Chemistry, dialogue fuel ‘Appaloosa’

“Appaloosa” harks back to the westerns of old, when gunfights were exciting but not necessarily gratuitous-the lead character wooed by a mysterious damsel.

The structure even mirrors that of the classic western ideology: Two gunmen (Viggo Mortensen, “Lord of the Rings,” and Ed Harris, “A Beautiful Mind,”) are hired to clean up a town and restore it to the hands of businessmen.

The film has a few cards up its sleeve, keeping it from reverting to mere forgery. Marked by simplicity but teeming with great chemistry between the two leads, “Appaloosa” is a pleasure to watch.

The story concerns two guns-for-hire, Virgil Cole (Harris) and Everett Hitch (Mortensen), who are seeking to bring an outlaw named Randy Bragg (Jeremy Irons) to justice.

Thrown in for a bit of romance is Allison French (Renée Zellweger).

When Everett and Virgil start shaking things up, each of their strengths and weaknesses is exposed and put to the test.

What “Appaloosa” does exceptionally well is share Virgil’s and Everett’s relationship with the audience. Both characters are fascinating to watch, which is good considering the film is, in essence, a character study. As we listen to them converse and discuss strategy, we wonder how long they’ve been partners-in-protection.

The veteran Virgil is undoubtedly in control, but he never takes Everett for granted, seeking his counsel on nearly every decision.

Their back and forth bantering makes for some of the film’s best moments, especially when Harris’ gunslinger can’t seem to remember meanings for words like “sequester” and “obfuscate”. He has a fondness for Emerson and, when in doubt, he questions Everett on what a word means in a certain context.

The cinematography is beautiful, taking full advantage of the western landscapes of New Mexico. A sun and moonrise both make their way into the movie, along with the grassy plains and desert areas accustomed to the genre. Even a fair share of creatures – from steers to mountain lions – are shown to get the Old West feel.

Camera placement is also exceptional as it frames the two leads in and around objects and other people with an omnipresent feel.

Lead lawman Harris also serves here as director and writer, as his steady hand seems to be his signature. He isn’t afraid to let the camera linger on Mortensen and himself; he watches them watch the land. Were it not for the caliber of these two fine actors, it might have seemed a meandering mistake. As it is, though, the pacing is fine, and possesses a certain grace. The gunfights are appropriately gripping but not overdone. You’ll find no stylish action scenes here. Rather, Harris lets the rising action give way to tension and, ultimately, a satisfying catharsis – and being a western, the cathartic is usually associated with gunfire.

The film’s one weakness appears to be the love story angle. Though it isn’t Harris’ fault (“Appaloosa” is an adaptation of a book by the same name), it still drags the momentum down a bit. One also scratches their head over the choice of Renée Zellwegger for the love interest. She has the western look down, tack that one off to the makeup and wardrobe department. There’s no question as to her ability as an actress, but here she seems out of place.

What Harris and company have crafted is a well-spun tale with roots in classic western iconography. The mountains, the gunfights, the standoffs – all are here and more. But you have to be willing to work for it, as cheap thrills and by-the-book action won’t be found in this dusty, downtrodden town.

Film: “Appaloosa” is rated R for some violence and language. 114 minutes.

Grade: A-