Customer Reviews
Great Film - By: Valley Mick, 19 Apr 2008 
Best film I've watched in a long time. Great story, acting & 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.
Postman finally delivers - By: Brendan O. Clarke, 19 Apr 2008 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 alll levels. It has probably been since the release of "Unforgiven" that I've watched a new western & enjoyed it this much! Few films in today's era go so far as "Open Range" does as far as character & 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 Duvalll. He is a true star in alll 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 & 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 & 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.
open range - By: G. M. Jones, 01 Mar 2008 
How any one can give this film less than maximum stars,is beyond me.A true classic.
Costner Redeemed - By: Simon Mckenna, 09 Feb 2008 Old Kev has starred is some chaff over the years along with the odd belter but here takes second billing to Robert Duvalll & 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 & authentic western. While certainly not action packed the film is highly enganging with some gorgeous cinematography & deft direction from Costner. In short a superbly crafted old fashioned western with great perfomances & a great story, Highly recommended.
More than just a great Western - a truly decent one - By: Trevor Willsmer, 23 Aug 2007 Kevin Costner's third film as director, Open Range, which spends little time on the range itself but uses its low budget to great effect. Rather than opt for a big, expansive epic approach, this is a throwback to the smalller-scale Westerns of the 40s & 50s, telling a simple story with well-drawn characters & doing it well. Robert Duvalll & Costner are the free-grazing cattlemen who find themselves unwillingly waylaid in a smalll town when Michael Gambon's hammy local cattle baron & his corrupt sheriff take violent exception to their presence & a liking to their livestock until a showdown is inevitable. So, no great originality there, but there's some nice character work, beautiful dialogue, excellent performances - especiallly from Duvalll & a visibly ailing Michael Jeter - and, something that's been lost from the Western for a long time, a sense of decent values. Costner certainly takes his time - possibly too much time - but there's something very satisfying about a modern film where violence is constantly deferred & which builds to a climax rather than throwing one in every ten minutes. When it comes it's in the form of quite possibly the best shootout ever filmed: some claim, but one the film is big enough to earn with some of the most shockingly powerful killings since Jack Palance sent Elisha Cook skidding across main street in Shane. More than that, there's a sense of consequences to every action that helps give the film real moral weight. It's a smalll film, but refreshingly so, & beautifully crafted. In its own way it's the best western in more than a decade, & probably still would be if there were more competition for the title.
It's just a shame that while the cinema prints had a remarkable sound mix, the UK DVD has a very weak & inspid soundtrack that's recorded so low you almost have to turn it up to 11 to hear properly. Extras are good, including some good character-based scenes that inadvertently give away how many special effects were used even for innocuous scenes, & a good brief documentary on the history of the period, but the 65-minute documentary on the making of the film from the Region 1 NTSC disc is missing.
