Open Range
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Movie Reviews of Open Range
Movie Review: The best western in years. Destined to be a classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
The seemingly slow pace of the opening of this movie may put off the viewer looking for an adrenaline pumping action movie. But by doing so, the characters, the storyline and cinematic images are threaded together to create a very believable portrayal of an era that is past.
Duvall, Costner and even Benning deliver somewhat understated performances which builds the credibility of the characters. Dialogue is somewhat sparse at times but this creates the opportunity to truly act. Couple this with excellent character actors and gorgeous cinematography and you have movie which invites repeated viewings.
In my opinion, the gunfight scene is one of the most realistic portrayals ever filmed. It captures the unleashed violent energy and chaos of close quarters combat better than any movie that I have ever seen. Saying that, it is not gratuitous violence at all. Just what happens in a gunfight.
Memorable scenes...
The parlor when Duvall and Costner are served tea (maybe coffee) and their gnarled arthritic fingers do not fit into the delicate china tea cups.
Costner picking up the mud they have tracked into the parlor.
Duvall finally revealing his true name to Costner as the gunfight is about to begin. And so on...
I believe this movie will join the ranks of classics like "High Noon" (original of course), "Stagecoach", "Shane" and "Unforgiven". We will be watching this movie for a long time to come.
Movie Review: 4 1/2 actually, but I'm rounding up!
Summary: 5 Stars
Kevin Costner knows a thing or two about westerns and he proved it early in his career in "Silverado", then later as a director in "Dances with Wolves". In "Open Range" he makes a smart move pairing himself opposite Robert Duvall who wisely reincarnates his performance as Augustus McRae from "Lonesome Dove". There is no one of his generation who acts as well beneath a cowboy hat, and the movie would have been weaker with any other casting choice.
There is much made of the Western as an art form. The "Classic American Western" has reached as far as Italy and Japan with Sergio Leone and Kurosawa making films clearly imprinted with the stamp of John Ford. It's difficult to say why the Western is so enduring, or at least so revivable, but I have a theory. There's something about a couple of adversaries facing each other out in a dusty street where frontier justice can be dispensed with a Colt revolver. The genre is replete with examples (High Noon, Unforgiven, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and I'll stop there since I'm using up space, but you get the idea...) Anyway, Costner understands it too, and this movie tells a good tale while staying true to the form of the genre. It trots out a good half-dozen western cliche's such as the greedy cattle baron who doesn't wan't any stinkin' free-rangers out on his prairie. It's hard to not like a movie that pays such tribute to the giants that preceded it, and does it so well.
Movie Review: A Western for those who miss fine Westerns
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Movie Review: Best Shootout in Any Western!
Summary: 5 Stars
From the realistic sound of the various six-shooters, Winchesters, and shotguns to the wide-shot filming of the climactic shootout in "Open Range," this gunfight makes a surprisingly good Western into one of the most enjoyable films of the genre that I have seen in a long, long time. The action is fast and passionate. The good guys sometimes miss. A lot of shots are fired for one hit. While some barrages do exceed a realistic number of bullets fired, the characters (good guys and bad) do have to reload, heightening the tension of the moment even more. The townspeople respond in a number of believable ways. Overall, this is just one gripping Western shootout.
I bought this film with reservations, as Kevin Costner has never been among my favorite actors, but I believe he plays his role absolutely perfectly in "Open Range." Robert Duvall is excellent, as usual, when starring in a "horse opera," but Costner does not play second fiddle in this production. He is a first-rate star playing the role of cowboy incredibly well.
The special features in this two-disc edition reveal the passion that Costner had for making "Open Range" a very special film. I believe he succeeded. If you are ready for a little taste of the Old West again, if your ready for a classic morality play of the cowboy genre, see "Open Range." My guess is you'll be glad you did!
Movie Review: One of My All-TIme Favorites
Summary: 5 Stars
Westerns are thought of as being a dying genre for movies, especially by the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. However, Clint Eastwood's UNFORGIVEN breathed new life into the genre, and Kevin Costner's OPEN RANGE continues what UNFORGIVEN began with one of the best movies of 2003 and one of the best movies I've ever seen.Set in 1882, a time when free-grazing was slowly but surely dying out, cattlemen Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) and Charley Waite (Kevin Costner) find themselves in a grave situation when they run into a ruthless rancher named Baxter (played to near bad-guy perfection by Michael Gambon). With one of their companions dead and the other being treated by the town doctor and his sister, Sue Barlow (Annette Bening), Spearman and Charley face off against Baxter and the men that work for him. During all of this, Charley ends up confronting his violent past stemming from the Civil War, which turns out to be a real barrier between him and his love interest, who happens to be Sue.
Sure, the movie starts out a little slow and drawn-out, but the excellent character development and the absolutely spectacular gunfight at the film's climax more than makes up for it. Even if you're not a fan of westerns, like me, I can guarantee that if you rent it and then decide to buy it, the money will be well spent.