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source: Open Range

Moviecut—Open Range

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. Sure, I disliked lousy films like 'Dragonfly', 'Message in a Bottle' and 'The Postman' as much as the next guy but I do believe these can't be really considered as obstacles when acknowledging Costner's true talent as a storyteller. He finds the exact right tone with Open Range and delivers a solid, old-fashioned western. A crew of 4 `freegrazers' crosses the old West with their cattle herd. Times are changing and the corrupt lawmen in villages loathe cowboys who're just passing by. After a cowardly attack of the lawman's mercenaries, Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) and Charley Waite (Kevin Costner) plan their revenge. The entire film moves forward like the cattle itself.slow and steady! Characters are carefully being introduced and their past is explained clearly and detailed. Yet, there isn't one dull moment to discover in Open Range. The film remains beautiful to look at constantly, partly thanks to the adorable setting and lovely scenery. The largest part of the second half is filled with action and the more common shoot-outs. Still, the heroism isn't shoved down our throats and the gentle characters remain likeable at all times. Even the inescapable and illogical love-story doesn't bother you too much. Open Range depends a lot on its professional and experienced cast. Costner and Anette Bening make a good screen couple and their performances are alike. Powerful supporting roles for Michael Gambon (in his typical role of Irish bastard) and Michael Jeter (who sadly past away before the film got released in the theaters). And then there's Robert Duvall. 2003 certainly was HIS year in a way too, since we've seen him in two very powerful and deep emotional portraits.Open Range and Secondhand Lions! Without even trying that hard, Robert Duvall proves that he can easily stand the competition with the young and upcoming generation of actors. Simply put: in a time where cinema is ruled by loud, fast-paced and computer-engineered films there still is a spot for classy, mainly story-driven films. I hope it'll stay that way.

There are those who will disagree, that is fine. I believe everyone should be allowed to voice their opinion. So this is mine. "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. Ever since his portrayal of "Boo Radley" in "To Kill a Mockingbird" I have been a fan. This movie is an absolute delight and the very best of western cinema. The character of Baxter (Michael Gambon)is spot on. He does so well at his craft that you cannot help but to hate him and enjoy what he is about to get. I watch the movie every time it is on. Great cast and great story.

I love westerns. Perhaps that's why I found "Open Range" to be such a crock. You've seen it all before, folks, and usually better done. This is one long, slow moving cliche ... nothing new, nothing fresh, nothing even very interesting. When directors with aspirations of making a cinematic classic set out to create "art," they can't succeed if they forget their number one obligation... to entertain. "Open Range" will never be a classic and it's not very entertaining either. I'd heard the scenery and photography were breathtaking; they were average. If you want breathtaking cinematography, watch Sam Elliot's "Conagher" instead. I'd heard that Robert Duvall was outstanding; he's not. If you want to see him play the grizzled old cowboy, watch Lonesome Dove instead. Then it was a fresh, new, and vital portrayal; here it simply gives one deja moo. I'd heard this was a story of a small band of good guys against a large band of bad guys. Watch "The Magnificent Seven" instead ... the characters are actually interesting. For me, perhaps the most aggravating aspect of "Open Range" were the several nose to nose dialogue scenes between Duvall and Costner. It was obvious this was improv ... trite, lame, improv you can hear in any high school drama class. Although the performances of Annette Bening, Diego Luna, and Michael Gambon were appealing and extremely well done, nothing could save this tired, hackneyed plot. I left the theatre disgusted.

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. This time about the "Free Range" cattlemen and the different hardships they had to cope with. And for once my family could sit down and watch a movie without all the smut, swearing and extreme violence that unfortunately, all movie makers of late, seem to think is necessary to sell them. The storyline was simple and easy to follow at the same time as it retold a fine piece of early American history. Although the actors had a simple storyline to work with, I felt their performances made the movie all the more realistic. Kevin Costner in my opinion is a fine actor, but put him in with an under-rated master such as Robert Duvall, and you can't go wrong. Their easy going,straight from the hip portrayal of the main characters was one of the reasons that as soon as I had finished watching the video I rewound it and the whole family watched it again.

We've watched Open Range at a movie theater in Turkey, with my campus buddies in my past university years. Then after a couple years, I found myself renting the DVD version to have some rest at my apartment in Canada. Staying lonely at my place, I thought to get some team spirit from this western. From my second view of the movie, I thanked God that I was not living in country; for Open Range has implicated metropolitan suburban solitude to a such good story. Despite the storyline is worthy to get satisfied a little, the audience of Open Range must not have any technical and performance-based expectations. Cinematography and camera movements are low-class for a western. Plus, I am not pleased to find a silent-western. This silence has some remembrance from Dances With Wolves or Wyatt Earp, if you have expected to see Kevin Costner as the Kevin Costner we know. Even though, there is no heroic elements nor any sensational piece of news. Moreover, there was no harmony between Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall. It seemed to me, they were sullen to each other as long as the movie goes. We can count up the number of times they look at each other in the eye, being under-oath mates; that makes us remember the duo of Clint Eastwood & Morgan Freeman in Unforgiven, who were speaking the silent language of the friendship glances. Basically, the cast was not in the mood to make a Western, if their main purpose is not to make an migration-to-country Eastern. Out of the duo of Costner & Duvall, there is a successful joint named Annette Bening. Sadly confessing am I, that she is the only contribution to the movie to make it worth-to-see. So by the acting aid of Annette Bening, I gave Open Range 5 out of 10. Because, every sketch and every mimic of her; bonds us back to the story at the point where we got lost and fell into sleep as I did each time I saw this movie. It is incontestably evident her self-denial rises up the dramas to the industrial Hollywood standards, clearly acceptable since her magnificent effort from the 1999 masterpiece American Beauty.

Why studios don't make more westerns is beyond me. Some of them are downright unwatchable like "Young Guns" and its sequel but there have been some extremely well made films like "Unforgiven" and "Tombstone" so I'm at a loss as to why more are not made. Thank you Kevin Costner! This story is about four men who are herding their cattle through a certain area and they stop near a town to get supplies. The crew is headed by Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) and his second in charge is Charley Waite (Costner). They send Mose (Abraham Benrubi) to get supplies and after a day or so he doesn't return. Boss and Charley go to find him leaving Button (Diego Luna) to watch the herd. In town they find Mose beaten badly and locked up in the local jail. A rich rancher named Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon) hates "Freegrazers" and tells them to take their man and keep moving. Baxter controls the sheriff (James Russo) and also has many thugs on his payroll. Back at the herd some of Baxters men have been following them so Boss has an idea of going after them instead of running. That night they confront them and smash their rifles but when they get back Mose has been killed and Button is wounded badly. They take him to the local doctor and meet his sister Sue (Annette Bening) and Charley takes a shine. Boss and Charley don't like to be told where to graze their cattle and they want revenge for the death of Mose. A final gunfight in town is inevitable and Charley reveals that he killed many men in the war. This film was directed by Costner and its very well made. He seems to have found his mark as a directer with this genre. Costner allows the story to unfold on its own terms and the pacing is deliberate which is welcomed after watching so many Hollywood films and their quick edits. The film should be seen on the big screen to be appreciated. The scenery is beautiful and their are so many shots with skylines and mountains and wide open prairies and these shots help tell the story in the film. The scenery is important and gives the film a look that helps you relate to the characters when they speak of not wanting to be told where they can go. The characters are well written and they let out things about themselves little by little as the story is told. Duvall's character is a man of high pride and also a stubborn side and he's not afraid to stand up for himself even if it means he might die. Costner plays a man with a hard past and he seems to be living his life and coming to grips with his experiences in the war at the same time. Charley states that he doesn't have a problem with killing and we believe him. The romance between Costner and Bening seems forced and Bening looks a little to old to be a woman that never married. The film goes on about 15 minutes to long and Costner has not one, but two goodbye scenes with Bening. This is a minor complaint because this is a very entertaining film and after a summer of watching hyper-kinetic Hollywood junk, It's a movie that is very welcomed. Hear that Hollywood?

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. Boss and Spearman have been friends for ten years, and they have an special affection and friendship for Button, Mose and his dog Dig. Boss requests Mose to return to a small town nearby and buy some supplies for the rest of their journey. Mose never comes back, and Boss and Charley decides to check what happened with him. They find Moses beaten and arrested in the jail by the corrupt Sheriff Poole (James Russo), accused of fighting against the men of a powerful local rancher, Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon). Boss and Charley bring Mose to the local doctor, Barlow (Dean McDermott), where Charley falls in love for his sister, Sue Barlow (Annette Bening). They return to their camping, they are attacked by Baxter's men and Mose and Dig are killed and Button is seriously wounded. The two old cowboys return to the town looking for justice. "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. The performance of the cast, highlighting Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner, and the direction of Kevin Costner are magnificent. I believe in the future "Open Range" will be considered a classic in the genre. My vote is nine. Title (Brazil): "Pacto de Justiça" ("Pact of Justice")