FEELINGS GET YOU KILLED.
In 1882, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch (Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen) are hired to protect a New Mexico town from a vicious rancher (Jeremy Irons) and his men; a woman (Renée Zellweger) complicates the mission. Harris’s second effort as a director almost looks like a one-man job considering the degree of his involvement. It’s a traditional Western that has no ingredient to set it apart from all the predecessors, but it still works because of Harris’s dedication. The central friendship is lovingly depicted and Zellweger’s character provides challenges. Harris obviously cares a lot for the genre, but the film loses pace toward the end.
2008-U.S. 115 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Ed Harris. Screenplay: Ed Harris, Robert Knott. Novel: Robert Parker. Song: “You’ll Never Leave My Heart” (Jeff Beal, Ed Harris). Cast: Viggo Mortensen (Everett Hitch), Ed Harris (Virgil Cole), Renée Zellweger (Allison French), Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall, Lance Henriksen.
Trivia: Co-produced by Harris, who also sings the song over the closing credits; his father Bob appears as a judge. Diane Lane was allegedly first cast as Allison.
