There is plenty of plot but not enough story. And the film unfolds in short scenes strung together that beg to be expanded into more detailed examinations of behavior.
Comment
10/02/08
Appaloosa (2008)
76
%
Tomatometer
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.
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins
Genre: Westerns
Theatrical Release:Sep 19, 2008 Limited
Box Office: $20,157,730
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
Get This Movie
Reviews for Appaloosa
[Harris's] performance as the usually quiet but quick-to-action gunman is terrific, and he's smart enough to leave much of the narration duties and such to the soft-spoken Mortensen.
10/02/08
Appaloosa is an archetypal western with touches of the modern buddy comedy. Though it falls short of these classics, it is a little bit Destry Rides Again and a little bit more Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
10/02/08
Top CriticVastly entertaining in the old-fashioned ways: fun story, fun characters, fun everything.
10/02/08
What is seductive about Appaloosa is its easygoing rhythm.
10/02/08
Top CriticAmbition is a great quality in a filmmaker, especially when it's realized. Yet there is something to be said for just telling a story, and with Appaloosa, Harris does a fine job of it.
10/02/08
Harris's adoration for the genre is clear, and his Appaloosa is a fine addition to a growing list of neo-westerns incorporating a respectful tone, ideal aim of violence, and heartfelt observation all in the same breath.
10/02/08
Takes the old western conventions and juggles them in very odd but mostly satisfying ways.
10/02/08
With Wayne's gruff arrogance, Eastwood's squinting revenge eyes and Stewart's ambling cool, Harris carves a daunting figure.
10/02/08
Ed Harris, working from a Robert Parker novel, has crafted a meticulously detailed, newfangled old-fashioned morality tale of hard men who go soft when a woman comes between them.
10/01/08
This is an honest tale of the camaraderie between a pair of lawmen simply trying to do a job.
10/01/08
These days, westerns are a dying breed, uncommonly found in multiplexes. Appaloosa is the latest reason why.
09/29/08
The best western since 3:10 to Yuma, which is to say it's a western.
09/26/08
While there's nothing particularly original about the plot, the characters and the way they interact with each other are strikingly played
09/26/08
Enjoyable, frequently offbeat western with an intriguing script and terrific performances from Harris and Mortensen.
09/26/08
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.
09/26/08
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.
09/26/08
In all, it’s a magnificent ride and certainly one of the finest films of the year.
09/26/08
If a western is going to be this slow, it needs to have a lot more tension, and deeper meaning, than this one.
09/26/08
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
09/26/08
Latest News for Appaloosa
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...
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Animated Oscar?
Hollywood.com ponders whether or not an animated film could win Best Picture.
TIME's Holiday Movie Preview
Richard Corliss previews the season's best offerings and hottest tickets.
Scenic Routes
The AV Club's Mike D'Angelo airs his beefs with Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds