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"APPALOOSA" (2008) (Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Moderate Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Heavy None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Mild Minor Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Western/Drama: Two hired gunmen use force and their own brand of laws to try to bring peace back to an 19th century western town that's being bullied by a powerful rancher and his gang of thugs. PLOT: It's 1882 and the small town of Appaloosa in the New Mexico territory is being bullied by powerful rancher Randall Bragg (JEREMY IRONS) and his gang of thugs. When a sheriff and his deputies arrive on Bragg's ranch to arrest two of his men for murder and rape, Bragg shoots all three lawmen dead. As a result, the elected officials and businessmen of Appaloosa, including store owner Phil Olson (TIMOTHY SPALL) hire gunmen Virgil Cole (ED HARRIS) and Everett Hitch (VIGGO MORTENSEN) to bring order back to their town. With a well-deserved reputation that precedes them, the two immediately enact their own laws and start with shooting and killing three of Bragg's men in town. While Everett ends up seeing Katie (ARIADNA GIL), Virgil finds himself enamored with Allison "Ally" French (RENÉE ZELLWEGER) who's just arrived in Appaloosa, and it's not long before the two are building a house in town together. But work must come first, and after one of Bragg's hired hands, Joe Whittfield (GABRIEL MARANTZ), agrees to testify about witnessing his boss kill the three lawmen, Everett and Virgil arrest the rancher and then await the arrival of a traveling judge for the pending court case. That draws in all sorts, including brotherly gunslingers Ring Shelton (LANCE HENRIKSEN) and Mackie Shelton (ADAM NELSON) who make Virgil wary, but don't shake his resolve. From that point on, and following Bragg's escape, the two steely lawmen do what they must to bring him back to justice. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into westerns or are fans of someone in the cast, they might be interested. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For some violence and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: ED HARRIS plays a steely gunman who hires himself out as a lawmen to deal with bad guys and bring back the peace via his own laws. Accordingly, he kills various bad guys, beats up others who haven't broken the law, drinks, has an unlit cigar, uses some strong profanity, and apparently sleeps with Ally and sticks with her despite her promiscuous ways. VIGGO MORTENSEN plays his partner for the past dozen years or so, a more educated man who nevertheless is just as forceful and deadly when needed. He drinks and apparently sleeps with Katie. RENÉE ZELLWEGER plays a reported widow who arrives in the town, apparently sleeps with and then tries to snag Virgil, but is a promiscuous woman and sexual opportunist who frolics in the nude and apparently slept with Ring, while also coming on to Everett and then seemingly being involved with Bragg. She drinks some. JEREMY IRONS plays the film's lead villain, a rancher who doesn't care that he or his men break the law, and he even kills three lawmen himself. He drinks, smokes a few times, and isn't happy with the arrival of Virgil and Everett. GABRIEL MARANTZ plays one of his hired hands who agrees to testify against him. TIMOTHY SPALL plays a somewhat nervous businessman who persuades the town's officials to hire the two gunmen in hopes of bringing order back to their town. ARIADNA GIL plays a local woman who sleeps and drinks with Everett. LANCE HENRIKSEN plays a shady gunslinger whose allegiance is wherever the money is. Accordingly, he teams with Bragg and apparently sleeps with Ally. ADAM NELSON plays his brother and fellow professional gunslinger for hire. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this western drama that's been rated R. Profanity consists of at least 3 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are present, as is sexually related dialogue, some of it explicit in nature. Off-screen sex is heavily suggested, all involving a promiscuous woman who's also seen frolicking in a river with a man (we see their full rear nudity, but from a very long distance). Violence consists of various people being shot and killed or wounded, while others are struck or beat up. Some of that has bloody results, and some of that material and some moments of potential peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers. The action and stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate, various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, and various characters drink and/or smoke. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Virgil has a shot of liquor while others also drink. Bragg has a drink and offers one to Virgil and Everett who both say they don't drink much. Virgil and Everett have shots, while Virgil also has a beer in front of him. Virgil then pours more shots for the two of them, as well as Ally. Two men drink in a bar and are making a commotion, with one telling the other, "You're not even pissed." Everett drinks with Katie and then pours more. Some Indians raid Bragg's camp, taking, among other things, his liquor bottle. Virgil has a shot of liquor. Virgil, Everett and Ally have wine and then do so again in a later scene. Miscellaneous people drink in a saloon where Bragg has a drink as does Everett. Bragg then delivers a drink to Ally. BLOOD/GORE We see two of Bragg's men urinating on a bar's floor (we see the streams) and Virgil tells them to zip up and put their "contraptions" (unseen penises) away. When they don't and become belligerent, Virgil uses his pistol to shoot two of them dead, while Everett shoots a third with his shotgun (with some blood on the dead men and surrounding floor, but not a great deal). Virgil pistol-whips one of Bragg's men in the mouth, knocking out some teeth. That man then spits out blood and has a bloody mouth as a result. Two men drink in a bar and are making a commotion, with one telling the other, "You're not even pissed." Although they're breaking no laws, Virgil goes up and repeatedly punches one of the men, pummeling his face until it's bloody and Everett has to restrain him. Virgil and Everett sneak up on an outhouse where Bragg is doing his business (nothing seen nor heard) and then arrest him at gunpoint when he comes out. In passing, we see horse excrement on the street. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Bragg and his men have bad attitudes as they kill, reportedly rape, and generally are otherwise disrespectful of others. Two men drink in a bar and are making a commotion, with one telling the other, "You're not even pissed." Although they're breaking no laws, Virgil goes up and repeatedly punches one of the men, pummeling his face until it's bloody and Everett has to restrain him. Virgil goes off to be with Ally and tells Everett to fire a few shots if he needs help and he'll be there. Everett then jokes, "Unless you're riding at a hard gallop," with Virgil not appreciating that sexual reference. Ally passionately kisses Everett (despite being Virgil's girlfriend), with the latter rebuking that advance and saying that both of them (he and Ally) are with Virgil. She later cheats on Virgil with Ring. The Shelton brothers spring Bragg from custody (having been hired to do so). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Virgil and Everett sneak up on an outhouse where Bragg is doing his business (nothing seen nor heard) and then arrest him at gunpoint when he comes out. A lookout up on a hill fires some shots to alert others, and the two lawmen then escort Bragg across a river at gunpoint toward his men who are armed, but the latter don't do anything on his command. Bragg's gang rides up and demands his release, but Virgil stands them down, while Everett holds a shotgun on Bragg in his jail cell should anyone try anything. The Shelton brothers arrive and make Virgil uneasy. While transporting Bragg to be hanged, the train stops and out from under a bridge come the Shelton brothers on horseback. They have Ally hostage, with a noose around her neck and a gun aimed at her. Virgil, Everett and other lawmen then aim their guns at them, but realize they have to give up Bragg to keep her from being killed. Everett slowly rides up to a bunch of Indians and gives them Bragg's horse, apparently satisfying them as they then ride away. GUNS/WEAPONS Pistols/Rifles/Shotguns: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound and/or kill others. See "Violence" for details. Everett pulls an Indian spear from the ground. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Who the f*ck are you?" "It appears she'll f*ck anything not gelded," "No sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Whore(s)," "Sign the damn thing," "Well hell no," "Damn right," "Damn you," "(You're a) Bastard," "Never's a long time," "Beat the sweet Jesus hell out of you," "I'll be damned," "You're a G*ddamn liar" and "What the hell you think you're doing?" The action and stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 3 "f" words (2 used sexually), 5 "s" words, 1 slang term for male genitals ("contraptions"), 14 hells, 5 damns, 4 S.O.B.s, 3 uses of "By God" and 1 use each of "G-damn," "God," "My God," "Oh for Christ's sakes," "Oh Jesus," "Oh my God" and "Sweet Jesus." SEX/NUDITY We see two of Bragg's men urinating on a bar's floor (we see the streams) and Virgil tells them to zip up and put their "contraptions" (unseen penises) away. When asked, Ally states her husband died, prompting Virgil to reply, "You're not a whore?" He then adds that there aren't many single women who are not "whores." After Virgil comments that he's never really talked to a woman (as in conversation), Ally says, "You're telling me you've never had a woman?" with him replying that he and any woman he's been with just do what they do (presumably meaning sex). From a distance, we see Virgil kiss Ally and later sex is implied. Virgil goes off to be with Ally and tells Everett to fire a few shots if he needs help and he'll be there. Everett then jokes, "Unless you're riding at a hard gallop," with Virgil not appreciating that sexual reference. Ally passionately kisses Everett (despite being Virgil's girlfriend), with the latter rebuking that advance and saying that both of them (he and Ally) are with Virgil. Katie kisses Everett, and talking about Ally coming on to him, he tells her not to tell anyone, saying he'll know if someone didn't keep their mouth closed. Katie then suggestively says there have been a few times when he didn't want her mouth closed. After seeing Virgil with Ally, Ring says he's always figured Virgil for "whores" and squaws. From a distance, we see Ally and Ring frolicking in a river in the nude (we see full rear nudity for both). Later, Virgil asks her, "You f*ck Mackie too?" She replies no, just Ring, saying he was in charge and she did what she had to do. Virgil tells Everett that he's mostly been with "whores" and a squaw he earlier mentioned. About Ally, he then says, "It appears she'll f*ck anything not gelded." We see Everett shirtless in bed with Katie who snuggles up with him, showing a fair amount of upper thigh while doing so. We also see the shape and partial view of her nipple through the partially sheer top. SMOKING Bragg is twice seen with cigars, Virgil is seen once with an unlit one and a few minor/miscellaneous characters are seen smoking (including cigars). TENSE FAMILY SCENES When asked, Ally states her husband died (we don't know if that's true or not). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT How the film could be viewed as a parable for today's diminishing rights in favor of tightened security. Ally's promiscuous behavior and why Vigil sticks with her despite knowing that. The Old West. Virgil stating that feelings get you killed. VIOLENCE We hear that two of Bragg's men killed a lawman and raped his wife. When the sheriff and two deputies arrive on his ranch to get them, Bragg says they can't and then shoots the three lawmen dead (no blood). We see two of Bragg's men urinating on a bar's floor (we see the streams) and Virgil tells them to zip up and put their "contraptions" (penises) away. When they don't and become belligerent, Virgil uses his pistol to shoot two of them dead, while Everett shoots a third with his shotgun (with some blood on the dead men and surrounding floor, but not a great deal). Virgil pistol-whips one of Bragg's men in the mouth, knocking out some teeth. That man then spits out blood and has a bloody mouth as a result. Two men drink in a bar and are making a commotion, with one telling the other, "You're not even pissed." Although they're breaking no laws, Virgil goes up and repeatedly punches one of the men, pummeling his face until it's bloody and Everett has to restrain him. Some Indians raid Bragg's camp, taking his liquor bottle, their guns, and one grabs Ally over his shoulder. Virgil and Everett then fire shots at them, downing a horse and chasing the rest away. Virgil and Everett realize they've been double-crossed by a few men who've now freed Bragg. There's a brief gun battle, where those three men are shot and presumably killed, while Virgil and Everett are shot and wounded, with Bragg escaping despite Everett getting off a few last shots at him. After quitting as a lawman, Everett punches and then slaps a criminal. He then challenges him to a duel and shoots him dead (the other man's shot misses). Reviewed September 29, 2008 / Posted October 3, 2008