Open Range

7/1/2017

I ain't going to meet my maker without knowing your real name. It's purely my own opinion of course, but Open Range is a modern day genre classic that stands up to repeat viewings. It's not a flawless Western the Western historians will tell you, and some will pick out the hats or the impact of a rifle to mark the film down, but really we should be embracing a genre piece in the modern age that is clearly being directed with love and respect by the director. It's story is of course a simply structured tale of the underdog rising up against the fat cats who want it all in the name of tyranny. But on its side is the fact that its characters are so interestingly engaging. Within a short time frame I feel that Kevin Costner manages to put us in the saddle with the main protagonists, we u

7/2/2017

I ain't going to meet my maker without knowing your real name. It's purely my own opinion of course, but Open Range is a modern day genre classic that stands up to repeat viewings. It's not a flawless Western the Western historians will tell you, and some will pick out the hats or the impact of a rifle to mark the film down, but really we should be embracing a genre piece in the modern age that is clearly being directed with love and respect by the director. It's story is of course a simply structured tale of the underdog rising up against the fat cats who want it all in the name of tyranny. But on its side is the fact that its characters are so interestingly engaging. Within a short time frame I feel that Kevin Costner manages to put us in the saddle with the main protagonists, we u

3/14/2021

**_Now THIS is a Western_** Four cowboys & their cattle are traveling through the Hammondville, Montana, region in 1882 when they discover that the leaders of the town don’t like free grazers. It escalates into a life or death situation. Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner play the two main cowboys while Annette Bening appears as a doctor and Michael Gambon a land baron. “Open Range” (2003) automatically brings to mind “Dances With Wolves” (1990) because they’re the only two Westerns Costner has both starred in and directed. While not quite as good, this one is still a great modern Western and nigh epic. The theme revolves around how noble Westerners like the protagonists don't seek violence, but it's sometimes necessary to make a stand for justice, even if the local law is bought and co

5/1/2026

It turns out that local cattleman "Baxter" (Michael Gambon) is not a fan of free-grazers who take their herds across the country snacking on the grass along the way. This proves troublesome for "Boss" (Robert Duvall) and his pals "Charley" (Kevin Costner), "Mose" (Abraham Benrubi) and the corn-green "Button" (Diego Luna). This enmity becomes clear to the travellers when "Mose" sets off into town to buy some victuals and doesn't come back. Suspicious, the two leave their youngster to guard the cows and set off in search of their friend. Arriving in town, they find "Mose" battered and bruised and in the care of sheriff "Poole" (James Russo) who is clearly a puppet for his unforgiving boss. Their options are made clear to them but when "Charley" and "Sue" (Annette Bening) - who lives with the