Light House Film Club

Director: Ed Harris

Cert: 15

Time: 1 hr 54 mins

Written, produced and directed by Ed Harris, who also stars in the film, Appaloosa is the archetypal old fashioned Western where “a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do”.  The men in question are Virgil Cole (Harris) and his partner Everitt Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) who are charged with protecting the town of Appaloosa from an evil rancher (Jeremy Irons).

The film’s charm is its authenticity and whilst the pace may at times be a little slow it does give us a feel for what life was probably like in the American west of the 1880’s. Harris and Mortensen also give good performances as honourable men in a world where honour is in scant supply.  The only flaw is the appearance of Renee Zellweger as a faithless widow.  Her story only serves to create a distraction from the main narrative and it is never entirely clear what motivates her behaviour. Perhaps that was the point.

Anyway if you enjoyed Open Range then Appaloosa will not disappoint.

Rating: 3/5

Patrons: 10
 

CA

Director: Ben Affleck

Cert: 15

Time: 1 hr 54mins

Dealing as it does with the kidnap of a young child, the release of this film was delayed out of respect for the family of Madelaine McCann.  Yet it is more than simply a heart tugging tale of the loss of a child.   

Essentially this is a psychological thriller which follows two young private investigators (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) as they seek to find a kidnapped 4 year old girl who has disappeared in a white trash suburb of Boston.  With elements of 8 Mile, Seven and Internal Affairs, their search unearths a dark underbelly affecting not only the community from which the girl has disappeared, but also within the force policing it. 

Affleck and Ed Harris, playing a cop of questionable morals, are both excellent in this gripping tale the assured direction of which keeps one guessing throughout. The twist at the end also serves to challenge ones conscience presenting as it does the dilemma of nature verses nurture.  Well worth watching.

Rating: 4/5

CA