Movies of 2003 Review

Open Range

• Contemporary Western

Kevin Costner both directs and stars in this outstanding and surprisingly great contemporary western with a classic theme. It's the battle between free-grazers and land big land baron ranchers. We have a cast of truly talented great actors and actresses, namely Robert Duvall and the underrated Annette Bening. Kevin Costner, who often finds it difficult to be a character other than himself, nails the hero with a dark past role. Robert Duvall has been in movies with film cowboy legend, John Wayne, and in the absence of "The Duke" Costner doesn't fall short of filling some big boots. The movie opens strong with an exploration of the lead characters. Action doesn't slam into the audience all at once, but builds up to a climactic ending. The final shootout is every bit as satisfying as the story bringing the audience to that point. It should be said that the final shootout is filmed in such a way that Costner puts the audience in the town, and helps them to feel what it would be like to be present right then and there, the fear and all. Enough romance is present to keep your wife or girlfriend interested, without going overboard and making the film mushy. It is about ten years been really good 5-star Hollywood westerns being released these days, and this movie marks a point in time exactly 10 years since the last 5-star western, Tombstone, with Kurt Russell. Open Range is a character film, a traditional western, and a touch of modern style that blends together in just the right mix.