Better than average western, steadily-paced, subtly directed, acted with precision by a bunch of seasoned pros. Costner directs himself in the film's most pretentious performance, while all around him the supporting cast steal his limelight. Duvall and Gambon are exemplary as opposing, aging poles on the film's moral compass. OPEN RANGE is like Costner's Bush-era post-script to DANCES WITH WOLVES - no trace of political correctness is to be found, and while the film doffs its cap to "reality" - eg. the widespread use of immigrant accents and sets that look like they were built yesterday from fresh cut timber, because back then they literally were - ultimately this is just another excuse for fancy shootin', gratuitous gunplay in the name of replaying for the umpteenth time just how the west was won. Still, there are some powerful moments, and the movie remains engaging throughout. Costner says he elided all trace of Native Americans in the film because the frontier culture he was depicting had no place for them and could not countenance them. Fair enough, but in this film it is Costner's choice, and no else's, to erase the original custodians from their landscape. Out of sight out of mind. Worth renting, but this ain't no JOHNNY GUITAR.
Review of Open Range
