Rating: 
Summary: A Good Western Is Hard To Come By
Review: I went into this movie hoping Kevin Costner had left the tone of his previous efforts ("The Postman", "Waterworld", "Dragonfly", etc) behind him. While this movie was directed and produced by Costner, I didn't get that same loathsome feeling(s) when the end credits were rolling. While this production was good, it still (in Costner fashion) dragged on too long. The storyline was simple - the local powers-that-be did not like the free-range grazers. The mean old sheriff and his shady crew wanted them off their land. Dirty tricks followed; men were killed; and revenge was sought after. The good guys wore light colors. The bad guys wore dark. The gun fights were above average, and the first angry shot fired (in the bar) rocked the camera - at least it felt like it did. Robert Duvall (as Boss) played his part perfectly. "Boss" was easily the most likeable and fitting character. I couldn't picture anyone else playing the part except for "Mr. Lonesome Dove" himself. Costner was good, but a bit too cold and his lines seemed to be read, as opposed to being heartfelt (tough to do with a bad seed like Charley I suppose). A very supportive Annette Bening was wonderful as Sue, the Dr's sister. She was warm and caring throughout the picture. The scenery was magnificent. The horses were beautiful and well-groomed. The set up (props) of the town was believeable. The flaws were in Costner's delivery of some of his lines, little or no soundtrack to speak of, and the lack of much of anything going on in the first 90 minutes of this film. Some will say this is character and plot development. I would agree to an extent, but you don't have to waste the viewers time doing it. A good western is hard to come by, and this one will get my two thumbs up... but, by no means does it fall into the "classic" category. Beware, "Open Range" is good, but it's no "Butch Cassidy", "Pale Rider", "Tombstone", "Man From Snowy River", "Big Jake", "Nevada Smith", "Lonesome Dove", etc. The DVD is a 2-disc set with director's commentary, director's journal, deleted scenes, and a historic featurette. Questionable as to whether or not this could have been a desireable single disc... but knowing Costner and his crew, they probably wanted the double-disc tag (and the price to go with it). I was fully expecting "Open Range" to exceed the 3 hour mark (as most Costner movies do), maybe that's the problem... another 30-60 minutes of action might have helped. This movie was good, but I was left wanting and expecting more.
Rating: 
Summary: Costner proves himself!!!
Review: Kevin Costner is a man who has fallen from the top of stardom in the past decade, with too many disapointments and boxoffice bombs. He has became the man at the end of everone's jokes. Media and the public has ripped on him and his movies before even giving them a chance.While some will never forgive him for "The Postman", I'm willing to overlook it now thanks to Open Range. Open Range is not only a return to respect for Costner but it is also one of the best movies of the past year...heck, I'll go as far and say it is the best western since "Unforgiven". Open Range follows Boss Spearman (played perfectly by Robert Duvall), Charley Waite (Kevin Costner), Button, and Mose. Together they move their cattle on an open range when stuck due to a rain storm Mose is sent to the local town to get supplies only to never come back. Charley and Boss go in to investage and find Mose bleeding and thrown in prison. They also find the town is ran by Denton Baxter and Sheriff Poole who both hate outsiders. This is where the trouble begains and the general set up for the movie. Duvall plays Boss as if he was Boss and Costner delivers one of the best movie antiheros in long while. Michael Jeter also make his last movie apperance as a barn owner that becomes friends with the outsiders. The real high point of the movie is the shoot out at the end. The gunfight is handle great. It's heart pounding, gun fire fight had more energy and left me more satisfied then any Action movie that came out last year, plus this movie has some of the best sound editing (the DTS track really helps) I've ever heard. I know its a weird thing to point out but once you feel the power of each gun shot thoughout your body...you just can't help to get all giddy inside. The disc supports several extras. One making of, showing the troubles Costner faced in getting the movie made and a documetry about the real Open Range that this movie is based on. Great disc, with an great movie. A must have for western lovers along with action lovers, everywhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Understatement
Review: My darling wife 'hates westerns' but she was enthralled by this movie. I have not seen a better one. The actors are superb with excellent dialogue. Authentic in most every detail, this is a classic for the times.
Rating:
Summary: Wanted more
Review: I love Costner and Duvall, but there was too much open range and not enough story about what was going on. There was a great story to tell and great actors to tell it, but it just didn't come through. It wasn't a bad movie, but it left me wishing for more.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie* * * * *
Review: I loved this movie - my husband did too. Something you can watch together... but more important just a great movie.* Story line- actors- all the action- & all the feelings you felt during it.* Kevin Costner- great... He's right up there when doing a good western, just like Clint Eastwood was. Robert Duvall- great performance also. I would watch this again, & probably will. (I know my husband will for sure.)
Do more westerns Kevin* - We'll be waiting for the next one.*
Rating:
Summary: DISAPPOINTING
Review: I can summarize my reaction to this film by saying that THE WHOLE IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE SUM OF THE PARTS. Good photography,good special effects and good "props" do not compensate for a contrived tale and a poor screenplay which hobbles the principal actors. Also, there is not nearly enough open range to justify the title - the movie is closer to Gunfight at OK Corral. Lonsome Dove would be a much better DVD to spend your money on to capture the atmosphere that Open Range sought.
Rating:
Summary: Epic western
Review: Just watched this movie and consider it right up there with Dances with Wolves, Unforgiven, and my all time favorite Lonesome Dove. The beginning character development really made me care about these peoples lives. I'll probably watch it many times. Great western.
Rating:
Summary: COSTNER'S BACK!
Review: Over the years I have been more than a little disappointed in Kevin Costner's efforts to direct let, alone act. But I have to admit that Open Range has caused me to reconsider. Open Range, the story of two free range cowboys in 1882 who are forced to avenge the death of a partner at the hands of a ruthless Irish cattle baron, is wonderfully scripted, masterfully set and boasts a cast that is about as strong as any I have seen in a western. Robert Duvall all but resurrects the persona he created as Augustus McCrae in Lonesome Dove as he portrays the tough and savvy trail boss Boss Spearman. Westerns fit Duvall like a pair of well-worn boots and this movie would be a western masterpiece if it were nothing more than Duvall's lines and scenes. But the rest of the cast members are also terrific. Kevin Costner stars as Charlie Waite, Spearman's partner and unquestioning supporter. Waite is a man who seeks to leave behind a past as a soldier and killer. Annette Bening is superb as Sue Barlow, sister of the town's sawbones and a woman who can see the tender side of the man who has come to set things right in her town. Michael Gambon stars as Denton Baxter, an evil cattle baron with a biting prejudice against "Free Grazers," as he calls them and, having bought the town Marshall, the saloon and driven a stake of terror into the hearts of most of the townsfolk, will stop at nothing to keep his supposed empire when confronted by Spearman and Waite. Given Gambon's wonderfully sinister portrayal of Baxter in Open Range I wonder how he plans to pull off his new role as the kind-hearted headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, in the next installment of Harry Potter. The gunfight is one of the best of the genre, being choreographed from the first shot right down to the final standoff. I haven't seen anything this riveting since Once Upon A Time in the West and The Wild Bunch. A classic western in every sense, Open Range, I predict, will emerge as Costner's masterpiece, standing up very capably in comparison any and all western movies and clearly surpassing in my thinking Costner's Dances With Wolves (and no, I don't care about the Academy Awards it won) and Wyatt Earp for the top spot. Just be ready to strap on your colt and hold on for dear life. Douglas McAllister
Rating: 
Summary: Very Overrated
Review: I expected this movie with all it's praise to be a fantastic western. I leave feeling very dissapointed. I'm a very tough movie critic and usually find the birght spots in any movie to be enough to carry it over. However, this movie left me completely empty. It's cliche, overdramatic, poorly written, and incredibally empty. The saving points of the movie, are a clever idea of free grazers and a great gunfight, aside from that its a long 2 hours and 19 minutes. The story itself is cheesy, and nearly unbelievable. Costner is horrible, his character is a stoic individualist with no social skills, and his interaction with Benning is laughable. Duvall is solid in this role, however he is also very cliche and needs a real star with him to shine which he does not have. If your a western fan, this will most certainly not rank in your top 10.
Rating:
Summary: Not a bad movie but nothing special either.
Review: Robert Duvall and Annette Bening are good actors but even they couldn't bring this film above average. The story is very obvious from the beginning and offers no surprises at all. This is highlighted by the leaden acting of Kevin Costner who seems unable to generate any real emotion on film. In some roles that can work but this isn't one of them. I did really like Bening's character, though. No tough-as-nails or helpless female image as so often appears in films, she portrays a believable, realistic woman. Opposite Duvall's strong yet vunerable character there are some sparks, indicating who should have been the leading man! No, I don't dislike Costner. I've just rarely seen him portray a character of any depth. I don't know if that's due to bad choices in roles or if he's just limited in his acting range. Either way, it didn't work in this film. Open Range isn't a bad movie but I'd hardly recommend it unless you are a real fan of any of the actors involved.
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