Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful cinematography........slow dialogue.
Review: I really enjoyed the gorgeous setting on the range. The film was artistically shot in Alberta, Canada. I am sure it will win an Oscar for cinematography.The dialogue was rather slow and stilted and that left me scratching my head wondering why it was styled in that manner. Even so, Robert Duvall delivered his lines like a real 'ol cowboy. Bravo for the casting director casting Annette Bening as the "girl". She has aged beautifully and was perfect for the ragged wrangler. Waiting through the slow first half to get to the shoot out is well worth it. Hang in there and enjoy the good old western movie of yester-year even though it isn't in black and white but rather in beautiful Technicolor.
Rating: 
Summary: Deeply satisfying, great movie, one of the greatest westerns
Review: This is one of the most satisfying films I have seen in a long time as one of my close friends says worthy to take its place next to "Lonesome Dove, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, Quigley Down Under, The Fastest Gun Alive, Outlaw Jose Wales, and other Superb Western films." It is a morality drama of the highest order and certainly one of the top ten westerns of all time. The acting was just stupendous and I agree with you about Robert Duvall. Kevin Costner and Annette Benning were wonderful. Perhaps with age I grown to appreciate the beauty of older women and I was happy to find in Annette Benning a woman I could relate to instead of the standard cutsy barbie doll types. Certainly the movie is beyond realism with the two heroes single handedly wiping out what must have been anywhere between 12 to 20 bad guys in the end. However, the key here is that we were set up to want to believe it and it was 'oh, so satisfying' to see justice meted out. The cinematography was fabulous at it usually is with Kevin Costner films. I sort of doubt that it will happen but i think this movie is academy award stuff that gets my vote over the other wonderful movie, Seabiscuit. Both movies are the stuff of high heroic drama, with the message of 'triumph over adversity' or 'triumph over evil.' Open Range makes you go away with such a deeply satisfying feeling. It delivers on every score, its well paced, action packed, great to look at, some of the greatest acting ever. The message may seem commonplace but somehow one didn't mind because it was so well executed so that one literally could lose themselves in the characters of Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Benning and Michael Jeeter. It resonated with high human ideals and virtues that too often seem out of place in our more cynical world. I heard that one or two say how it was slow and boring at first and that important aspects of the plot were not set up enough. In general I wonder if this movie would appeal to guys more than women or to the younger set not accustomed to old fashioned westerns? Like a good Greek tragedy, certain assumptions were made, one being that we know from the very beginning the difference between the good guys and the bad. This movie is high entertainment and definitely academy award material.
Rating: 
Summary: Who writes this stuff?
Review: Great scenery. Lousy dialog. Sometimes you laughed out loud. In most cases, I'm sure it's not what Kevin intended. Also, it could have been about 40 minutes shorter.
Rating:
Summary: Costner and Westerns = the return of two fading giants?
Review: Westerns are such an important part of who we are as Americans, and a chief entertainment export that we have become known for around the globe (even though many were filmed in Italy). Even now, Americans are negatively referred to as 'cowboys' in our militaristic actions in other countries. Still, Westerns seem to be more or less a thing of the past, similar to the Samurai films that Westerns share so much with. Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen. These are names and faces associated with some of the all-time great Westerns. But lately, the genre has fallen out of the limelight. The 1992 Oscar-winning Unforgiven didn't do much to revitalize the genre; with such things as Shanghai Noon, Wild Wild West and the dismal American Outlaws coming out over the last decade. Cop Films have seemed to take over since the late 70's as American's most constant film feature (Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Rush Hour, French Connection). Now Kevin Costner has produced, written, directed and starred in 'Open Range', a 2 and ½ hour piece of film that harkens back to the good old days while applying ample technical prowess and stunning photography. Will fading giant Costner in a seemingly outdated genre bring both back into the limelight? Not likely, don't be expecting two new Westerns per year, but it does prove that Westerns still have a lot to say. Loosely inspired by a novel called 'The Open Range Men', Open Range follows two cowboys and their hired hands as they tumble with a murderous land-owning tyrant in a town they are passing through. The movie is slow, focusing on rather corny dialogue between Robert Duvall (whom I have personally never enjoyed), Costner, and their constantly-in-need-of-moral-guidance hands. All actions committed by the bad guys are viewed only after the fact, never allowing us to build up a real disregard or dislike for them as characters (the main villain only makes two appearances in the film).. At the same time, this works as Western Realism (the people don't just mysteriously vanish from town during a gunfight) and the slow pace can almost be a breath a fresh air in a season of Bad Boys II and SWAT polluting the silver screen. The movie acts as an interesting but somewhat rambling countdown to what really is an awesome gunfight, perhaps one of the best of all time. The sheer volume and cutting of the gunfight captures the chaos and nervousness that one can only accept as real. Don't expect the film to win any Oscars, except perhaps cinematography (which really is breathtakingly gorgeous), but if you like Westerns or are tired of the same old ADD-fodder, you should definitely take a stroll through Open Range. If you like a little more bang for your buck, stick with Tombstone.
Rating: 
Summary: The Western Rides Again!
Review: Finally! A new western worthy of the title. Even if Kevin Costner goes on to do The Postman 2: Speedy Delivery he will still hold a fond place in my heart for bringing this crackerjack effort to the big screen. This is a true western made in the old-fashioned mold. Robert Duvall says it best in an interview when he says (paraphrasing) `this is our's. The French have their comedies, the Italians, the Japanese, but this is our's.' The Western is THE American art cinematic art form, and Costner gets it right for the most part. Open Range concerns a party of free grazers -migrant cattlemen in the eighteen eighties - leading a modest herd across the land of an Irish rancher named Baxter (the classic bad guy name) who is about as appreciative of their presence as that wolf in Drag-A-Long Droopy is of Droopy and his sheep. A man does not get to the top without some degree of ruthlessness, and Baxter proves his mettle after his `boys' pick a fight with one of the free grazers(Mose) and get him arrested by the local town marshal, who is in the Baxter's pocket. After paying a hefty bail, the two old hands Charlie (Costner) Waite, and Boss (Duvall, in Gus McCrae mode here - and that's NOT a complaint) Spearman realize the rancher is going to try and run off their herd, so they decide to get the jump on him and hit first. The problem is, they use muscle as a mostly harmless scare tactic, whereas while they're away, Baxter's men kill one of the young cowboys they left to watch the herd and beat the other near to death (Diego Luna as Button, sadly underused). Charlie and Boss decide to get justice for their dead friend, and prepare to take on the rancher and his goons and his marshal in the old root for the underdog stand. The cinematography is grand and wide, reminiscent of Ford. The town sure looks like the town in Pale Rider, without the sagebrush. Acting is fine all around, with Robert Duvall in command as the hardnosed but affable Spearman. Much talk has been made of the sameness of Costner's performance to his one in...well, every other movie. But what of it? I liken him to Gary Cooper. He has an easy everyman quality which doesn't usually require much tweaking, and often falters if its messed with (see Prince of Thieves). His portrayal of Charlie as a bit of burnout is not so intense as Eastwood's Will Munny, but then Charlie is not the same man. He is not as irredeemable as Will Munny, and indeed, this movie ends on a high note for him. His fumbling courting of Benning's character feels genuine and is has an aw shucks charm. The supporting players are all good, especially the stable keeper and the freighter - and Abraham `Kubiac' Benrubi (Mose) is a particularly memorable character, although his passing is strangely not nearly lamented as that of the dog! While the postscript tends to go on a little long, and some of the pacing feels off, this is still a solid, traditional story sprinkled with notions of honor, love, and friendship -the sort of things no real Western can go without. Ultimately this is the genre at its most simple and honest, dealing with steadfast themes of personal (American) freedom and the corruption and greed of absolute (Capitalist?) power, as well as brief meditation on the effect of violence (though that's certainly not central as it was in Unforgiven) both on the perpetrator and the victim. There is a tender romance between Charlie and Annette Benning (finally a pair of stars close in age!!), who plays Sue, the sister of the local sawbones. This subplot feels almost out of an Anthony Mann/Jimmy Stewart collaboration (like Shelly Winters and Stewart in Winchester 73), offsetting the extreme violence in old style Hollywood fashion. Truly, there is much that is familiar in Open Range, and the question is surely raised - is this a rip off or an homage of all that's come before? Its not terribly groundbreaking or innovative, although the harsh climactic gun battle at the end is indeed like nothing seen before (ooo! - when that one guy gets shotgunned through the wall! The whole audience moaned). The power of the weapons is evident in the way men are flung about like rag dolls, or sent crashing to the boardwalk as suddenly as if they'd been finger flicked by the Almighty. Nothing ever gets too unbelievable, and the payoff after such a long buildup is delivered masterfully. Like any great western, the violence is incidental and usally doesn't come till the end - the real star is the tense interplay between the heroes and the `villains.' Baxter is not entirely evil, but he is greedy in an Enron kinda way, and its obvious from the first time you seem him that he's going to pay for it. But that's A-O.K. in my book. This is not an exploration of new territory, but a return to an old, well worn path that has been overgrown with weeds since Eastwood's Unforgiven 11 years ago. Those expecting the Hollywood flash of Young Guns or Tombstone or the darkness of Unforgiven, or the indy quirkiness of Dead Man will probably be disappointed. But for those who count Howard Hawks, John Ford, and Anthony Mann among their favorites, this will surely bring a smile to your face. A real pleasure and a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome back, Kevin.
Review: Kevin Costner does not strike any new territory with Open Range, but it is an immensely satisfying addition to the Western genre anyway. Paired with the always watchable Robert Duvall, the two play off of each other with the relaxed familiarity of the two trail companions and long-time friends they portray. Filmed with wonderful appreciation for the natural surroundings and beauties of the Open Range and in real weather, with wind and rain only adding to the texture and reality of what is, in many ways, a romantic film, the film unfolds its story rather than jumpcutting it all over the place. This ain't Matrix, it takes its time. It is old-fashioned in that regard, building slowly to the inevitable showdown. This climactic shootout is a dandy, by the way, beautifully staged and with the shock and surprise of actual gun-fighting. There is a love interest. There is some slightly corny moments. There is a lot of laconic and terse dialogue between Duvall and Costner. There are vile villains. Many may not care for the icons & touchstones of the genre. I didn't mind it at all. Costner has turned in a solid effort here. Well played by all, including Annette Benning and tbe late Michael Jeter. It may not break new ground, but it certainly goes over familiar ground in a distinctive and sure-footed way. Well done in all departments, a very good movie.
Rating:
Summary: Adult Entertainment
Review: "Open Range" is an excellent film. If "Unforgiven" had never been made, "Open Range" would be THE western other productions of this era would be compared to. In a summer that has given us a slew of hollow entertainment pandering to the low expectations of "sophisticated 21st century audiences" (an overused media catchphrase invoked to make the ignorant feel smart while being fed a steady diet rancid pablum), "Open Range" gives us characters with depth, individuality, and values...values that are held in high esteem and actually acted upon when the proverbial chips are down. While the film going sophisticates of 2003 may find this film slow, the pay off is worth it at the climax of the film. Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, and Annette Bening turn in stellar performances. The cinematography envokes the vastness of the old west (actually shot in Alberta, Canada). Its hard to say how this film will do this summer. As of this writing, "Open Range" has been in theaters for five days, and this is the first review on Amazon! Perhaps it should've been released during the winter months. Either way, see this film. One of the best of the year.
Rating:
Summary: The Wild West Rides Again
Review: I thought I was going to see a remake of Shane and in a way I suppose that's what Open Range is.....the classic Western theme. But the two lead actors put this movie on a different plane. Kevin Costner and especially Robert Duvall are just stupendous. They both 'feel' like the cowboy in your imagination. Their authenticity brings freshness to this much used theme. The final shootout is over the top Western greatness-alot different than Gunsmoke. When you add the beauty of the movie's Canadian landscape....well,it puts you right there with Boss and Charley. After seeing Open Range I feel that Duvall and Costner both have a shot for Oscars for their performances. For you and me...2 1/2 hours in the Wild West doin' the right thing.
Rating:
Summary: Boots & Saddles, Whiskey, and a Found Woman
Review: I have the unfortunate habit of measuring westerns against one of my favorites of all time: the Unforgiven, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. With that film as my yardstick, Kevin Costner's traditional western falls just a bit short in the area of myth-creation but rides tall in the saddle when it comes to realistic shoot-outs and real-life plausible characters of complexity and strong presence. Leading characters played by Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, and Annette Bening leave nothing to criticize in the way of performance. You easily become engaged in the lives of the flinty cowboys driving their cattle to market on the open range, their suppressed domestic urges, their ambivalent feelings toward outlawry and violence. Annette Bening holds Charlie Postulwaite (the Kevin Costner character), her apprehensive suitor, in thrall and she is completely engaging and winsome as the pioneering sister and nurse of a western town doctor who has the dismal job of patching everyone up. Between fistfights, gunfights and the outright homicidal intentions of the standard villain who wants to control the town with his gang of thugs, the doc has a lot of work to do in this movie. Minor characters in the western town also provide strong and interesting performances: the village blacksmith, the camp cook, the abandoned Italian boy adopted by the cowboys, particularly notable among them. The scenery, too, is breathtaking and the outdoor elements are themselves another presence to reckon with. Realistic dialogue keeps the film from deteriorating into horse opera, as does a snowballing script which builds to a powerful climax. I particularly liked the loud and resonating gunfire which sounds a great deal like the real thing. Director Costner captures the chaos and caprice of real western shoot-outs. People usually do not go flying like tenpins when they get shot as they do in some less realistic and more sensation seeking films--they typically fall sadly, like hunted rabbits, into crumpled heaps. Yet the final conflict resolution is action packed, satisfying, and cathartic as the air becomes filled with lead and gunsmoke. Even so, there are some people who simply can't stand westerns. Pardner, I ain't one of them folks. This is a good 'un!
Rating:
Summary: The Good Old Boys
Review: This was a good move for Kevin Costner. The Last film I saw him in was 3000 Miles to Graceland, and while I didn't hate it (as some did), I wasn't that impressed either. His last couple of films have also opened to mixed reviews and I have been hearing people say he has lost it. Well, maybe, but he found it again for this picture. Bobby Duvall and Costner play Boss and Charley, cattle pushers moving a heard through big sky country. When they stop for an evening they send one of their hands into town to buy supplies and he doesn't return. Boss and Charley set off the next morning to look for him and they find him in the town jail. They are told he had a fight and that the people around here don't like "free grazers," especially the town boss, Baxter. This leads to another fight with Baxter and his men and someone gets killed. Seeking revenge Boss and Charley come back to town to face these men because they feel the men deserve killing. This movie was long. In some parts good long, and in other parts too long. It is never bad long. Costner has allowed his scenes to have a natural flow to them, and the reward is fine performances from everyone in the cast, particularly Duvall. However, it seemed to hinder the overall pacing of the film because the story wasn't as long as the film. In any case, despite the fact I thought it was too long, there is some great stuff here. Like I said, the acting was very good. The actors were allowed to act. Clearly Costner is an actors' director. He and Duvall really worked well off each other here. There are also some great action scenes. The shootout is one of the best I have ever seen in a western, it is masterly crafted in all aspects. The guns were so loud. I think it was worth the price of admission alone. Also, and I wasn't expecting this, the film had some good comic moments which I have not really witnessed much of in this genre. Open Range is a good western. I'm sure western fans will enjoy it, as I did. A little on the long side, but it is always good to see good actors doing good acting in a good film. Plus, they don't make enough westerns anymore. Good for Costner.
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