OPEN RANGE
Released: August 15, 2003
Kevin Costner understands the concept of an epic movie. In "Open Range" he stars and directs, with results that makes it this decade's "The Unforgiven", in all its epic western glory. Costner stars with Robert Duvall as his cattle graze partner of many years. Tagging along is Diego Luna who made a memorable splash in the Mexican film "Y Tu Mamá También". Also starring is Annette Bening as the older and more realistic love interest for Costner, Michael Gambon and Canadian Kim Coates. In one of his last films, Michael Jeter has a perfect role here. Sadly, Jeter passed away due to complications from HIV in March of 2003 but Costner was able to give him a private screening of the finished film before he died. The value of life is a matter that "Open Range" handles well. And the violence is handled precisely the way movies should handle it - in its horrifically brutal nature. When someone gets shot in "Open Range", the person has the air sucked out of their lungs and is thrown several feet to the ground in a definitely undignified death. Ultimately, this isn't just Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" re-made - it's a tale of surviving in the frontier land at a time when any sort of predictability of life was not a luxury. Costner has an eye for the epic scenery and an ear for the epic soundtrack. Film fans will definitely appreciate "Open Range". Shot in the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains just west of Calgary.
135 Minutes
Touchstone/Beuna Vista