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Amazon.co.uk Review
Released almost exactly 11 years after Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, Kevin Costner's Open Range proved yet again that the Western is the classic American genre. Costner's first film since 1997's ill-fated The Postman returns the actor/director of Dances With Wolves to the open prairies of America--in this case the free-range frontier of 1882--where legal "free-grazing" cattle drives were falling prey to empire-building land-owners. In the wake of territorial murder, free-grazing cowboys Boss (Robert Duvall) and Charley (Costner) seek vengeful justice against the ruthless rancher (Michael Gambon) who threatens their law-abiding survival. A feisty ally (the late Michael Jeter, in his next-to-final film role) and a doctor's sister (Annette Bening) offer support during climactic shootouts, masterfully staged with the shock and suddenness of real-life gunfire. While it lacks the thematic impact of Eastwood's masterpiece, this handsome production!--rich in character development and thick-hided humour--redeemed Costner's directorial career with a well-told story (by Craig Storper, based on Lauran Paine's novel The Open Range Men), flawless performances, and stunning Canadian locations. --Jeff Shannon
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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!
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!
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Perhaps only the true connaisseur of 'The West' and western films will enjoy this latest offering by Kevin Costner, but it is almost perfect in my mind. Slow? certainly, but this only adds to the atmosphere, and nobody could accuse the last 45 minutes of being slow. Costner turns in a deceptively downbeat performance, but without a doubt Robert Duvall steals the movie. My one criticism was Michael Gambon as the villain, he seemed to get more 'Oirish' as the film went on. Great locations in Alberta, lush cinematography, simple story, well told. Great little documentary on the Open Range as an extra, reminiscent of Rick Burns. Buy it!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Masterpeice
I have seen this western at least 5 times & it is one of my favourite films. Yes the film starts slowly, but this is to develope the characters. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Pippin
Well Hubby loves it.
The DVD Open Range was a surprise gift for my husband. He was flicking through the TV channels and caught the last half hour of this film. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jules
A Good Western !
Just when I thought that no-one made westerns any more - along came this one. The story is simple - 4 guys running away from their past and living off the land. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cat28
Sean
Open range is a great Western and in my opinion a modern classic. The art work for this version is not the version that I received. I received the German import. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sean
Open Range with Robert Duvall
I have now seen three Robert Duvall westerns, Lonesome Dove, Open Range and Broken Trail. Duvall plays a similar character but different, in them all, but is thoroughly believable... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ms. Adrienne May
Open Range - A Superb Western
How did I miss this film at the cinema? How did it not sweep the Oscars? This is one of the best films that most people have never seen. Read more
Published 14 months ago by P. BEDELLE
Open Range
This is one of the best Westerns ever produced and is up alongside the Magnificent Seven - which is about as goos as it gets
Published 16 months ago by Tunbridge Wells Kid
For once a decent Costner movie
Another channel hopping discovery .... this film surprised me because virtually every Kevin Costner film I had previously seen had been total pap !!! Read more
Published 17 months ago by Lucioperca
Pompous.slow, dreary, violent
One of the most disappointing films I have ever seen. Try Broken Trail for the real thing.
Published 20 months ago by SH_
An enjoyable and absorbing Western.
The plot of `Open Range' is fairly lightweight, with free-range cattlemen `Boss' and `Charley' driving their herd across the grass plains of Montana along with their hired hands... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ernie
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