HOME ON THE RANGE...

This is a decent directorial effort by Kevin Costner. The only problem is that he cast himself in the film. While it is not a bad film, the only thing that makes this film worthwhile are the thespian efforts of Robert Duvall and Michael Gambon. Somehow, they manage to pull it all together for Costner with superlative performances. Kudos to Annette Benning for opting for reality and foregoing the makeup and trappings of Hollywood that would be misplaced in this western that is set in late nineteenth century America.

This is a film about free grazers who drove their cattle over the open range in defiance of territorial ranchers who resented this use of their land. When free grazers, Boss (Robert Duvall) and Charley (Kevin Costner), take to the open prairies, they cross the open range of wealthy rancher Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon), a hard fisted, no nonsense Irishman, who is determined to keep free grazers off his land. Obviously, this results in a showdown. As to who wins, take a wild guess.

Annette Benning plays the role of Sue Barlow, the local doctor's sister who helps patch up the wounded and provides romantic interest for Costner. Unfortunately, there is little chemistry between the two, and the only thing heating up the screen is the ever present gunfire. Still, notwithstanding the fact that this film is nothing to write home about unless you are a true aficionado of this genre, it is still worth a rental, if only to glimpse Robert Duvall and Michael Gambon at work.

Well Done Kevin..!!!!

Some of Kevin Costner's movies - Field of Dreams, Wyatt Earp and especially Dances With Wolves - are amongst my very favorite movies.

Coversely, movies like The Postman, Waterworld and especially 3,000 Miles To Graceland- are, in my opinion, terrible films and very deserving of the universal drubbing they received from the viewing public and film critics.

However, with Open Range, Costner has once again recaptured the "magic" that has proved so elusive since his earlier efforts.

Open Range is a beautifully filmed and very authentic western whose story centres on a classic western theme - the small cowboy versus the powerful greedy rancher. However, Costner, who also directs, allows the story to build very slowly. The first 15 to 20 minutes of the film, for example, deals with very little other than panoramic scenes of the Alberta "open range", discussions about feet and meeting this unusual foursome that is driving cattle across an expanse of "open range".

However, once it becomes apparent that the local cattle baron - a ruthless Irishman named Baxter - is not going to allow them to drive their cattle across his land unimpeded, the story quickly starts to take form.

After their travelling companions are attacked by Baxter's men -Moses, the gentle giant is killed and Button, the 16-year old is shot, clubbed and left for dead, Costner and Duval decide that they aren't going to allow themsleves to be pushed around by a greedy rancher and the marshall, who is clearly in the rancher's back pocket.

Duval is great as Boss Spearman. In many ways, his character is reminiscent of Gus McRae of Lonesome Dove. Spearman is a throwback to an era when honour and integrity were as important to a cowboy as his ability to ride a horse and rope a steer. He's a delightful character and it's always a pleasure to see a real pro like Duval breathe life into every character he takes on.

Costner's Charley Waite reminded me alot of Eastwood's character in Unforgiven. Initially, we think that Costner, who has been Spearman's friend for 10 years, is nothing more than a cow puncher. However, as the conflict develops, we discover that Costner is hiding a much darker past.

While the romance between Costner and Benning ("Sue") seemed "forced" at times, Benning was wonderful as the sister of the the town's doctor who meets with both Costner and Duval each time she and her brother have to heal their friends' wounds. There was a tenderness about her that appealed to the dark, brooding side of Costner and you hoped that these two would eventually connect by the end of the film.

While there was so much about this film that I enjoyed, perhaps no other element of the movie was as excititng as the climatic gun fight between Spearman and Waite and Baxter's men. The scenes were incredibly violent and very well choreographed. Although the movie up to then portrayed both Costner and Duval as decent and honorable men, the gunfight clearly showed that despite their decency, they were also western men who knew how to deal with violence and could certainly dish out justice with their Colt "peacemakers".

I love westerns and am always grateful for A Dances With Wolves or an Unforgiven or All The Pretty Horses.

Costner has given us a beautiful movie that contains romance, beautifully developed characters, panoramic photography and great action. This movie contains elements of Shane, Unforgiven, High Noon and so many other great westerns that we've seen over the years.

I don't think that Open Range will spawn a return of a genre that for all intents and purposes is now dead. However, it would be great to see one or two great westerns released each year.

If you're a big fan of a great story with great characters - I would not hesitate to recommend this film.

It's great..!!

Horrible!!

Words cannot describe how bad this movie is. Harlequin romance novels have better dialogue, plot, and character development. The only way to watch this movie is on "MUTE". The scenery is beautiful. The costumes look great.