Mat reviews Open Range

[Mat]

8.5/10

Kevin Costner's Open Range is a beautiful, intrigueing film. It is more of a character study than an action shootout like Tombstone. It is slow and methodical, but shows the depth of the characters. Robert Duvall has a stellar performance as Boss, and Kevin Costner is strong as Charly. The other performance, Annette Bening's Sue and Michael Jeter's old coot character, come off strong too. The scenery is gorgeous too. For those who like gunfights, the one at the end of the film is excellent. It's got the exact amount of excitement and bloodshed needed to be realistic. Overall this is one of the best films I've seen this year. Well worth a visit if Freddy vs Jason (which I saw and will review in another thread) isn't your thing.

[rosncranz]

i loved this movie i give it a 9/10 i thought it was expertly done, i thought the acting was good, i though robert duvall was uncanny i mean that man is such a great actor and he proves in this film that he can take a relativly typical role and turn it into something so great, i think his character in this film is one of the coolest characters in film history, i like this a lot!:applaud:

[mastertips03]

Well, i did not think it was as good as some of you. some crappy scenes: I mean how many women run out in the middle of a bloody gunfight and yells, stop it stop it this minute. then she slaps one of the gunman who then grabs her an uses her as a shield (ala high noon). Never mind Charlie knows how to take care of that without even a second thought. And then you have Charlie doing some fancy fanning of the hammer on the gun shoots off some 6 shots then turns around and fires another 9 to ten shots without even reloading. Ah fine stuff heh. And the romance, what romance. I hardly even know you but i love you and want to marry you. . yes I will says the maiden. But don't screw around with me say the gal. Ah fine stuff heh. On the other hand i did like the performances of Duvall and Costner. I thought the conversations between the two were excellent. The final shootout at the end not withstanding the above reference of the women running into the gunfire ...was ok. By the way i was under the impression that Duvall was shot and was limping about after the first volley of gun shots but then later appeared without any wounds. Ah well....when people are labelling stuff like this, brilliant , bold, majestic, and all that other stuff one wonder if they have indeed seen to many explosions and car chases. my rating is : b-

[Mat]

I see what your saying about the romance. It had some nice moments, but really didn't fit in the overall picture. I know I'm tired of movies like Bad Boys 3D, Fredrick vs. Jason, Tomb Raider 2D, and the rest of these supposedly high octane action extravaganzas. It was nice to have an old fashion swashbuckler in Pirates of the Carribean, and it's nice to have an old fashion western like Open Range.

I think Robert Duvall should at least be nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars next year. It's one of the few standout performances I've seen this year.

[mastertips03]

Originally posted by Mat
I see what your saying about the romance. It had some nice moments, but really didn't fit in the overall picture. I know I'm tired of movies like Bad Boys 3D, Fredrick vs. Jason, Tomb Raider 2D, and the rest of these supposedly high octane action extravaganzas. It was nice to have an old fashion swashbuckler in Pirates of the Carribean, and it's nice to have an old fashion western like Open Range.

I think Robert Duvall should at least be nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars next year. It's one of the few standout performances I've seen this year.

Well, mat may i suggest you go out and see Seabiscuit. It is by far the best of the year in my opinion. Great performances and just an excellent overall film. :) :) :) :)

[Doomsday]

I agree, Seabiscuit is by far the best movie out right now. I thought Open Range was excellent as well, a nice old fashioned kind of western. As an old fashioned kind of person myself, it's nice to see that movies like these can still be made, movies that aren't chock full of useless sex and pointless cussing, but can still turn out to be really good.

[Mat]

I don't really know why it was rated R. I've seen bloodier PG and PG-13 movies than this one. The MPAA never fails to spellbind me over their reasons for rating a movie. It could have easily been a PG 13 movie... oh well.

My hatred of underdog sports films keeps me away from Seabiscuit even when I know it shouldn't. I'll just wait for the DVD to give my review of it, unless the sudden urge (or free ticket) hits me to see it.

[bludemun]

My main problem with Open Range was that it took over 2 hours to tell a 90 minute story.

It's called editing Kevin, maybe you should use it!

[angelusrp]

I liked this film a lot.. I havent seen too many westers but I liked it better than Unforgiven. Unforgiven didnt get good till the end. Open Range kept me at the edge of my seat with how it sank you into the story. Kevin Costner did a great job. I really wanted to support him on this film. Hes always getting bad reviews on his films ( i liked waterworld; s**** you if you didnt). Duvall was absolutely 'credible. I second that notion on being best supporting actor. but my best actor vote goes to Cap'n Jack Sparrow.

[Doomsday]

The reason Unforgiven was so good was because of the moral behind it. The moral about killing was a basis, and the sub-plot that tells how Will Munney was a killer who turned good but turned rotten again was also what made it so great. Unforgiven is great, and is anything but overrated.

[pixiness]

I'm gonna have to go on record as saying the romantic subplot was unneccesary. In fact it would have almost been better if she WAS the doctor's wife and costner wanted her to have the tea set because he was a good man

Other than that - I was really impressed with it. I've always said costner belongs in two types of movies - baseball movies and westerns - and this is about as classic of a western as you can get. No fancy trick shooting just a good ol fashioned shoot out. And duvall is a great counterpoint to costner throughout. I'd give it a 7.5/10

[odorless nugget]

Great review by Mat...I wasn't sure if I was going to go see this movie..but now I am...and I am not a big Western fan..sounds like this could be as good as "Unforgiven"...which is one of my few favorite Western flicks...Eric

[Clark Savage Jr]

Originally posted by mastertips03
Well, i did not think it was as good as some of you. some crappy scenes: I mean how many women run out in the middle of a bloody gunfight and yells, stop it stop it this minute. then she slaps one of the gunman who then grabs her an uses her as a shield (ala high noon). Never mind Charlie knows how to take care of that without even a second thought. And then you have Charlie doing some fancy fanning of the hammer on the gun shoots off some 6 shots then turns around and fires another 9 to ten shots without even reloading. Ah fine stuff heh. And the romance, what romance. I hardly even know you but i love you and want to marry you. . yes I will says the maiden. But don't screw around with me say the gal. Ah fine stuff heh. On the other hand i did like the performances of Duvall and Costner. I thought the conversations between the two were excellent. The final shootout at the end not withstanding the above reference of the women running into the gunfire ...was ok. By the way i was under the impression that Duvall was shot and was limping about after the first volley of gun shots but then later appeared without any wounds. Ah well....when people are labelling stuff like this, brilliant , bold, majestic, and all that other stuff one wonder if they have indeed seen to many explosions and car chases. my rating is : b-
You got a couple of things wrong there pard...she runs into the street during a lull in the fighting to help a wounded 16 year old kid(what with her being her brother the doctor's nurse...how's that for a reason) - the guy she slaps she has known for quite a while, and he doesn't grab her and use her as a shield, someone else does minutes later when all hell breaks loose again and she is still nursing the wounded kid....Costner fans the gun emptying it, then holsters it, picks up a rifle and empties it, then it shows him reloading his pistol....and as for the romance, try reading some historical accounts of the times (if it was two 16 year olds locking eyes while smoking pot and then declaring their undying love you probably wouldn't have a problem with it) this stuff happened.

[Dreamchaser]

I didnt like this movie *Open Range* it was the most drawn out movie I have seen in a long time. The romance in the movie, was as much fun as watching a grand parent in a rocking chair. I am BIG on romance and I never saw it in this movie. I was very disappointed ....as were the other 2 people with me.

[Mat]

I agree the romance doesn't fit, but it had some nice scenes that made it a bit more realistic than the average romantic subplot. Of course, I didn't like that they were going to get married, but overal it's better than most.