Appaloosa (2008, New Line)
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Even with a DVD release, New Line Cinema pays as little respect to Ed Harris’ brilliant sophomore directorial piece Appaloosa as they did upon its theatrical bow.

When Appaloosa was about to hit theaters, there was so little promotion for it, many people didn’t even know it was about to come out. Then when it did debut, its theatrical performance was so poor thanks to mishandled marketing and competition from much higher profile movies such as Eagle Eye, Miracle at St. Anna and the surprise hit Fireproof, it never had a real chance to make back its modest $20 million budget.

It’s a shame, because Appaloosa–based on the Robert Parker novel about two earnest and fearless lawmen-for-hire (Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen) who vow to bring to justice an equally evil and fearless murdering rancher (Jeremy Irons)–is a bitingly honest portrayal of men who believe in doing what is right while punishing those who prey upon the fearful, and the difficulties that ensue in achieving their goal when a woman (Renee Zellweger) comes between them.

The DVD has just come out, and the slipshod packaging of the product is so unremarkable that if you hadn’t heard of Appaloosa before and happened to see it on the shelf at your local video store, you’d think this was some slapped-together straight-to-DVD quickie that the cast members would hope you wouldn’t recognize their names on.

The write-up on the back of the DVD cover, which is supposed to entice a potential buyer into picking it up, is written with all the excitement and literary flair one would find in the write-up on the back of a Hellraiser: Part 59 box cover. Many DVDs these days either come out as 2 disc special editions, or with a separate disc allowing owners to make digital copies of the film. Hell, even that Jessica Alba floating turd The Eye got special treatment! Not so with Appaloosa, which comes as a single disc and–as if to openly display New Line’s disdain for the film’s lack of box office success–with both wide and full-screen options on the selfsame disc; a virtual blood oath that no other versions will ever be forthcoming. (more…)