an undemanding story, with heroes and villains well-defined, simple even, but described with enough personality to keep them fascinating.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/02/2020

3.0/4.0

It's more Harris's attention to dialogue, character and the film's overall production design that makes the film so memorable.

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Nicholas t

@nicktalbert2025 Jan 4

Best westerns movie

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Doug H.

@doughughes Dec 28

A truly great western right down to the sounds and visuals. Very well done with an amazing cast. I've been watching westerns since I was a kid and this one is in my Top 10.

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James B.

@JamesBass Dec 21

Appaloosa is beautifully filmed and confidently executed. Harris takes great care to frame each shot like a museum painting, with intimate, up-close angles that feel familiar rather than showy. The dialogue between Viggo Mortensen and Harris is measured and quietly humorous, and Renée Zellweger is very much in her element. While the film may not introduce anything radically new to the genre, it delivers strong entertainment and offers its own thoughtful take on ethics and justice.

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Val C

@LadyV Dec 7

This movie was well written and maintains the attention of a Western fan with modern day feel. Both Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen are excellently casted together. The respect exhibited in their friendship is heart warming. One of the most surprising details was that of the love relationship Allie creates with Cole which shows a romantic bond yet explains how some people just have to coexist; he was her protector, despite her involvement with Bragg's. Hitch's girl explains it clearly. Great movie and a good weekend binge watch.

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Georgie P

Nov 26

Shot like an indie movie with a decent budget. The score, music supervision is ok at best - kinda cheesy really. Cinematography is lacking as well. Ed Harris got some great names on board, but ultimately it didn’t matter. Jeremy Irons is one of the greats, but in a Western? Hard to get past his natural accent. It just doesn’t really scream southwestern Americana does it? Anyhow, I’d say this is a pass.

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Justice For A

Sep 3

I've seen this movie several times and it never fails to keep me entertained. The level of realism and character development keeps one engaged. Harris/ Mortenstern/ Zigweller, and cast do a fantastic job. Worth every minute of watching.

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Ed Harris

Director

Ed Harris

Virgil Cole

Viggo Mortensen

Everett Hitch

Renée Zellweger

Alison French

Jeremy Irons

Randall Bragg

Timothy Spall

Phil Olson

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Synopsis

Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his longtime friend and partner Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) travel the 1880s Southwest, bringing justice to lawless towns desperate enough to hire them. In the mining town of Appaloosa, malevolent rancher Randall Bragg and his cronies ride roughshod over the frightened citizens. As Cole and Hitch work to end Bragg's reign of terror, an unconventional widow (Renee Zellweger) arrives, complicating the job and threatening their bond.

Director: Ed Harris
Producer: Robert Knott, Ed Harris, Ginger Sledge
Screenwriter: Robert Knott, Ed Harris
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Groundswell Productions
Rating: R (Some Violence|Language)
Genre: Western, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.2M
Runtime: 1h 56m

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