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

Finally! The first Costner film that you can sit and watch with real pleasure for far too long.

Boss Freeman (Duvall) and Charley Waite (Costner) are Freegrazers (a kind of gypsy cowboy with no ranch) travelling with their herd and companions through the majestic scenery of the Wild West.

What follows has been seen many times before but rarely carried off with such aplomb. Duvall is, as usual, superb and Costner plays the taciturn cowpoke with a violent past much better than Eastwood managed in 'Unforgiven'. Gambon invests the evil town `guvnor' with just the right amount of ham and menace and Bening is in fine fettle as the love interest.

The film builds up the tension slowly, helped by a haunting score, before probably the best shoot-out finale seen since the Westerns heyday.
Being a Costner film it obviously weighs in at over 2 hours but not one second of it drags, the DVD extras are nearly as good as the film particularly the deleted scenes.

This is a fabulous DVD, buy it immediately!

Best film I've watched in a long time. Great story, acting and scenery. Costner is perfect. Only complaint is Michael Gambon- oirish, then American, then Oirish again. Easy to ignore though. If you you like BBC Jane Austin type plot lines with non gory gunfights set in a Wild Western film, then this is for you. Good stuff.

The detail work is reminiscent of Costner's (far superior) Dances with Wolves. The movie has the same dark feeling that late Jimmy Stewart Westerns and, obviously, Clint Eastwood Westerns had that revived this genre. There are some very good scenes in OPEN RANGE, in particular, I was struck by the climax.


OPEN RANGE is an incredibly poetic, simple, yet complex film that is extremely entertaining on all levels. It has probably been since the release of "Unforgiven" that I've watched a new western and enjoyed it this much! Few films in today's era go so far as "Open Range" does as far as character and plot development, fearing that they would bore the audience to death which may well be true for many other films but it works perfectly in this exceptional movie, flawlessly building up the suspense for the ultimate conclusion of the film.


I would definitely have to say it has also been a long time since I've watched a film with Kevin Costner in it that I've enjoyed this much as well. I wouldn't go so far as to say, with this one film, that he's back but this film makes a very good start at him showing the depth of his acting abilities once again. The true star of this exceptional film is Robert Duvall. He is a true star in all genres but he shines even brighter when it's time to don a role in a western movie. Then there's Annette Bening, an actress of true beauty who has always been such a special influence on every film she takes up and with this role, she once again vividly displays why she is a film star.


Along with the starring role, Kevin Costner takes the nod for producing and more importantly, directing this intriguingly captivating movie. I would have to say that of the movies he's directed so far that I've watched this was his best effort in the director's seat.

How any one can give this film less than maximum stars,is beyond me.A true classic.

Old Kev has starred is some chaff over the years along with the odd belter but here takes second billing to Robert Duvall and the film is far better for it. Both performances are spot-on as is Annette Bening who I've never cared for much in this classy and authentic western. While certainly not action packed the film is highly enganging with some gorgeous cinematography and deft direction from Costner. In short a superbly crafted old fashioned western with great perfomances and a great story, Highly recommended.