Appaloosa

Rating: ****/*****, or 7/10

Ed Harris both stars in and co-wrote this second movie he directed. A ruthless rancher (Jeremy Irons) terrorizes a small town for his own purposes, after which the townspeople hire two lawmen (Harris himself and Viggo Mortensen) for their protection. This Marshall and his deputy capture the rancher and set out to deliver him into the hands of justice, but the shrewd ruffian has more tricks up his sleeve complicating their quest to uphold the law. Further troubles are provided by a young widow (Renée Zellweger) who falls in love with the Marshall, but there's more to her than would appear. A thinking man's neo-western featuring some damn fine acting and a few solid shoot-outs, but also moments where the story drags on and a bit of a cumbersome romantic subplot frustratingly getting in the way of the main story.

Starring: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons

Directed by Ed Harris

USA: New Line Cinema, 2008