Harockerce What a beautiful movie!

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

ianlouisiana From an elegiac beginning ,"Open Range" gradually builds up to a what is literally a gun battle rather than a gunfight then ,adrenalin spent, it relaxes in an almost post - coital manner to it's former pace and a classic ending for a "Western" picture. Following in the tradition of Ford and Hawks,two alpha males set out for revenge after an evil rancher and a corrupt lawman in concert who rule a town by terror kill one colleague and leave another for dead. Mr Costner makes wonderful use of the familiar frontier town location,bars that are merely drinking dens rather than glitter palaces with waistcoated piano players and girls with fancy garters,dirty muddy streets without drainage that flood after a storm leaving people unable to cross the street,livery stables that look as if they actually hold horses but - above all - a population of people anxious to put roots down and "civilise" the west but are in the thrall of 1880's "Big Business" in the form of the powerful rancher Mr M.Gambon,all hissing and threats with a good Amerirish accent. The plot is familiar enough,but,as they say,there is many a good tune played on an old fiddle. The battle itself is superbly choreographed(and I use the word advisedly ). It is bloody,brutal,noisy and indiscriminate,much,I imagine,like the real thing would have been. Eventually the townspeople turn on their oppressors and wholesale slaughter follows.They gleefully pursue one unarmed and fleeing gunman and shoot him down like a dog long after the main action is finished. An interesting subtext on the subject of "the first kill is the hardest". Mr Duval,Mr Costner and Miss Benning are exemplary,the cast as a whole has no weaknesses,the psycho killers look like psycho killers as they tend to do. I am grateful to Mr Costner for continuing in the Grand Tradition. The West of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry that so engaged my imagination as a boy may be long dead and heroes may have got a lot more tarnished,but the spirit lives on.

axnjxn1701 It's extremely hard to identify with text that doesn't add something new to the incredible reviews already composed; but I'd say I think I found my favorite Western movie on Jan1st, 2018! While my father always watched Westerns with the ever fascinating John Wayne, you ponder what else could a classic be about? Clint Eastwood made a fine film, and not like this is new territory, about good guys trying to correct some bad guys doing bad things on the old frontier... What is new, (being that it is actually made in 2003) is that Costner's rendition charms in literally EVERY single way of storytelling. Seriously... 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. I'll save the plot for 50 others that have capitulated it so darn well, but for me, I simply can't pick out a particular part that either wasn't needed, or, was either under-done or overdone..? The scenery is a dream, the story; punctual and hearty - and the story.... the story is simply spellbinding in a way where it offers a few turns to keep the next chapter fresh. Annette Benning was simply charming and eloquent. Can't say anything bad here. But for Costner, he doesn't play the absolutely 'roughest-gunner' out there, but he inserts just at correct moments, humanity and yet, he's got a past he slowly reveals. This film is stunning from all angles, ideals, cinematography and editing. A simple yet charismatic film with incredibly well developed and devout characters. Loved it.

Richie-67-485852 Now this is a western as it should be and was. I remember seeing this on the big screen when it first came out. The draw? Costner & Duval doing a Western. What's not to like? Well I was right. Very enjoyable even flowing and unfolding story line that pleases and teases while exposing us to beautiful scenes and vistas. It has all the Western ingredients like shoot-em ups, cattle, horses, "open range", saloon and good versus evil just to name some. It also adds one of my favorites which is filming in the rain and storm (real or not) as it just lends credibility and atmosphere not to mention real life as it was in the rough wild West. Plenty a guns a blazing keep us on the edge with plenty of bad guys to catch bullets and comeuppance. Good movie to eat dinner while watching. Highly recommend a snack and tasty drink. Popcorn, sunflower seeds is very compatible and of course some good beef jerky if you really want to go the distance. This movie adds up to a worthy ten. Mount up and lets ride....

slightlymad22 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. KC turned down the role of Bill in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 to do this movie, and I for one am glad he did. I'm also glad Robert Duvall took the role (within 24 hours of reading the script) as he was the only actor that Kevin Costner wanted for the role of Boss Spearman. He said if Duvall had turned down the part, he might not have made the movie at all. And that would have been a travesty. I can't praise the cast highly enough especially the two leads. Robert Duvall is perfect and KC fits this movie like a glove. It's beautifully shot and has a great score too. I'm not sure how many here will have seen it, but I love it!! At a little over two hours, this is the shortest of any movie KC has directed. I remember it took forever to come to the UK, about 6 months after its release in America, and I was disappointed (like with Thirteen Days) to find my screening less than half full, despite great reviews.