Cast and Crew:  Lance Henriksen

What It’s About:  Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen), our narrator, is a Civil and Indian War veteran and the partner of Virgil Coe (Ed Harris, who also directs, produces and co-writes) a Sheriff-for-Hire.  The men are hired gunmen, who come to town, enforce laws that Coe makes, and eventually kill or run out-of-town whomever is causing trouble.  In Appaloosa, the trouble maker is Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), who the city fathers suspect has murdered the last Sheriff.  Coe knew and respected the Sheriff, and so the pair take on the job.  Hitch and Coe’s operation runs smoothly except for two complications:  Mrs. French (Renée Zellweger), who intrigues both men, and the Shelton brothers, gunmen that Coe considers at least his equal.

Why Watch it Today?:  Author Robert Parker was born today in 1932.  Appaloosa is easily one of the best Westerns to come out in the “Aughts”; check out the full review here.