Open Range [DVD] [2004] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Well, what a pleasant suprise. I rented this DVD purely on reading reviews. For once, the critics got it right. Infact, some have drastically undersold this gem of a movie. You may know the story; two old friends driving cattle become entagled in small town injustice and bullying.
Ok, it aint original is it? Well, watch the movie and you will feel like this is the first time you have ever seen this plot. It feels so fresh and original. The vast majority of the credit should be given to Kevin Costner himself. On the directing side, he manages to use subtlty and reality in perfect combination. He uses the terrific landscapes spectacularly and allows the actors to instill a genuine sense of belonging to the area. The climactic gunfight is as thrilling as it is realistic. Five shots can be fired, one may hit the target (and that goes for good and bad guys).
Performance wise, Michael Gambon is wonderfully nasty in what is essentially a cameo appearance. Annette Benning plays her role neatly, sticking to the woman-with-morals line. But the two leads, Duvall and Costner, ARE the film. Duvall can do no wrong when playing the older, wiser friend. Here he adds a menace and power little seen before. Costner is breathtaking. The opportunities to glam-up his tough cowboy role are completely avoided in favour of a complex, shy and tortured man. A man who has fallen in love sits effortlessly with a gunslinger trying to forget his violent history.
Open Range should really have found its way to Oscar night. Costner has demonstrated that Dances with Wolves was no fluke. In my humble opinion, this film is better. It is a simple narrative, played honestly...and is all the better without any showey "oscar-look-at-me" moments.
One added feature that shows why it turned out so well; On the DVD, there is an extra feature called B-Roll. This is behind the scenes video. Not one of the crappy makings of, just unedited video. Look at the pure joy in Costners face as he directs. There's a man enjoying being one of the best in the business.
A triumph!

14 years on since Kevin Costner made his oscar grabbing Western Dances With Wolves, he returns with another dramatic Western tale, this time focusing on the freegrazers of the old West.
When freegrazers Charley Waite (Kevin Costner) and Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) move into a new patch of territory with their companions Button and Mose Harrison, local rancher Baxter (a sinister Michael Gambon) begins to bother the four. After the killing of Mose and the injuring of Button, Charley and Boss Spearman go out for revenge and start making trouble for Baxter and his cronies.
Altogether, the film is well acted and doesn't get overly long, although some scenes could be edited, such as where we are first introduced to the band of ranchers on a rainy day in the hills.
There is never an unconvincing act from any of the cast, especially Duvall, whose form is brilliant as usual. Costner and Annete Bening are also shining in this piece as the rancher and the doctors sister who form the love story within the film. Michael Gambon is also great as the local rancher who rules the townsfolk, making himself fearful and evil.
But it has to be the fantastic gun fight which makes the film so good. So realistic and enthralling is the gunfight between Charley and Boss and Baxter and his ranchers that you know this sequence was worth the wait.
Whether your thing is romance or drama or action, Costner's directorial return is a true return to form. This film should not be missed, especially not by Western fans.

Panned by the so called 'critics'and after apparently poor ticket office sales, I bought this expecting to be disappointed. How wrong I, and the critics were! On the reverse of the DVD it states 'A MASTERPIECE' & 'MAGNIFICENT'.For me,these sentiments sum this film up exactly.
Believe me,this film IS as good as that.It's at least as good as 'Unforgiven' and certainly better than 'Dances with wolves'.The acting from the entire cast is spot on, especially Bening who has a spell binding presence and natural stunning beauty. Duval is,as usual effortlessly classy and Costner does what Costner does best - makes you feel involved and care about the outcome.
The backdrop is simply stunning and shows off your Home Cinema brilliantly, not to mention the surround sound - wasn't that THE most realistic western gunfight ever? And as for the Thunder storm - I got soaked........
I could find no fault whatsoever in this film and have now watched it four times in the past month (I really must get a life!).
You remember when you used to come out of Cinemas and KNOW you'd been entertained whilst reliving the whole film in your mind - so OPEN RANGE was for me, and everyone I know whose seen it.
Just buy it,whatever the price, because class like this doesn't come along too often.