Open Range

What's the Plot?

It's known as The Wild West. This expanse of land that seems to stretch from one side of America to another is home to a certain breed of man. Charlie Waite (Kevin Costner) is that kind of man. A cattle driver, his life is a happy, if uneventful one as he herds his cattle across the plains of America. At his side is his lifetime friend, Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall), who also feels the same as Charlie does about the land and their place on it. However, their existence is about to change dramatically. In one of the prairie towns, the local top man is called Baxter (Michael Gambon). Charlie and Boss' peaceful lives take a turn for the worse when their paths cross Baxter's and the situation escalates from personal to physical . As the prospect of never being able to roam the lands again looms ever nearer, Charlie begins to feel his long-forgotten inner demons rise as revenge and murder seem to become the only solution's left to him and Boss. Whether they like it or not, it seems that their lives have become "kill or be killed."

The Review

Costner has had a rough ride of late and despite their ages, the likes of The Postman and Waterworld (which I liked, and still stand by) still hang around his neck like a Hollywood Hangman's noose. It seems that his commitment, and deserved rewards, with Dances With Wolves and Thirteen Days, are conveniently forgotten. If there is any justice, his Open Range should change all that. Just as Gibson has achieved proof that his Braveheart was not a one-hit wonder with The Passion Of The Christ, Costner has hit gold again with his return to the Western. It probably won't stir up as many accolades as his Native American tale did, but at least recognition should be aimed towards him. Like Eastwood's Unforgiven, Open Range goes back to the roots of the Western genre, avoiding all the clichés and glorification that killed this type of film.

Also, like Eastwood's Oscar winning flick, Costner's deals with a man that has to return to his unsavoury past to get through the present in order to survive. Both films have a slow-burning pace to them which is something that alot of cinema-go'ers may find annoying due to modern movies fast edits and punchy story lines. For those willing to sit it out, they should find it a worthwhile experience as a rich, detailed, and therefore engrossing, picture is put upon the screen as characterisation is fully explored.

The benefit of this is that you begin to understand, believe and care about the people on the screen making the journey which makes you time and your money a good investment. Duvall, as always, delivers the goods ten-fold, with his relationship between him and Costner coming across as friends-for-life, and Annette Benning, as Costner's love interest, helps to add a more human layer to the hero's character. Open Range is a Western in the old and true sense with a fine cast doing a sterling job with a director showing that once again, given the time to tell a story, can produce a magnificent piece of work. Give it, and Kevin, a chance, and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

STEVE'S SCORES