Appaloosa (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Appaloosa |
| Original title | Appaloosa |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2008 |
| length | 114 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Ed Harris |
| script |
Robert Knott Ed Harris |
| production | Ed Harris Robert Knott Ginger Sledge |
| music | Jeff Beal |
| camera | Dean Semler |
| cut | Kathryn Himoff |
| occupation | |
| |
Appaloosa is a 2008 American western directed by Ed Harris , who also co-wrote the screenplay based on the 2005 novel by Robert B. Parker , co-produced the film and took on one of the leading roles.
action
In 1882, the residents of the small town of Appaloosa, New Mexico, are terrorized by the people of the unscrupulous rancher Randall Bragg. One day, local marshal Jack Bell and his two deputies arrive at Bragg's ranch to arrest two of his men for murder and rape. Bragg shoots the three without further ado and lets all traces disappear. As a result, the city fathers of Appaloosa hire the two law enforcement officers Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch as the new City Marshal and his deputy. Cole and Hitch have been friends for a long time, and they have worked together as law enforcement officers in several cities. While the older Cole appears determined and at times brutal and takes over the talking, the level-headed hitch keeps his back free with his shotgun.
During their first official act in Appaloosa, Cole and Hitch shoot three of Bragg's men when they riot in the saloon and defend themselves against their arrest. Bragg seeks out the two new marshals, accompanied by his gang, to intimidate them, but the encounter ends in a stalemate and Bragg has to withdraw without having achieved anything .
Widowed and destitute piano player Allison French comes to town looking for work. The brash woman flirts with the law enforcement officers and Cole falls in love with her. The two decide to buy a house and move in together. Allison also makes advances to Hitch in an unobserved moment, which Hitch rejects with reference to his friendship with Cole.
One of Bragg's men shows up at Cole's house and declares he was an eyewitness to Bragg's murder of Marshall Bell and his companions. With the witness willing to repeat this testimony in court, Cole and Hitch decide to arrest Bragg. They sneak up to Bragg's ranch and overwhelm him using the toilet.
While Bragg waits in the cell for the district judge to arrive and trial, his men ride to the prison to rescue him. Cole stands in their way and can end the conflict bloodlessly when he announces to the group that Bragg will be killed first and then their spokesman in an attack. A few days later the district judge arrives and the hearing begins. The judge passes the death sentence on Bragg because he believes the eyewitness and sees through the agreed exonerating statements.
Cole, Hitch and the district sheriff accompany the convict on the train ride to the district prison, where the execution is to take place. The train has to stop along the way. Then the brothers Ring and Mackie Shelton appear, two gunslingers and old acquaintances of Cole who were hired by Bragg. They have Allison in their power and are demanding the prisoner surrendered. Despite being outnumbered, Cole agrees, and the Sheltons ride off with Bragg and Allison. Hitch gets horses from Appaloosa and rides after Cole, who has already started the chase on foot. After a while they reach the refugee camp. Through their telescope, they watch Allison and Ring Shelton while they are obviously enjoying themselves naked bathing. At the same time, a marauding Indian horde approaches the camp site. When the Indians attack, Cole and Hitch seize the moment, drive away the horde and overpower the four.
Until they reach the next town, Cole and Ring Shelton agree a truce. There they hand Bragg over to the local sheriff, and Cole and Hitch prepare for the upcoming duel with the Shelton brothers. Allison explains her fling with Ring Shelton as her fear of loneliness. In the afternoon, Cole and Hitch go to jail. Since the sheriff is a relative of the Sheltons, they now face four opponents. In the following shooting they can kill the Sheltons and the sheriff, but Cole's kneecap is shot, Hitch is also wounded and Bragg is able to escape.
It has been some time. Despite the breach of trust, Cole and Allison live together in Appaloosa. Bragg, who had previously boasted of his good relations with the US president, has since been pardoned by him, has become rich in a dubious way and is returning to Appaloosa. He opened a hotel, became a respected citizen and, with his influence, controlled the city fathers. Cole and Hitch still view Bragg as a murderer despite his pardon. Since it is feared that they will lose their jobs and Hitch is concerned about his pension, he suggests they move on. But Cole is willing to stay in town and with Allison. When Hitch discovers that Allison Cole is now cheating with Bragg, he returns his star, provokes Bragg and shoots him in a duel. After this last friendship service, Hitch leaves town with an indefinite destination.
Reviews
Sarah Gopaul wrote in the Canadian magazine Popjournalism that the protagonists talk a lot about their own feelings - more than is usual for a western. However, the film is not satirical or funny enough for the other genres. The film music seems too modern for the time shown. The characters played by Harris and Mortensen had the wounded masculinity typical of cowboys; Zellweger's character is more profound and has more complex motifs.
Todd McCarthy wrote in Variety magazine on September 8, 2008 that the film offers "brilliant depictions" by Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen as well as reminiscences of older films of the genre, such as Rio Bravo . The script has some funny moments; the dialogues turned out to be "mostly engaging". The visual side of the film was disappointing, the interior shots corresponded to the "standard" and looked "washed off".
AO Scott ruled in the New York Times that the film is not a great western - which it is not really trying to be. Some potentially interesting political motifs would be left out for more grim images. The two main characters would appear "like an old married couple", in general he was revisionist with regard to the production code of the classic westerns because of gender aspects .
Rex Roberts in the Film Journal International : " Ethics tend to be related to the occasion [...] women [on the other hand] are known to always mean trouble [...]".
Michael Sragow from the Baltimore Sun liked the film "like a single malt stored for 25 years [...] an elegy on extreme friendship".
“Viggo Mortensen with a square chin, dimples, physically fit, is controlled, but very present in the here and now (women find him irresistible). Ed Harris sometimes spiritually intense and as remote as an Antarctic researcher […] together they are touching and funny in 'Appaloosa', two men who share a talent for silence. […] There may be no law, but Virgil Cole undoubtedly represents authority […] also clean-shaven, i. H. fanatical [...] 'Appaloosa' turns the western hero's grave silence into a verbose joke ”( David Denby : The New Yorker ). Denby also called it a "well-made, convincing, traditional western with a few strange quirks and twists".
The lexicon of international films says: “A classic-looking western with a stringent plot that processes timeless genre motifs and yet also includes current moral issues; He also impresses with the multi-layered, excellently played figures. "
backgrounds
The film was in Austin ( Texas ) and Santa Fe ( New Mexico turned). Its world premiere took place on September 5, 2008 at the Toronto International Film Festival . The film was released in UK and selected US cinemas on September 19, 2008. The widespread release in US theaters began on October 3, 2008.
Web links
- Appaloosa in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Appaloosa in the online film database
- Appaloosa at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
- Entry in the All Movie Guide
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b tiff08.ca ( Memento of the original from September 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed September 8, 2008
- ↑ Approval certificate for Appaloosa . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , April 2009 (PDF; test number: 117 811 DVD).
- ↑ a b similar to Roberts.
- ↑ Film review by Sarah Gopaul ( Memento of the original from July 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed September 8, 2008
- ↑ Film review by Todd McCarthy ( Memento of the original from September 10, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed September 8, 2008
- ^ AO Scott film review (New York Times), accessed February 23, 2009
- ↑ similar Sragow: "the movie does not lay the moralism on thick." .
- ^ Rex Roberts: Appaloosa. In: Film Journal International. Retrieved February 25, 2009 : “Harris […] keeping the ethics decidedly situational. [...] As we have come to expect, women mean trouble "
- ↑ Michael Sragow: Upholding law and order in 'Appaloosa'. (Not available online.) In: Baltimore Sun . October 3, 2008, formerly in the original ; accessed on February 25, 2009 (English): "goes down like a single-malt aged for 25 years [...] an elegy to extreme friendship"
- ↑ David Denby : Guns and Lovers. In: The New Yorker . September 29, 2008, accessed on February 25, 2009 (English): "Viggo Mortensen, square-jawed, dimpled, and fit, is a reserved man, but he's very present in the here and now (women tend to find him irresistible) . Ed Harris can be spiritually intense and as remote as an Antarctic explorer. [...] they're touching and funny together in "Appaloosa," as two men who share a gift for silence. [...] There may be no law, but Virgil Cole certainly embodies authority. [...] He's clean-shaven, a sign of fanaticism [...] "Appaloosa" turns the inarticulateness of the Western hero into an elaborate joke "
- ^ David Denby : The Film File - Appaloosa. In: The New Yorker . October 6, 2008, accessed on February 25, 2009 (English): "well-made, satisfying, traditionalist Western with some odd quirks and turns"
- ^ Appaloosa. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ^ Filming locations for Appaloosa , accessed September 8, 2008
- ↑ Release dates for Appaloosa , accessed September 8, 2008
