MovieChat Forums > Appaloosa (2008) Discussion > So many reasons to be great... but it wa...

So many reasons to be great... but it wasn't :/

posted 11 years ago by ronineditor
6 replies | jump to latest

Viggo and Harris are BRILLIANT actors. They had an amazing DP shooting this, the scenes and color were out of this world. The scenery was great. The wardrobe was meticulously accurate. The town set was great.

What happened!?

I think two things really played into the downfall of this. People have said it but Renee Zellweger is distracting, she's so bad. I think it's her botoxed and surgical look... in a time where there was zero plastic surgery. That first shot of her coming off of the train was supposed to be the big "glamor" shot where we all go, "Wow, she's soooooo beautiful." But it was literally at that point where I was like, "Ugh, God, what the hell is that!?" She looked horrible.

On top of the looks... her acting is so far below the level of the others that it's embarrassing, especially when she's in scenes with such brilliant actors. At no point does it feel that she's not "acting." Someone said it's the character, the way it's written - no, it's not... she's horrible.

I think the second thing is some odd logic and thin storylines. I love the relationship with Harris and Viggo, that's great. The girl being a 'plant' was obvious and story had a weird flow to it.

Another thing that was odd was the way the story was told. We jumped right into a pivotal scene of the sheriff being shot, after asking about a murder and a rape, the couple from "Chicago." Huh? We're just supposed to care about people we don't know, being investigated by a sheriff we don't know? HOWEVER... in the Blu-Ray extras, it makes perfect sense and I'm shocked they didn't use the scene in the final edit. They open with a bar scene, the two guys going into the bar, drinking, intercut with a town hall meeting, the couple from Chicago, the sheriff, etc... we see the murder after the meeting. Why didn't that make the cut!? It would have set everything up so perfectly. But, we somehow found time for everything else? That moment was key to the film.

All of that aside...

HOW DID THEY SURVIVE THAT SHOOTOUT!? It was 4 vs. 2, two experts almost as good as them, the sheriff and Irons shooting from atop. All four characters could shoot... Harris and Viggo took a bunch of shots, Harris looked dead, Viggo was barely hanging on. But... next scene? We're having fun at dinner, Harris with a leg brace on...? WHAT!? Did they have some "Western" bulletproof vests on or something? Were there some amazing surgeons back then in the middle of nowhere, especially being how far they were from 'home'?

I think ego got the best of the filmmakers, figuring they had a great, talented team... but with a half-assed script (in places) where the acting and beautiful images can just cover up some serious logic flaws. But, there's no excuse for Zellweger. They could have had anyone in there, a "no name" and it would have been better. Who goes to a film to see her anyway? She's not a draw. Cast someone who can act and doesn't look full of injections. (What happened to her face? I think she actually used to be good-looking.)

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Ugh, God, what the hell is that!?" She looked horrible.

I agree with you that IMO RZ is not the most beautiful of actresses. But where is it mandated that Ali had to be some radiant goddess? This is a story of the old west, where undoubtedly women were not always in abundant supply. Ali looked to be a late 30's woman who had probably seen better days, but was intent on making herself available to the "boss stallion". As far as I was concerned she had sufficient looks to catch Virgil's eye (especially) in a believable manner.

At no point does it feel that she's not "acting."

Isn't that the point? She was continually acting as we find out. She acted to try to catch either Virgil, Everett or even Bragg. She was acting the kidnap victim as well. She was acting after their return to Appaloosa, but only Everett is wide awake to her scheming.

I didn't have a problem with the story (half-assed script??...it was strongly derived from the book and novelist Parker contributed to the screenplay), though I'd appreciate seeing the extended scenes you described.

Neither did I have a problem with the shootout. Yes, 4 on 2 and they got shot and wounded, with Bragg getting away unharmed. They took out the other 3. Yes, they're was a quick cut-a-way, but I didn't need another 10 minutes of film content, detailing their recovery in the town and return to Appaloosa.

I really liked the film but acknowledge it wasn't a commercial success, so whilst I don't necessarily agree with all your criticisms, accept that had the film gone in ways you and others suggest, it may have experienced greater success. I for one would love to see Virgil and Everett teaming up again.

[–] jav4927 11 years ago

Another massive leap the movie takes is that Bragg is the evil bad guy, feared by all in the town...that is until he almost murders the Sherriff and Deputy, then he gets forgiven for the original murder and becomes the saviour of the town. Nobody seems bothered by him, he somehow ends up owning a hotel in the middle of town and everything's wonderful. Except for when the Deputy pretty much murders him in front of everyone and that's it. That whole change in character was really bizarre.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

That whole change in character was really bizarre.

If it was to you, it shouldn't have been.

The movie explained Bragg had money and connections that we are led to believe went as far as The White House.

...he gets forgiven for the original murder...

No, his conviction was quashed. There's a difference. He wasn't pardoned or forgiven.

Nobody seems bothered by him, he somehow ends up owning a hotel in the middle of town...

Money talks in a frontier town! He said to Virgil and Everett he was going straight.

Have no idea why you would think these plot developments are "bizarre"?

[–] kenny-164 11 years ago

Without getting into the particulars as the OP did of the why part, I agree this film disappointed, given all it had going for it in terms of the cast, story and overall cinematic ingredients (great sets, great look, etc...). I gave it a 7, which is not bad, but it could have easily been a 9 or even 10.

Zellweger was not the problem for me as she was for some others. I thought the film's pacing was off, and the narrative sequence didn't flow. Not so much confusing as lacking pacing.

[–] fairy_depp 10 years ago

I agree.. It all just felt 'ok' to me.. Like others have said, the main cast is amazing so it really should have been better but Renee Zelweggers plastic face WAS distracting.. she didn't have to be the most beautiful girl ever, but she should have been more natural. I agree with the others who have said the story skips about a bit too much and there's no explanation for how Viggo and Ed's characters go from looking almost dead to just having their leg bandaged up. I quite enjoyed watching it but I just didn't feel that wow factor when I got to the end.

[–] liscarkat (19031) a year ago

Wrong. This was a great western.