Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger

Set in the Old West territory of New Mexico, "Appaloosa" revolves around a pair of hired guns (Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris) who come to clean up a dangerous town run by a ruthless, powerful rancher ...( read more  read more... )(Jeremy Irons) and his band of outlaws. While boldly bringing new order to the town, the two fearless lawmen meet a provocative outsider (Renée Zellweger) whose unconventional ways threaten to destroy their decade-old bond.

Flixster Users

55% liked it

47,515 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

151 critics

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Ed Harris

Release Date: October 3, 2008

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DVD Release Date: January 13, 2009

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Stats: 3,850 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,850)


  • September 17, 2009
    Appaloosa was full of great direction and beautiful cinematography. The acting was pretty decent as well, most notably the chemistry between Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. The story on the other hand was probably more complex than it could ever need to be (namely the last 20 minu...( read more)tes which kind took away from the movie for me) and ultimately the movie made me wonder why I should give a shit in the end. Appaloosa was a decent try at the classic school of westerns but if fell just short. Renee Zellweger's character probably could've been cut out altogether and God knows looking at her enlarged bee sting of a face didn't make this move any easier to get through. Disappointing but it could've been worse...
  • August 30, 2009
    Appaloosa is a very good western starring a very good cast: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger & Jeremy Irons. In the 19th century old west two men are hired in a town that is out of control with dangerous bandits. They aer given all rights as sherif and deputy and have ...( read more)all the stress and pressure that comes along with the job. A very good film worth seeing.
  • August 29, 2009
    Nice try but ultimately flawed and unsatisfying.
  • August 20, 2009
    recently i've been watching a few films with tom selleck in them where he plays an alcoholic cop and the books are written by robert b. parker. he also wrote the book that ed harris based this film on. ed plays a lawman with viggo as his more than able sidekick. they come to town...( read more) to root out the bad-doings of jeremy irons gang. ed falls for renees character but she plays a bit of a slut and well it's all very nihilistic from beginning to end. just what i like! maybe i should read some rob b. parker
  • July 27, 2009
    Well played, well scripted and well directed. This movie moves along slow yet never gets lost. Ed Harris and Vigo Mortensen were a perfect pair. A fresh spin on westerns.
  • November 18, 2009
    Well acted and directed. Viggo & Ed Harris were great together. The story was a little predictable and tended to drag, but not to the point of boring. I would definitely say it's one of the better westerns i've seen.
  • November 17, 2009
    painfully dull with the terrible miscasting of Renée Zellweger
  • November 11, 2009
    Was good to watch. Was missing something though. And Renee Zellweger looked aweful in this movie.
  • November 1, 2009
    un western como los de antes
  • November 1, 2009
    Haven't seen many Westerns but liked this story about two guns for hire in the early days of the US. Downs are Renee Zellwger seems miscast to me but Ed and Viggo have great

Critic Reviews


October 3, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

From its first, mournful brass theme, Ed Harris's Appaloosa nails the look and feel of a classic Western. This is an old-style, laconically macho, six-shooting horse opera made with an obvious and una... full review

October 2, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

What is seductive about Appaloosa is its easygoing rhythm. full review

October 1, 2008
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

This is an honest tale of the camaraderie between a pair of lawmen simply trying to do a job. full review

September 23, 2008
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

Can Ed Harris, of all people, save the Western for this generation? full review

September 19, 2008
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Mannered, episodic and slow. full review

September 19, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

It's a pleasure to watch such gifted actors interact in a classic genre. full review

September 19, 2008
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Appaloosa shows a square jaw and a steely gaze, but also a smile and a wink.

September 18, 2008
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Appaloosa is gripping entertainment that keeps springing surprises. full review

September 17, 2008
Armond White, The New York Press

Appaloosa demonstrates a better sense of history than Paul Thomas Anderson's hysterical There Will Be Blood. But Harris isn't a good enough director; he loses the mythical air that drives home a great... full review

September 17, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

It's high time for the western to be resuscitated as a genre; a picture that just pokes along amiably isn't enough to get the job done. full review

View more Appaloosa reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Appaloosa Trivia


  • In the Western "Appaloosa" Viggo Mortenson's constant companion is...  Answer »
  • Plot Outline- Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by the arrival of a young widow. Name this Renée Zellweger movie where she played Allison French.  Answer »

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