IslandGuru Who payed the critics

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

ben hibburd Open Range is written by Craig Storper and directed by Kevin Costner. It's an affectionate throwback to classic Westerns of the 1950s. The film stars Robert Duvall as Boss Spearman, an open range cattleman alongside his hired hands Charley Waite(Kevin Costner), Button(Diego Luna) and Mose(Abraham Benrubi) as they travel the west free-grazing with their cattle herd.After an altercation with ruthless land owner Denton Baxter(Michael Gambon) in a near by town. Baxter uses his hired guns to force them off his land, resulting in a fatal casualty. Launching Boss Spearman and Charley Waite into a quest for justice against Baxter, and the corrupt sheriffs on his payroll.There's a-lot to admire with Open Range. Firstly the cinematography by J. Michael Muro(who'd previously worked with Costner on Dances with Wolves.) is beautifully shot. Using natural landscapes, and a fully realised town, the film feels authentic in its setting. Robert Duvall also gives one his best performances ever, and at times he carries the movie(He should've received an Oscar nomination).The film does have some scripting and pacing issues though. Midway through the second act things slow down considerably for a under- developed love story between Waite and the town nurse Sue Barlow(Annette Bening). The acting and on-screen chemistry from both Costner and Bening is fine. This sub-plot however felt rushed, and only there to raise the stakes in the films climax. Also Michael Gambon is completely wasted in this film. He's barely given any material to work with, other then to just snarl at the camera which he does with joyous vigour.However as the film enters into it's third act and the showdown begins the film kicks in high gear. Costner directs a thrilling shootout in classic Western style. The geography of the shootout is excellent, as Boss and Waite navigate through the town, as they fend off the corrupt officials and Baxters hired guns.Open Range is a love-letter to classic Hollywood Westerns. It's a beautifully constructed film that's largely held up by fantastic acting and its thrilling climax. In the end the film suffers from pacing issues, and has too many side plots that are under-developed which stops the film short of greatness. The film doesn't quite have the depth or introspective stoicism of a film like Unforgiven that it thinks it does, to elevate itself beyond being a well crafted genre film.

paradux First of all this is piece of film history.Costner was just coming to the end of an extraordinary run where he was so popular with audiences that he was even playing parts which, with hindsight, were way beyond his range. (Like for example Robin Hood.) Here he was both in front of the camera and behind it. And doing great work in each position.Duvall had been working in films since the 1950s and was still carving out his legacy with extraordinary roles like this one.And Bening also was reaching the stage in her career where she would no longer solely provide the "love interest" for an entire film.But all that was yet to come. In 2003 these actors were the peak of their craft and they picked up this film and carried it to the finish line.The script is to die for. The sub-texts of loyalty, secrecy among men, and respect for your employer are rare, and to be treasured. The revenge theme is wonderful and deeply nuanced. The chocolate bar scene is unforgettable.An amazing movie and highly recommended.

dave_martin2008 I never get tired of this movie and I don't even want to count the times that I have seen it. Beautifully written, great acting, costumes, scenery. I cannot think of anything I didn't like about it. Annette Bening is definitely one of my favorite actors right along up there with Robert Duvall. Costner was great in this too. I was drawn into this from the opening and maintained the same level of interest until the end credits. I think this is one of the must see westerns and rate it up there along with such classics as The Searchers, Shane and High Noon. I am a huge western fan and when I come across a great one, I can be entertained by watching again as though it were the first time because with great writing, there is always a small part you might pick up the next time you see it that you missed the first time.

KineticSeoul This is a old school western that most western fans can enjoy. I really enjoy western films, with it's touch of outlaws, survival and people trying to stand their ground in a lawless land. And it does a pretty fine job of integrating those elements. For viewers that can't stand long drawn out simple plot about how some cowboys did their jobs to get by. This film might not be for you. But if you like traditional western, that seems to be out of a dry and yet traditional novel. This is actually a pretty good watch. But I can also see how people that aren't fans of westerns can get really bored with this. What kept me focused was the partnership between Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall. I thought the respect for one another and how they went about their business to be pretty cool. Overall, it's a watchable western but not something that I would sit through again.7.2/10