Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by the arrival of a young widow.Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by the arrival of a young widow.Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by the arrival of a young widow.
- Awards
- 5 wins
Robert Jauregui
- Marshall Jack Bell
- (as Bobby Jauregui)
James Tarwater
- Chalk
- (as Jim Tarwater)
Freddie Hice
- Bragg's Third Man
- (as Fred Hice)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaViggo Mortensen committed to this movie during a busy stretch of work. When filming was delayed, he tried to beg off, asking Ed Harris to try to find another actor. Harris interviewed 20 others for the role, but they either declined or weren't right for the part. Mortensen agreed to do it, and according to Harris, "Two days before we started principal photography, Viggo shows up in New Mexico. He's ready to go. He's done research on the period. He's given really great thought to his character. He had detailed ideas about his wardrobe and his props. He was in excellent shape and good spirits, and he subsequently played Everett Hitch to perfection. Viggo Mortensen is a man of his word."
- GoofsThe framing of the house being built appears to modern construction, using modern lumber, not the rough cut lumber of the day. It also appears to be double wall construction, not the single wall type of the era.
- Quotes
Randall Bragg: Mr. Everett Hitch. You a drinking man, Everett?
Virgil Cole: Not so much.
Randall Bragg: Hard to like a man who doesn't drink a little.
Virgil Cole: But not impossible.
- Crazy creditsWhile being credited, items relating to positions and roles are displayed. Examples: Producers are listed as money is shown, an antique ink dryer is shown for the editor, production designer shows an antique tin cup and costume designer shows the top of a hat.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert: Lakeview Terrace/The Women/Surfer Dude/Towelhead (2008)
- SoundtracksGoodbye, Old Paint
Performed by Renée Zellweger
Featured review
A Real Western
I saw Appaloosa last night. Absolutely fantastic. Whether it is because he is a bit older I don't know, but Ed Harris obviously actually understands westerns.
A straightforward western tale with very little revisionism, with real men doing "what men have to do". The sense of space, the wish to be part of civilization, the bad men resisting that encroachment, the sense of the mythic; it was all there.
A little bit more modern in approach than a classic 50's tale, particularly in how Renée Zellwegger's character developed, but a real story nevertheless; good guys, bad guys. Jeremy Irons is very good as the baddie. Timothy Spall is good comic relief and Ed Harris and Vigo Mortensen a terrific pair, carefully nurturing their relationship while understanding exactly what they have to do.
The pace was very good, allowing the story and character to develop properly. Even so, it could have and should have been shorter - John Ford, or more likely Anthony Mann would have got through this story in about 90 minutes, but very satisfying nevertheless.
Costner did a pretty good job on Open Range (that was really miles too long), 3:10 to Yuma was pathetic (why they bothered to remake it when the makers so totally misunderstood the thrust of the original I will never know).
But this was the real deal, or at least as near to the real deal as we are ever likely to get nowadays. Too bad it will disappear without a trace.
A straightforward western tale with very little revisionism, with real men doing "what men have to do". The sense of space, the wish to be part of civilization, the bad men resisting that encroachment, the sense of the mythic; it was all there.
A little bit more modern in approach than a classic 50's tale, particularly in how Renée Zellwegger's character developed, but a real story nevertheless; good guys, bad guys. Jeremy Irons is very good as the baddie. Timothy Spall is good comic relief and Ed Harris and Vigo Mortensen a terrific pair, carefully nurturing their relationship while understanding exactly what they have to do.
The pace was very good, allowing the story and character to develop properly. Even so, it could have and should have been shorter - John Ford, or more likely Anthony Mann would have got through this story in about 90 minutes, but very satisfying nevertheless.
Costner did a pretty good job on Open Range (that was really miles too long), 3:10 to Yuma was pathetic (why they bothered to remake it when the makers so totally misunderstood the thrust of the original I will never know).
But this was the real deal, or at least as near to the real deal as we are ever likely to get nowadays. Too bad it will disappear without a trace.
helpful•19472
- Stamp-3
- Oct 2, 2008
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Miền Máu Lửa
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $20,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $20,211,394
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $248,847
- Sep 21, 2008
- Gross worldwide
- $27,712,362
- Runtime1 hour 55 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content