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Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, Michael Jeter ... see more see more... , Diego Luna , James Russo , Abraham Benrubi , Dean McDermott , Kim Coates

Kevin Costner stars in and directs the Western Open Range. Robert Duvall stars as Boss Spearman, a rugged old-timer who free-grazes cattle. He and Charley Waite (Costner) have been partners for ten ye... read more read more...ars. As the film opens in the 1880s, the pair and their employees -- the beefy, rugged, likable Mose (Abraham Benrubi) and the impetuous Mexican teenager Buttons (Diego Luna) -- are driving cattle across the West. Mose is attacked and thrown in jail during a visit to a town. The local cattle rancher Baxter (Michael Gambon) wants the free grazers off his land and warns Charley and Boss when they retrieve Mose that they have until the next day to be out of the area. Boss decides to fight back, especially after Baxter's men do harm to the foursome. Charley confesses his past as a killer during the Civil War and strikes up a tentative romance with Sue Barlow -- the sister of the town doctor. The film's centerpiece is an extended gunfight between the duo (with some assistance from sympathetic townsfolk) and Baxter's hired gunmen. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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49,194 ratings

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79% liked it

171 critics

R, 2 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: Kevin Costner

Release Date: August 15, 2003

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DVD Release Date: January 20, 2004

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Flixster Reviews (2,316)

  • fb1463751009
    March 10, 2012
    fb1463751009
    Story: Super boring
    Final shootout scene? One of the greatest western action set-pieces of all time. Watch for that scene and that scene alone.
  • cosmo313
    November 10, 2011
    cosmo313
    I've seen this a few times, so I can't believe that I hadn't reviewed this on here until now. Odd. Anyways, Kevin Costner returns to the western as actor and director for this finely observed rehashing of a tale of revenge and redemption. It's a contemporary film, but has the fee... read morel of an old school western.

    The story is set in Montana in 1882 (though it was filmed in Canada) and uses the range wars as the historical backdrop and context. Good choice. For those who don't know, the range wars were a series of conflicts during the late 1800s where free range ranchers competed with land barons who tried to use barbed wire to section off land and created a closed off empire for economic gain.

    In this film, the story follows a veteran free range cattleman (Robert Duvall) and his crew (Costner, Abraham Benrubi, and Diego Luna) as the come into conflict with a crooked land baron (Michael Gambon) and corrupt law of a small but prospering town. It's all pretty simple stuff, and the broad plot is not very original, but it's all done pretty well, and it's a fairly solid piece of work.

    It's not perfect, as it kinda takes some time ot get going, and a romantic subplot between Costner's Charley and Annette Bening's character is a little awkward and sloppily handled, but other than that, this is a pretty engaging and entertaining piece of work. It's got some great cinematography, a nice mixture of philosophizing and humor injected into the drama and action, and the film's centerpiece: a drawn out shoot out between the baron's men and the open rangers is a masterful setpiece in its own right. I just love how it was staged, shot, and edited. It's very suspenseful, and you can actually tell what the heck is going on, unlike too many contemporary action scenes.

    All in all, this is a nice piece of work. It is flawed, but the direction, camerawork, and especially the performances (especially Duvall's) really make up for it. Give it a watch. If Costner never directs another film, then this is a fine way to wrap up that portion of his career.
  • FilmFanatik
    September 22, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Many of my friends have called this one of the best westerns of the last quarter century, and I would have to agree with them. At first glance, Open Range may seem like a Lonesome Dove-type film (even though I like Lonesome Dove), but it's something else entirely. I would almost ... read morecall it Costner's best work. Some might argue that Dances with Wolves holds that title, but I would like to disagree. The film winds itself up to a climax toward the middle of the film and then winds back down again. In other words, it literally goes up hill, reaches the top and then goes back to the bottom, so it's unique in that sense. The action is intense, the love story isn't contrived or wishy washy and the performances are very effective - from everyone. It's definitely one to seek out. I think it's a bit under-appreciated and deserves more attention so give it some love.
  • TheMachinist
    August 8, 2011
    TheMachinist
    "Well, if I'm gonna get killed, I got a hankerin' to soothe my sweet tooth."

    The western genre isn't doing that well anymore. After Kevin Costner's 'Dances With the Wolves' and Clint Eastwood's 'Unforgiven', it's been kinda slow for the cowboys. It took over a decade before a co... read morensiderable western was made. It wasnt' a big surprise that Costner did it. He really seems to have the ability to capture the magic of the era.

    'Open Range' tells the story of two free-range cattlemen, who get in to trouble with a local land baron. He hates the way of these free-rangers who "steal and destroy" his lands (these kinda conflicts weren't that unusual in the late 19th century and several westerns were made in the golden era of westerns in the 40's and 50's). Things result in terrible ways, which leads to Boss Spearman (Duvall) and Charley Waite (Costner) prepare to defend themselves and to get some justice.

    'Open Range' is a typical western, from the storyline point of view. Costner has yet managed to increase the suspense towards the end finale and capture the "old spirit" of westerns. The story develops in a calm way but doesn't fail to be draging or boring. Costner has given plenty of time for character development, revealing glimpses of the two main characters past.

    There are a few complaints regarding the movie. 'Open Range' could've been edited some minutes shorter by not adding a useless sub plot regarding Costner's and Annette Bening's characters relationship. There are some scenes, not gonna mention when and where for spoilers, that have some very queasy and implausible dialogue. It just didn't work that well.

    The cinematography of 'Open Range' is beautiful with longlasting shots of the beautiful landscape. Jim Muro has also managed to capture the tension of the shootout. The shootout is by the way one of the best I've seen. I've mentioned lately in my reviews the word realistic. This does look realistic and Muro has had some terrific eye for capturing it all on the big screen. Nicely choreographed by the way.

    'Open Range' is one of the better westerns I've seen, eventhough it doesn't deliver anything new to the genre. Nice chemistry between the two main characters, good dialogue between them and all together good acting by the actors. Considerable westerns haven't been made that many lately (3:10 to Yuma), so 'Open Range' is a welcomed addition to a genre that needs some glimpse of hope.
  • DreamExtractor
    June 17, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A perfect western film. Open Range is one of the few westerns ive seen that were perfect. Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner are masterful and truly were believable and you could tell they worked hard. The plot is a tale of redemption, and how they would spend there last days ali... read moreve. The action was amazing as well and I enjoyed how they saved it all for the end to make the climax more memorable. Such an amazing film.
  • CloudStrife84
    May 28, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Slow-going in the first half, but a beautifully made Western marked by excellent acting and incredibly stunning backdrops. Not as good as Costner's other directing achievement in the genre, Dances with Wolves, but just as spellbinding to the eyes. It's become evident that ... read morehe's found his strong suit in the Old West, and I hope he continues to make more of the same. Watch it on Blu-ray if you get the opportunity, because this is the type of movie said format was made for. A visual banquet, that oozes quality all over.
  • fb619846742
    January 7, 2011
    fb619846742
    A solid, respectable Western that features a couple of terrific performances, a well-drawn conclusion, and one of the best kill-shots captured in cinema. It doesn't quite contain the darkness nor bleakness that makes "Unforgiven" and "The Proposition" such special films, but Cost... read morener definitely has a feel for how a Western should be constructed and naturally developed. Stick around for the ending if nothing else, I'm not kidding you, the kill-shot Costner lays on an unabashed villain is quite awesome.
  • superclerk25
    August 22, 2008
    superclerk25
    A great western and a well made movie. Costner directs this story well and really lets the actors become the characters.
    The story about how he made the flick and what he was going through is pretty interesting as well.
    There were only a few things in the flick that I thought we... read morere on the weak side but the rest of the action and story make up for the few small faults.
  • allan913
    July 20, 2008
    allan913
    Robert Duvall is superb, one of his best performances. Kevin Costner is excellent. Some of his finest work as a director and an actor. A gripping, epic, compelling and great western. Wonderful settings and awsome action. Some of the best and well-crafted gunfights on film. A tri... read moreumph.
  • tsigur
    April 6, 2008
    tsigur
    Nice shootout sequences and Duvall is always great, but the Annette Bening story line is useless.

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Critic Reviews

Jack Mathews
August 21, 2003
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

A flawed but highly entertaining B Western blown up to John Ford scale. Full Review

Terry Lawson
August 21, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

The casting of this film may be its greatest asset: Duvall and Costner have the easy familiarity of longtime partners. Full Review

Mark Holcomb
August 19, 2003
Mark Holcomb, Village Voice

Charley's crusty assessment of events -- 'Nothing that's been happening in this town is much of a surprise' -- is all too knowingly accurate. Full Review

Peter Howell
August 18, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

A movie that seeks no higher calling than to entertain us the way Hollywood used to. Full Review

Mike Clark
August 15, 2003
Mike Clark, USA Today

Open Range has too much of what its title portends. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
August 15, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Open Range is a Western in which the carts pull the horses. Full Review

Joe Baltake
August 15, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

[A] very special and singular film Full Review

Peter Travers
August 15, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Purty but shallow.

Steven Rea
August 15, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

An awesome compendium of cowboy-movie cliches. It borders on parody, and often crosses the border, rustling up a drove of oater aphorisms.

Roger Moore
August 15, 2003
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Open Range is too talky, too corny and too long. Yet it gets so much right, from its simple affection for the sight of horses at full gallop to a climactic gunfight that sets a new standard for wit an...

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    • Charley Waite: Sue, how is this ever going to work if you don't do what I say?
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Open Range Trivia

  • Which actor was an ex-armyman and shootist alongside Robert Duvall in Open Range?  Answer »
  • Name the actor who starred in the following movies: Apocalypse Now, The Godfather part 2, Phenomenon, Open Range.  Answer »
  • This sexy actor has the following movies to his credit: "OPEN RANGE", "CRIMINAL", "VAMPIRES LOS MUERTOS", "Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN"   Answer »
  • I was a down & out driving range pro trying to win the love of a shrink who's currently seeing my long-time rival while trying to qualify for the US Open Golf Championship.  Answer »
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