It is a film that captures the range of events of a former weapon pioneer. This man seems to have had a different experience by taking up arms again when he and his cattle crew face a corrupt elder. It can be a difficult task for ranchers who rule the region through real fear and violence every time.
A flawed but highly entertaining B Western blown up to John Ford scale.
Urban Cinefile
October 18, 2008
Thoroughly enjoyable and involving, Kevin Costner's Open Range is a beautifully made western about flawed heroes who believe in redemption, loyalty and respect.
Just about everything in this movie has its antecedent: a little bit of Shane here, a chunk of High Noon there, and so on. And yet it's all rather pleasing, in a regressive sort of way.
Range is handed a stunning period scope by Costner's directorial eye, while forming an unexpectedly tender core to help endear these character past their grizzled exterior.
The thunderous climax -one of the muddiest, bloodiest and most chaotic gunfights of the 2000s -makes it clear that Kevin Costner's plaintive, patient, slightly overlong Western was only sitting for a spell to race toward the finish.
