Kevin Coster's "Open Range". Pros & Cons.

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Wyatt Burp

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I really like this movie. It's unusual that Costner would make a modern western using the old worn out cliche of strangers going to a town, finding out the local big rancher owns the place including the sherriff, blah, blah, bah. But it works here becouse of the two primary characters relationships with each other.
The pros:
Probably the most realistic shootout on film (not that I ever saw one). The way Costner suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome from a violent past and how his freind keeps him in check, the way he starts the gunfight, and his repore with Robert Duval.
The cons:
Costner's hat looks like a 1930's Buck Jones B-western hat. What's with that? Everyone (except Duval and the bad guy) carry generic Colt SAA's with wood grips. Didn't Costner ever watch Tombstone? Ever hear of S&W? Colt double actions? And the bad guys are pretty one dimensional who's only purpose in life seems to eventually be killed by Costner and Duval for our viewing pleasure.
Well, that's my fim critique of the day.
 
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I haven't watched it a couple of years (got it on DVD around here somewhere) but if I'm remembering it correctly, I came away from it with the lesson "Don't mess with the quiet guy's dog.";)

I liked it.
 
I liked the fact the doctor woman wasnt hot, but plain looking as most in real life. A lot of these westerns seem to be cast in canada lately. If I was to cretic one thing it would be that flood scene. As a kid we would play in water that high and fast. Actualy, I liked costners hat.
 
feralmerril said:
I liked the fact the doctor woman wasnt hot, but plain looking as most in real life. A lot of these westerns seem to be cast in canada lately. If I was to cretic one thing it would be that flood scene. As a kid we would play in water that high and fast. Actualy, I liked costners hat.
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That's right about the woman. The lack in vanity for her to do that film appearing to wear no makeup was very realistic. You can tell 1950's westerns my the glossy makeup the women wear which really date it to the 50's.
 
Another Duvall movie made about the same time as Open Range that I just discovered is Secondhand Lions with Michael Caine. What a hoot!!

(Also has another of my favorite actresses, Kyra Sedgwick.)
 
feralmerril said:
I liked the fact the doctor woman wasnt hot, but plain looking as most in real life.
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Annette Bening not hot? :confused:



Just kiddin' I know what you mean. I enjoy that film alot, the main characters seem pretty well developed, even if the story is "old as the hills".
 
Last ten minutes of movie. Bad guys are lined up in the street with Duvall and Costner aproaching. "Are you the guy who shot our friend" Bad guy "yes I am and I shot the kid too" Costner pulls his gun and shoots the bad guy thru the scull. BUTT THEN Costner follows and keeps shooting another bad guy about 15 times. Maybe the first wonder nine Colt. If your not a purest, which I ain't, I thought it was a great movie. Duvall is one hell of an actor. Ever seen Tender Mercies? Beats Crazy Heart all to hell for realism.
 
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A great movie. One of my favorites. I remember reading an interview article with Costner just before the movie was released. He was asked about the shoot-out with the hired guns and said something about how loud the guns were and how hectic a real life shoot-out would be. I guess so! By the way, not to cast any dispersion on the film, but have any of you ever counted the shots Costner fires from his "six" shooter in the confrontation scene... it's more like a 10-12 shooter...
 
Sip can speak to this better than most I imagine, but even if the script is technically correct and the shooter switches guns or whatnot, a lot of times the continuity is lost in editing to get the best shots, and makes it appear that the six shooters shoot forever. The old TV westerns didn't (for the most part)give the audience credit for being smart enough to notice and the writers didn't think "realism" mattered.

That's why I like Michael Mann's movies - the actors are taught to handle the weapons realistically and they pay attention to the details that others don't that drive those of us on gun forums nutz.
 
There was a HBO (I think) movie a few years ago called "Lost Battalion". Based on a WWI event that actually occurred. Ricky Shroeder stared and did an excellent job. Movie was very good using period correct props.. 1911 guys picked it appart with wrong grips, safetys, etc. blah, blah, blah.. How far can you go with realism. Ever seen "Patton" with the Germans comming thru the Kasserein Pass in M60's?
 
If you never seen Duvall in "the appostal", get it! I was raised penticostal and duvall certainly must have went to those churchs when I did to get the acting down so pat! I really think duvall is about the best of all time actors! Another actor I think is great james garner. That guy has got a rubber face for every expression you can think of and is really laid back!
 
JcMack said:
Last ten minutes of movie. Bad guys are lined up in the street with Duvall and Costner aproaching. "Are you the guy who shot our friend" Bad guy "yes I am and I shot the kid too" Costner pulls his gun and shoots the bad guy thru the scull. BUTT THEN Costner follows and keeps shooting another bad guy about 15 times. Maybe the first wonder nine Colt. If your not a purest, which I ain't, I thought it was a great movie. Duvall is one hell of an actor. Ever seen Tender Mercies? Beats Crazy Heart all to hell for realism.
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In the "Special Features" part of the DVD Costner talks specifically about that one scene where his gun never runs out and just said he wanted to film it that way even though people might catch it, or something like that. And he doesn't switch guns. His Colt (?) has about a 7" barrel like it was a 7 1/2" gun cut down behind the front sight (there is no front sight). Later he also shoots a 5 1/2" gun, too.
And Ferrilmiller. I just watched Duval on the Bio channel and he said in the early 70's he went to a church like you're talking about and wanted someday to make a movie about a preacher, which he did way later, The Apostle.
 
Another good western with Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church is The Broken Trail. It's excellent, definitely one of my favorites...and apparently it's based on a true story. If you haven't seen it, check it out.

IMO, while James Garner may be an okay actor...I don't care for him. He's a screaming libtard.

Tim
 
Why leave the BGs alive in the jail? Or why leave the jail keys so they could be let out to fight?
Also why not shoot the group of BGs in the street from ambush using rifles?
I have always wondered why leave guns lying next to the BGs after you shoot them and are walking/running past. Pick them up and use them when your guns are empty.
I would have not made a western hero as i don't believe in taking prisoners.
 
I won't watch it or any of his movies. Kevin Costner once borrowed a lawn mower from his neighbor with a full tank of gas and returned it with a quarter tank.
 
Open Range was the movie that kinda smoothed things over for the wife and me one time when we were kinda having problems. It may have just been the rainy night when we went to the cinema, but I still have the tickets in my wallet.
My wife bought the movie and watches it when she has nothing else new and interesting to watch.
She also has Broken Trail and all of the Lonesome Dove movies, of which there are many.
I never try to nit-pick the details in a movie as it seems to take away from the whole reason I watch it. I don't care if Costner would have pulled a 629, he still got the job done. One has to remember that movies aren't really current news, but meant only for ones enjoyment.
I loved that movie and is one of the few that I have watched more than once.

Peace,
gordon
 
One of my all time favorite westerns! I love the characters; especially the loyalty, independence and honesty of Boss and Costner's character. Great statement about standing up for what is right and standing up for community - to heck with the consequences. And the shootout climax is the best I've ever seen in a movie. Any movie.

I missed the nits: lack of diversity in guns, etc.

Out
West
 
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