Open Range

**_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 corrupt. I like the way the movie confidently takes its time and fleshes out the characters with insightful bits here and there. It feels like the way it was in the Old West and the characters speak the way you know they spoke back then. The mood is increasingly tense, but most of the action is saved for the last act when everything explodes, reminiscent of the real-life gunfight at the O.K. Corral, just longer. As such, viewers who need quick-editing and constant thrills to be entertained will likely find it boring. Mature-minded viewers, however, will appreciate the realism and the slowly developed characters, as well as the well-done romance angle. The big rancher is pompous because his arrogance has built up over the course of decades and he thinks he owns the town. But does he? In his own mind he’s King Sheet because he’s gotten away with injustice due to his power and influence. But what happens when noble citizens say “Enough”? While “Open Range” deals with dark, challenging things, it has a warm, redeemable heart, unlike “Unforgiven” (1992), which wallows in ugliness (although it’s still a worthy Western, as long as you can stomach the ugliness). The film runs 2 hours, 19 minutes, and was shot at Stoney Indian Reserve in Alberta, Canada. GRADE: A-

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 town's doctor (Dean McDermott) take a shine to each other, then simply moving on becomes less of an option. Determined to enforce his tyranical rule, "Baxter" and his cohorts begin an offensive that is going to require the old friends to resurrect their gunslinging skills if they are to keep themselves, their cattle and their two friends from the brutality of a man who will stop at nothing and who knows that his cowering townsfolk are unlikely to intervene. Costner does fine on both sides of the camera here and combined with some beautiful photography, presents us with an old style western that allows the understated Duvall to characterise "Boss" in a considered and engaging fashion. The fact that the romance, such as it is, also emanates from a Bening whose performance is also more measured and less hormonal gives us some extra depth to a story that fans of this genre will be familiar with, but perhaps not played out in quite this more characterful fashion. I couldn't quite subscribe to Gambon's portrayal, but as the film simmers towards it's denouement, he raises his game a little and the last ten minutes tops off the gradually induced tension effectively. It is too long, but it's still a classy piece of film-making that's well worth watching.