Open Range

Plot synopsis:
In Montana in 1882, "Boss" Spearman is an open range cattleman, who, with hired hands Charley, Mose, and Button, is driving a herd cross country. Charley is a former soldier who fought in the Civil War and feels guilty over his past as a killer.
Boss sends Mose to the nearby town of Harmonville for supplies. The town is controlled by a ruthless Irish immigrant land baron, Denton Baxter, who hates open-rangers. Mose is badly beaten and jailed by the marshal, Poole. The only friendly inhabitant is Percy, a livery stable owner.
Boss and Charley become concerned when Mose does not return. They retrieve him from the jail but not before getting a warning from Baxter about free-grazing on his land. Mose's injuries are so severe that Boss and Charley take him to Doc Barlow. There they meet Sue Barlow. Charley is attracted immediately, but assumes that Sue is the doctor's wife.
After catching masked riders scouting their cattle, Boss and Charley sneak up on their campfire in the night, and disarm them. At the same time, another attack results in Mose's death. Button is badly injured and left for dead. Charley and Boss vow to avenge this injustice. They leave Button at the doctor's house and go into town, where they lock Poole in his own jail. Boss knocks him out with chloroform he has stolen from the doctor's office. The deputies are locked up as well.
Charley learns that Sue is the doctor's sister, not his wife. He declares his feelings for her, and she gives him a locket for luck. Charley leaves a note with Percy, in which he states that if he should die, money from the sale of his saddle and gear are to be used to buy Sue a new tea set, having accidentally destroyed her previous set during a "flashback" episode.
Boss and Charley are pitted against Baxter and his men. Charley shoots Butler, the gunman who shot Button and killed Mose. An intense gun battle erupts in the street, with Boss, Charley and Percy outnumbered before the townspeople begin to openly fight against Baxter. After an intense firefight, Baxter's men are dead and Baxter ends up wounded and alone, trapped in the jailhouse. Boss rushes to the jail, mortally wounding Baxter.
Sue's brother tends to the wounded townspeople and open-rangers. Charley speaks to Sue in private, telling her he must leave. She counters that she has a "big idea" about their future together and that she will wait for him to return. He does return, and proposes to Sue. Charley and Boss decide to give up the cattle business and settle down in Harmonville, taking over the saloon.

Tags: atmospheric, revenge, murder, violence

Review:
A traditional, well-made western - suitable for most ages, features good guys herdin' cattle, bad guys tryin' to steal the cattle, codes of honour, a corrupt sheriff, a fantastic shoot-out, and Annette Bening being lovely in the wings.
Open Range is no high and mighty moraliser however; there are plenty true-to-genre one-liners, such as "You're nothing!" (grim-faced, cornered bad guy) - "Maybe so," (good guy pointing a gun at him), "but I'll still be breathing in another minute!" Towards the end of the film they also battle with their own inner demons.
If it looks spectacular on my 24-inch flat-screen, I can't imagine how awesome it would be a big plasma set.2 - Characters you really care about, led by three actors who almost always give solid performances: Robert Duvall (the best in here), Costner and Annette Bening.
And, in a different twist, it's the romance, not the usual climactic gun battle, that ends this film.I can't say enough about this movie except that I'm sorry more westerns like it aren't made today..
(This is my first written review, so bear with me)I've seen many of Kevin Costner's movies (both acting and directing), and even more westerns, and I'd have to say that this movie is the best in either category.
I applaud the creative minds behind this, and Costner, the ringmaster, above all others.I have not seen another film that captured the beauty of the title character (the open range, nyuk nyuk) in such a light.
I've seen many great Westerns--such films as "Will Penny," "Shane," "The Unforgiven," and several other Eastwood movies spring to mind--and this was right up there with them.
My thanks to Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall (of course), and Annette Bening for giving me a wonderful experience at the movies.
On screen Costner shares equal honours with the septuagenarian Robert Duvall, whose personal philosophy that "Man's got a right to protect his property and his life, and we ain't gonna let no rancher or his lawman take either," informs much of the main action.
Like Eastwood's film, Open Range also features a retired gunman who has recourse to his skills to help salvage a situation, and some of the best scenes with Costner's character concern his dispassionate and professional preparation for gunplay.
Like William Munny before, Charley Waite has something of an avenging angel about him, whose cold consideration of his trade is filmed completely without irony.Open Range has all the hallmarks of Costner the western auteur: an expansive, almost leisurely tone, supporting roles for loyal canines, a certain solemnity and respect for his conservative cinematic predecessors being foremost amongst them.
Indeed, part of the great success of Open Range is the way it single-mindedly sustains an atmosphere of fateful suspense.One thing that no one disputes: Duvall is magnificent in his part, a performance that may well prove a capstone to a long and prestigious career.
(Incidentally for a filmmaker who prides himself on accuracy, Costner has his hero 'fan' off shots, a notoriously inaccurate way of discharging a gun, but that's a minor distraction.) It's a notable confrontation, an extended set piece sequence that is one of the director's best and confirms his film the finest western since Unforgiven..
The cowboys Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall), Charley Waite (Kevin Costner), Mose (Abraham Benrubi) and Button (Diego Luna) are conducting their cattle herd through the fields of the West.
"Open Range" is one of the best contemporary western, with the characters very well constructed and an engaging low paced story having action, drama and romance.
"Open Range" is in my opinion one of the best movies I have seen on the silver screen since John Ford's westerns.
It is definitely Kevin Costner's best performance and Robert Duvall, well, he is great in anything he plays in.
There is absolutely nothing I can criticise or find fault with in this movie which I genuinely believe to be one of the greatest Western films ever made.The two leads Robert Duvall (Boss Spearman) and Kevin Costner(Charlie Waite) are so convincing as 'freegrazers', and are firmly supported by a host of other players,Abraham Benubi as 'Mose'and Annette Bening as Miss Sue, among the most standout characters.The cinematography is beautiful, the music score is so wonderfully apt and really there is little more to say other than these 2 consummate actors who have previously turned in some really fine performances really surpass themselves in this.Costner has had one or two unfortunate mishaps along the way but more good than bad and Duvall who was brilliant in The Godfather was over-shadowed by two of cinemas all-time greats,Pacino and Brando..
Open Range is without doubt one of the best family movies I have seen for a long time.
Although not quite as good as "Dances With Wolves" Open Range, funnily enough, not only stars Kevin Costner but is along the same theme in as much as it tells a story about the early American way of life.
It's not a flawless Western the Western historians will tell you, and some will pick out the hats or the impact of a rifle to mark the film down, but really we should be embracing a genre piece in the modern age that is clearly being directed with love and respect by the director.It's story is of course a simply structured tale of the underdog rising up against the fat cats who want it all in the name of tyranny.
The film does flesh them out to enhance the film without boring the pants off the viewer, and it's only come the final reel that you realise you have been engaged in a very human and honest Western film.Most of the cast do great here, both Robert Duvall & Kevin Costner bounce of each other with moody and world wise aplomb as the two main leads, while in the sole female role of note, Annette Bening is gusto beautiful personified.
I absolutely love watching Robert Duvall in a western and here, he's nothing short of realistic, amazing and the perfect partner to accompany Costner in this journey both in text and on screen.
The main leads Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall are outstanding and unlike many westerns from the golden era aren't painted as whiter than white, though of at heart decent men.
Open Range is a fantastic western and well worth watching for anyone with a love of the genre.
I am not enough of a movie buff to be able attribute his performance in this film to Costner's direction or Duval's feel for the character.
Excellent western film magnificently performed and directed by Kevin Costner.
The movie centers about facing off between settlers and cattlemen.In the cowboys group we find an ex gunslinger(Kevin Costner), an old man (Robert Duvall) and a younger (Diego Luna).
Meanwhile the ex-gunfighter will fall in love with a spinster (Annette Bening).The final showdown between the contenders is breathtaking, gunfight is likeness to "O.K. Corral duel¨.The film is awesome , sets are extraordinaries and landscapes are wonderful.The movie blends action, violence, a love story ,drama ,shootouts and is a fascinating film.Direction by Kevin Costner is of first rate as ¨dancing with wolves¨.
Continuing my plan to watch every Kevin Costner movie in order, I come to his third directorial effort 2003's Open Range.Plot In A Paragraph: A former gunslinger (KC) is forced to take up arms again when he and his friends are threatened by a corrupt lawman.After his worst movie since the early 80's, KC responded with his best movie in 10 years.
There were quite a few shots filmed up close through the windows of various buildings in the town- and every pane of glass had that authentic hand made wobbly look- not massed produced dead flat 20th century glass panes at all.Also, one of the best shoot outs I have seen for a very long time.
It is therefore hard to compare "Open Range" to any other recent material, so it will need to stand on its own merits.Strong performances and actors with genre experience are always necessary for a good western.
This perhaps isn't so surprising because if you watch a film either directed by or starring Costner there always seems to be a running theme of the characters existing in a wilderness away from civilisation such as DANCES WITH WOLVES , PRINCE OF THIEVES and WATERWORLD alongside the philosophy that guns don't kill people , people kill people , or to be more accurate bad people kill people then good people kill bad people as seen in THE UNTOUCHABLES and THE POSTMAN with PRINCE OF THIEVES and WATERWORLD also coming into this category also OPEN RANGE continues this Costner philosophy as we're shown men or horseback against a breath taking panorama of the untouched American wilderness .
The story itself may be rather old fashioned almost in the vein of John Wayne but that doesn't stop it from being the best film with Kevin Costner for a very long time .
Duvall of course is the type of very rare actor who can make a shopping list come alive and Michael Gambon is memorable as bad guy Denton Baxter Some people might be put off by the fact that it stars and was directed by Costner and therefore expected a three and a half hour epic about nothing in particular .
This tight, and character driven Western is a return to form, and once again shows his keen eye as a director, and his engagement with fellow actors.I was impressed with the chemistry between Costner as Charley Waite along side Robert Duvall's seasoned 'Boss'.
Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner did a fantastic job of convincing me they were driving those cows through the open range.
Open Range is the only Kevin Costner movie I have ever watched that I wanted to see again and again.
Pros: Simple story, great ending, amazing performance by Kevin Costner and Michael Jeter, good acting, and great character studiesCons: Very slow pacing and an overlong runtimeOverall Rating: 8.4.
I know this is not a film that many people demand the public's opinion on, however, I am writing this review to describe how perfectly directed this film is and how it captures the spirit of what makes the Western genre one of the best in film.Kevin Costner, directing and starring, does a superb job playing a free range cowboy who, along with his boss played by Robert Duvall, has to defend their friends and their herd of free-ranging cattle from a vicious rancher and the lawmen and gunslingers in his deep pockets.
And I'd like to see Robert Duvall get on the saddle again one more time.One of the first things I love about Open Range is the location.
We don't even hear a single shot until the movie's half over and when it is, we are blown away by its realism.Open Range definitely has the best gunfight in any Western yet.Overall, this movie from Kevin Costner is a great epic masterpiece that everybody should check out.
It has all the Western ingredients like shoot-em ups, cattle, horses, "open range", saloon and good versus evil just to name some.
It has been a long time since I have seen a western movie that I thought really put it all together, but Open Range is one of the best.
One thing I do know for sure is that Kevin Costner's Open Range is one of the better westerns to be produced in many a Dakota moon.
Starring Costner, Robert Duvall and Annette Bening, Open Range tells the story of two free grazers who take the law into their own hands after members of their posse are shot and left for dead.
Costner and Bening as love interests are far more an acceptable possibility than having an almost 50-year old chasing down a twenty-something like we see in almost every other movie out there.
Open Range was one of 2003's best films and the undeniable proof that Kevin Costner is still as talented as he was 10 years ago, round the time of Dances With Wolves.
I really liked the movie and can easily recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a nice Western that will stay in one's mind for a long time....
Kevin Costner directs and co-stars with Robert Duvall (inexplicably billed first) and Annette Benning in this story of cattlemen being forced to take a stand against a big time rancher who wants them off 'his' land.Costner directs with a sure and steady hand, letting the story unfold at an almost glacial pace while at the same time giving a great performance as a man at war with himself, struggling to forgive himself for the sins he has committed in the past.
Benning's role is a little underdeveloped and the cursory love sub plot seems forcefully placed into the story as a means to provide Costner with a chance for redemption.There are echoes of Eastwood's Unforgiven; the change from the 'old' West to the 'new'; the old gunslinger who has tried to move on but cannot forget the past, yet Open Range opts for a more positive outlook by its' conclusion than Unforgiven's sombre climax.The film builds to a showdown that we are more than ready for and the action and gun play is exciting and feels authentic.
Open Range's story, may be considered conventional, but the beauty of this excellent film is that it presents its characters and relationships so well that you feel you are seeing something completely new, and indeed you are.
As someone who regards "Lonesome Dove" as THE template for the film genre known as "the western," and who, similarly, believes that "Broken Trail" was/is an exemplary coda to same, I find it, after belatedly watching "Open Range," absolutely astonishing, incredible?, that BOTH Robert Duvall AND Kevin Costner consider this sad effusion of cinematic cliché and stereotype worthy of their efforts, much less their effusions.
The locals in the nearby town decide to cause problems for them, but, in the end, they find out that was a MAJOR mistake.I like the comment made that no one should look for revenge; only justice.This movie was well done and Kevin Costner deserves an award for this one.
Duvall turns in one of the best performances this reviewer has seen in years.Kevin Costner directs and stars as the reformed gun-fighter attempting to forget his dark past, but is forced to return to his former ways by the corrupt Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon) and his gang who run the nearby town of Harmonville and are opposed to "free grazers".
I contend it is not the violence so much as it is the realism that may be disturbing, but I doubt if those confrontations in the old west were a thing of beauty.It can't be that bad a year for movies with the strong return of two great genres long missing from the screen.
great entertainment from all concerned with this movie..good script and great direction by kevin costner...he was influenced by the great directors Ford.Hawks,Stevens..and the pace is slow like it would have been in 1860..the performance of Michael Jetter is a shoe in from the performance ofWalter Brennan in the forties..all actors are excellent and Robert Duvall should garner a few nomination with this wonderful film.....Michel Boudot.
Costner's films should make more money than they do: watching them, you get the feeling of those grande old stories that remind you of the movies you used to love when you were a boy.
The film stars Robert Duvall as Boss Spearman, an open range cattleman alongside his hired hands Charley Waite(Kevin Costner), Button(Diego Luna) and Mose(Abraham Benrubi) as they travel the west free-grazing with their cattle herd.After an altercation with ruthless land owner Denton Baxter(Michael Gambon) in a near by town.
Robert Duvall also gives one his best performances ever, and at times he carries the movie(He should've received an Oscar nomination).The film does have some scripting and pacing issues though.
The geography of the shootout is excellent, as Boss and Waite navigate through the town, as they fend off the corrupt officials and Baxters hired guns.Open Range is a love-letter to classic Hollywood Westerns.
Open Range is huge return to directing form for Costner, its full of great western characters, both good and bad and ugly, it's a very simple story that enthralls the viewer with a fine attention to detail and its relentless realism.
Duval has been around the block a few times and his acting skills were never better in "Open Range".Costner with his casual ways and laid back manner was also great.
"Open Range" is a good western, lyrically filmed, and well-acted.
Open Range has to be the best western i have seen in over 20 years, i cant remember the names of any other western besides "hang em high" "fist full of dollars" "the good the bad the ugly" the real western movies, THE ONES TO REMEMBER.
This is a bad guys versus good guys formula-type film featuring interesting characters and fine performances by Costner, Annette Bening, and particularly Robert Duvall.
The beautiful open country is captured with a realistic touch, and the small western town Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall travel to looks very authentic.
So, if you like westerns, shoot-outs, Kevin Costner, or Robert Duvall, watch Open Range during the next dusty fall afternoon.DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, there's one scene in this movie that won't be your friend.
And if there still weren't movies like Open Range, Jack Bull, 3:10 to Yuma, or that great show Deadwood, I guess we could really say that western is dead.After mediocre Postman, in this movie Costner showed us that he can still direct and act in a movie as good as his previous Dance with the Wolves.
Whilst Robert Duval steals every scene, Kevin Costner has come back home to what he does best - damn good westerns.
Don't get me wrong,I liked Costner's revisionist western Dances with Wolves (still my favourite movie score) and still rate it as one of my all time favourite films.