Open Range

Rating:
Summary: What's left to say?
Review: I generally write long reviews but in this case so much has already been said by the reviewers here, much of which I wholeheartedly agree with, that there seems little left for me to add. Suffice it to say that I love westerns, though not, for the most part, the weak, formulaic efforts of earlier eras. Shane, of course, is one dramatic exception and there are a few others. But on my view the western really came into its own in our more recent era with films like Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven and Tombstone with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer (giving an incomparable performance as the legendary dissolute and consumptive, Doc Holliday).

Well, Costner has matched them with this one. Open Range is a relatively simple story, lovingly shot in beautiful scenic country, that builds an elegaic picture of the glories of solitude and self-reliance in the old West of American myth. Although it seems a bit slow because of the long build-up to the action of the tale, if you're fascinated by the Western mythos, as I am, the film is altogether absorbing and hypnotic. (My wife, on the other hand, isn't and swore she'd never go with me to another Western after this one!)

The tale follows the fortunes of four cowboys running cattle, without a ranch as a base of operations, as they come into conflict with a more settled cattleman (brilliantly played by an arrogant and ruthless Michael Gambon). Boss Spearman (a crusty and altogether believable Robert Duvall . . . and no, his character is nothing like his earlier Gus MacCrae, in Lonesome Dove, despite other comments here) leads the outfit which consists of one other mature cowboy, the mysterious and moody Charlie Waite (Kevin Costner) and two younger cowpokes, one a might slow in the head, the other barely more than a boy.

After an unexpected confrontation with the local cattle baron's men leads to trouble for the outfit, things go from bad to worse as Boss and Charlie must find a way to secure their cattle, save the young cowpoke's life, and repay the cattleman for the damage he has done to them. Everything culminates in a marvelous gun battle that really does seem to capture the madness and confusion that these things must have been like, while avoiding the stylized theatrics that Hollywood usually resorts to in portraying these kinds of confrontations. The human side of the characters is richly delineated throughout as Costner's Waite wrestles with the demons of his earlier life, as a killer and gun hand, and Boss struggles to find a way to reconcile himself to the decline of cattle herding as he has known it. Annette Benning, who plays Sue, the sister of the town doctor, yearns to break through to these men and especially to Charlie Waite, for whom she develops a deep attraction.

My only complaint in all this is that the film took way too long to end after the denouement. Costner as director seemed unable to let go, dragging out the resolution to the point where it seemed tiresome, even to me. But that's a small criticism for a film this good. I don't usually do it, but this time I actually bought the DVD. This is the kind of film I like to have on my shelf.

SWM

Rating:
Summary: Robert Duvall's character
Review: Agree 100% with other reviewers positive comments (of course, I didn't read the full collection of 300 of so), however I want to point out something about Duvall's role.
There was another fine western (and historic) movie some 10 years ago, where Duvall developed another great character, and similar in several ways to this of Boss, and it was in "Geronimo - An American Legend", with Charlie Sieber (scout and indians hunter) incarnation.
I think, overall, Duvall is one of the most underrated artists in the industry.

Rating:
Summary: Open Range, recommended.
Review: Open Range not only has a great cast and script, but an incredible story too. The film has all of the excellent qualities that made "The Postman" and "Waterworld" such mesmerizing pieces of work, including the epic "Dances with Wolves". The only modern Western that is better is Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven".


Rating:
Summary: A Western for those who miss fine Westerns
Review: While not entirely plausible or believable.. hey, it's a movie. And a very good one, at that. The first time I saw it, I was a little disappointed. Then a few months later, I watched it again and loved it. Time is spent on character and plot development and rightly so. For the main characters in this movie, the time is needed and well spent. Good job, here.

The gun fight is one of the better ones I've seen in Westerns. More realistic. Did you notice the differing muzzle blasts from the small arms? Revolvers sound quite a bit different than rifles or shotguns. I have been in the gun culture my entire adult life and have done a lot of shooting. This is the best in this department I seen so far.

One reviewer mentioned the man being gutshot by a shotgun and blown across the alleyway. In reality, this would not happen as depicted in the movie. People react unpredictably when shot. And a shotgun (12 gauge?) is not going to do what was shown in this movie to a human being. Ever hunted deer with 00-buck? They don't fly off their feet for 8 or 10 feet. But as I said, people do react in unpredictable ways when shot.

But seriously, even with the few flaws, this is a very entertaining and enjoyable movie and worth seeing. Oh by the way. Robert Duvall is a distant neighbor (about 12 miles away) and is seen on occasion in Centreville and Manassas. This makes the movie even more interesting.


Rating:
Summary: THE WESTERN OF THE LAST 10 YEARS
Review: Besides being by far the best western in the last decade. This is a damn good movie. My wife does not like westerns and she was very impressed by this film.

Rating:
Summary: Very Enjoyable
Review: This is one of the best westerns to come along since Unforgiven! The interaction between the main characters, the photography and the realism in the big gun fight all work to make this a very enjoyable film!

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: This is possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. Don't waste your time and especially don't waste the money. Long, dull and A-stereotypical. Tries way to hard to be the westerns of old and goes over the top in the cheese catagory. The acting was beyond dismal and Kevin Costner is more in love with himself then he is making a good quality movie. Major stinker!