Rating: 
Summary: Costner Movie
Review: Do you like Costner movies? Lot's of folks don't. I do.. why? Because he believes in the details. Wyatt Earp, Dances with Wolves even Water World... he may not be a "great" actor, but he portrays the parts. The details on the DVD are great insights to the production. This guy makes good movies... I'd call them epics. They are always on the long side. Who cares? They take you places. Duvall is good... Benning is beautiful, what more can I say. If you abor Western's... beware, it's a western. But the pans and the action shots are beautiful. Costner definately knows his craft. He's also got a lot of dedicated technicians who obviously love working with him and for him.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste trust from a man like Charley on a card game
Review: The high points of this excellent film are simultaneously the stillness and simplicity of the Montana-like (Western Canada) background with again, the simplicity and strength of the dialogue. The two men, Costner as a Shane like character, traumatized by his past-trying to go 'straight' and Duvall, scarred also by a past who finds "getting lost" in the bigness of the late 19th century country comforting, work together like few actors can and do. Wryness, not one liners. Advice not mandates. A simple code of freedom and justice spoken in a cafe by Duvall, not Costner. Costner, content to play second role to Duvall's experience in the role, and quite possibly in his skill as an actor. Duvall is as good as he's ever been and Costner better than he's been in years. Simple plot, right and wrong colliding a 100 years ago a 1000 miles from here. The love interest is a stabilizing factor, adding credence to what good men need, drawing out a painfully shy Charley (Costner) and the curmudgeon Boss (Duvall). The best western in years, on par with The Unforgiven and Tombstone, perhaps better. 5 stars. Larry Scantlebury
Rating:
Summary: Great modern western
Review: I think the best westerns of all time have been made in the last decade, and Open Range is surely one of them. Realistic, serious, and amazing performances by Duval and Gambon and all the rest.
Rating: 
Summary: Naturally there is conflict, followed by a predictable plot
Review: This western was directed by Kevin Costner, who also stars in it along with Robert Duvall. They are cast as "open range" cattlemen. They live outdoors and move their cattle from place to place. They hate towns and townspeople hate them. Naturally there is conflict. And naturally the plot is predictable. Robert Duvall is the boss of the small group of men who work on the open range. He's a fine actor and I've seen him do some incredible work in other films. But there were moments here when his performance seemed actually wooden. Kevin Costner does a somewhat better job. He's a gunman who has "done some things I'm not very proud of" in the Civil war. However, it was quite noticeable that he never mentioned what side he fought on. Then there is Abraham Benrubi, who I recognized as playing Jerry, the large-size hospital clerk in "ER. He adds a tough of humanity and humor. And then there is Diego Luna who plays a 16-year-old who the older men have taken under their wing. Annette Bening is the female lead. She looks pretty and has a gentle sophistication. No wonder Kevin Costner falls in love. Both of them are aging, and they make mention of it. This is a film about bad guys and good guys. There are lots of gunfights, but even though men fall down and die, the violence is of the old-fashioned movie variety and we don't see blood and guts. Filmed in Canada, the scenery is nice and gives a feel of old west as we've seen it done over and over again. Surprisingly, however, I wasn't bored. Sometimes, I guess I'm just in the mood for a slow-moving predictable western.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this movie!
Review: I'm hardly a huge fan of Westerns, but I love movies that edify the soul. Open Range did that for me -- much like A River Runs Through It and Legends of the Fall. The story is simple: two free rangers (Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner) seek revenge on corrupt cowherders (cronies of the town sheriff) who kill/wound two friends of theirs. Throughout the movie, a relationship between Kevin Costner and Annette Bening's characters evolves. Duvall was great, as usual. Costner, likewise, played his character well. However, the highlight of the movie was to see Annette Bening shine. There's certainly areas where the film could have been better (e.g., the romance is developed awkwardly), but the positives override the negatives, so much that I give it 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Brutally Honest Depiction
Review: "Open Range" may be a fictional story, but the events that occurred within it were brutally honest depictions of what happened in the 1880's. The story moves along at a somewhat slow pace, but you have to remember that the pace is used to develop the characters and the storyline. It also helps to enhance the believability of the story, e.g. the waiting for the killers, moving the herd across the plains, etc. Costner's depiction of a violent man trying to shake off his past is perfect. Once he slips his old skin back on, however, the cold-blooded intent with which he seeks out his enemies is played to perfection. He becomes a killer. Duvall's tough-as-nails "Boss" character is memorable as the older, wiser leader of the free-grazing group. He becomes the level that keeps Costner from losing all control throughout the film. The rest of the cast does a superb job. Annette Bening deserves praise for the sheer looks of terror that cross her face in this film. She surprised me in this one. As it was with the characters, so it is with the action of the movie. It's a very accurate depiction of a gunfight in the Old West. When people shoot, they miss...often. Even the heroes of the film miss their shots frequently. In the late 1800's, guns still weren't up to par with today's standards. Shooting at and missing someone from close proximity was the norm. When a bullet did hit its mark, the target didn't always die instantly. This is shown throughout the fight sequences in this film. At times they are disturbing, which I believe is the whole point of such scenes in this movie. You don't know if you should cheer for the good guys or have pity on the bad ones because of how violent the deaths in this film are. Many people have called this a traditional Western. If you mean traditional in the sense that it's just like a lot of other Western movies, you're partially right. There are a lot of Westerns that depict the violent and psychological struggles of the late 1800's with precision, but there are many more that glamorize that time in our history. Also, many of the stories we've heard are often based on the dimestore novels and "half-truths" that grew from that time. This movie isn't like that. It's as close to actuality as I've seen in a long time. In closing, this movie is brutally honest. Don't watch it if you want to see one of those "good guys in white hats" dimestore movies. Watch it if you want an honest, accurate depiction of events that could have happened in one of the most violent times in American history. I higly recommend this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow, but ok
Review: Over all I enjoyed this movie, but I did think it dragged on in places. It's over 2 hours in length and I think very few movies manage to pull that off well. Just a few too many scenes sitting around the campfire, preparing for the big gun fight, etc. some of the store was a little over the top too -- Robert Duval comes out pretty much unscathed. Nonetheless the plot itself was decent and there was some character development.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Costner Mini Epic
Review: Fans of Kevin Costners previous avenues into the western genre will certainly not be disappointed by this movie, and his obvious love for the material is certainly in evidence. This is a simple story concerning "free grazers" or wandering cattle herders that drift from place to place, feeding their cattle on the land as they go, usually only suffering from the ravages of the weather or terrain. A run in with a local avaricious land baron (aren't they always) leads to some strong arm tactics by our protagonists, which leads to a show down, and one feels long overdue come uppance for the main villian (played with some zeal by Michael Gambon). At almost 2hrs 20 minutes this is by no means a formula western, but the power to captivate the viewer for so long, with such an essentially short and simple tale is testament to the film makers credentials. Costner is more than ably supported by Robert Duvall as the crusty experienced cowhand, who won't lie down and take a beating, and a romantic interest in the form of Annette Benning is also interwoven well into the story. Some amazing camera work, with jaw dropping vistas and a real feel for the story and characters is more than enough eye candy, and although a little predictable, this is well worth a rental. Interesting extra's on the DVD add to the value, and whereas I wouldn't put this in the same league as Wyatt Earp, or Dances with Wolves, it is very close. Enjoy
Rating:
Summary: The Best movie of 2004, a classic western, the genre returns
Review: kevin Costner and Robert Duvall are flawless in this great western that once again brings back the great genre that everyone knows and loves, this is the finest movie i've seen since The Quick and the Dead and another classic and one of my all time favorites, Geranimo: An American Legend. Although this movie may have the same storyline that some of Clint Eastwood's movie posesses, but this movie still remains one of a kind. I am a huge fan of westerns and this one is no outsiders, Western movies are back and better than ever, hope Ving Rhames new Western debut movie coming out in Late 2005 can outbeat this cinamatic classic. 9/10.
Rating:
Summary: As close to a classic western as we're likely to get.
Review: Costner displays a real knack for tough, taut action scenes and should direct more westerns. This would have been a classic if not for the last three scenes which give the movie a feeling of padding. There's some great dialogue there but those three scenes should have been cut down at the script stage into two. Would have made the movie flow much better. Regardless, there's not a bad performance here. Duvall reprises his Lonesome Dove work (with almost the same body English), Michael Jeter is excellent in his next to last role, Annette Bening shows sparks even burdened with an under written role and Costner reminds you (finally) of exactly why he became a star. The photography is excellent, Gambon is fine as the villain, the look of the film is authentic and the final gunbattle is a rough, violent marvel. If you like (or Love!!!) westerns this is certainly one worth buying.
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