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As far as Western movies go, this was a good one. I have come to be somewhat hesitant toward Kevin Costner's acting, and at first I got myself ready for a movie full of “Elliot Ness in the Wild West”. However, I soon came to realize that his acting style was quite perfect for his role, as was his elder statesman Robert Duvall. As old cowboys, they both did terrific jobs. The shootout scene, drawn out for a more realistic effect (rather than the over-the-top John Woo style action scene), was intense and gripping. Perhaps one of the better, if not the best, Western shootout I've seen.One thing that critics have complained about is that Costner's character is shown fanning his Peacemaker or whatever he's using and firing off between 7 and 10 shots from a six-shooter. Who else has seen this movie?
I have seen this movie and it is one of my favorites. The shoot out at the end is one of the best, ranking right up there with High Noon and Eastwoods Unforgiven (My personal opinion is that Open Range is the best) I like the documentary feel it had in some of the scenes, showing the chaos and unchoreographed effect of having the camera men running with the cameras on their shoulders giving it a more 'you are there feel'. Costner is a much better director than actor, and Duvall is great in all he does (See Second Hand Lions) I think Open Range is one of the best westerns to come out since Lonsome dove and Dances with Wolves.
What's also interesting about it is how the townsfolk really have to take sides. I wonder if this was similar to reality during the 1870s and 1880s as American populations expanded westward in greater numbers….towns may have become similar to feudal kingdoms or city states of the past where justice was decided by the local authorities. In the movie, we see many in the town go after the corrupt rancher and the marshal's thugs.
In the west people didn't get treed like they did in the movies. They had a rough edge to them, many were civil war vets, ex buffalo hunters and Indian fighters. You didnt intimadate people like that. So the movie I thought showed a little more realism in that the people were willing to stand up to those who tried to ride over them.
