New On DVD: 'Appaloosa,' 'Swing Vote'

'Appaloosa' (R): Ed Harris rustles up a talented cast, rustic settings and a realistic atmosphere to keep the Western genre alive with "Appaloosa," and for the most part, the actor-filmmaker hits the bullseye.

Co-starring his "History of Violence" co-star Viggo Mortensen, "Appaloosa" is set in the Old West territory of New Mexico 1882, where city Marshal Virgil Cole (Harris) and his deputy and partner, Everett Hitch (Mortensen) ride into the mining community of Appaloosa to bring the murderer of the town's marshal to justice.

The man they're looking for is Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), a ruthless rancher who holds sway over the town with his unforgiving group of outlaws. Their longtime partnership and level of trust with one-another serves Cole and Hitch well, until a mysterious woman, Allison French (Renee Zellweger) comes to town.

Cole takes an immediate liking to Allison, which suddenly drives a wedge in between him and his longtime partner -- an intangible that could prove dangerous in the quest to bring Bragg to justice.

Harris has a great handle on the genre as director and co-writer (the screenplay was adapted by Harris and Robert Knott from the Robert B. Parker novel), and it gives "Appaloosa" the sort of flair that you would see in a Western by legendary director John Ford. Still and all, there's a certain amount of predictability that dogs "Appaloosa." It shouldn't come as a big surprise when you come to learn Allison's motives.

The good thing is, "Appaloosa" isn't just as much about Allison as it is about Cole and Hitch's longtime partnership. It examines Allison's effect on the law-enforcement partners, which makes for an interesting character study.

DVD features include audio commentary tracks by Harris and Knott, production featurettes, extended and deleted scenes, and more. (New Line Home Entertainment)

'Swing Vote' (PG-13): A political satire produced by and starring Kevin Costner, the great thing about "Swing Vote" is that it doesn't have political leanings one way or the other. Instead, "Swing Vote" throws its pitch straight down the middle, playing the strengths and faults of Democrats and Republicans.

Giving one of his best performances in years, Costner stars as Bud Johnson, a lovable loser who stumbles into the national spotlight when his politically-inspired young daughter (Madeline Carroll) desperately attempts to get her dad to exercise his right to vote in the presidential election. But things don't go exactly as planned, and suddenly it's determined that Bud's ballot will be the one that will determine who is elected president.

The vote is something that the Republican incumbent (Kelsey Grammer) and Democratic challenger (Dennis Hopper) take very seriously, and they come to Bud's hometown in New Mexico to personally campaign for the one vote -- the swing vote -- that will change the world.

While the election is at stake in "Swing Vote," the movie has a much broader appeal than just presidential politics. The movie has a wonderful mix of political satire and drama, which is a result of Bud's responsibility as a father to his young daughter. It's not only a funny movie, but a very poignant one.

DVD Features: Audio commentary by writer-direct Joshua Michael Stern and writer Jason Richman, production featurettes, deleted and extended scenes, and more. (Touchstone Home Entertainment)

Also New This Week:
"Mirrors" (R): Kiefer Sutherland takes a break from his "24" character Jack Bauer for this horror film about an ex-police officer whose family is targeted by evil forces after he takes a job a security guard in a department store with a past. (Fox Home Entertainment)