Open Range

Grade: A, Running Time: 155 Minutes, Rated: R

Open Range does just that; opens on the range. A massive heard of cow-colored cattle lumber through a lush green valley, driven by classic bandana-clad cowpokes, as a bruise-bluish storm gathers in the distance.

This is Boss Spearman's (Robert Duvall) herd. Riding with Boss is Charles Waite (Kevin Costner), a long-time employee and friend; Mose (Abraham Benrubi), the horse-sized camp cook and general laborer; and Button (Diego Luna), a rescued young Mexican orphan learning the ropes of life on the range. They are "Free-grazers"; cattlemen that make their living grazing the herd on open public lands. But, times they are a changing. The once abundant free-grazing land is being rounded up and fenced off by a few ruthless ranchers set on building their own cattle empires.

When Boss and his crew happen upon a small town controlled by just such a rancher named, Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon), the two cattle philosophies are set for a showdown. In traditional Wild West style that means a gun battle in the streets. And Open Range doesn't disappoint.

This is a majestic piece of film making. Kevin Costner is once again behind the camera in a genre which he's found prior success. His previous foray directing and starring in a western, Dances with Wolves, netted him two Academy Awards; one for Best Film of the Year and one for Best Director. Costner loves the wide open spaces and maximizes the camera's view. From long expansive scenic shots to up close silhouettes against a diving sun, Costner captures the grandeur of the west and the life of the men and women who live in it.

The beginning of the film has almost an epic feel, but this diminishes as the story leaves the open range and finds itself confined to the clapboard structures of the small town.

Costner's credibility doesn't end behind the camera. He also does a fine job in the role of Charles Waite. Waite is a simple honest man with a past. He enjoys the solitary nature of his life on the open range. He's a man's man who can't see settling down; his demons are too restless.

This begins to change, however, when he meets the doctor's beautiful sister, Sue Barlow (Annette Bening). Theirs is an awkward romance, slow to unfold and full of missteps; as you might expect from a man who lives mostly with other men and animals. It's a beautiful portrayal of love's beginning in very a-typical Hollywood fashion.

Annette Bening fits her role as Sue Barlow as if she'd worn it her whole life. She is naturally gorgeous (no makeup here) with the inner strength of a life-wise frontier woman. She isn't afraid to stand up to injustice and calls life as she sees it. She is sure of herself and her feelings when Charles is anything but. Any man would be lucky to find a Sue Barlow in his life.

What can I say about Robert Duvall? He has had a tremendous acting career. His roles are as diverse as a handful of jelly bellys, but I prefer him in cowboy duds. Some roles leave an indelible mark on an actor's career and for Duvall that role was Agustus "Gus" McCray in Lonesome Dove. His mannerisms, delivery of lines, and even his gait fit the cowboy roll to a "T". His Boss Spearman character is no different. Boss is the heart and soul of the group. He stands up for what he believes and isn't afraid to take action. He's old enough to have a philosophy and wise enough not to be caged in by it. He also provides most of the comic relief in the film in his subtle, hard-nosed, kind-of-way. Duvall is and will always be one of my favorite cowboys.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the small, but stellar performance by Michael Jeter as, Percy. Percy owns the local livery stable and adds enough personal color to the story to paint the vast landscape he lives in. He befriends Boss and Charles and isn't afraid to get in the fight when needed. It looked like a fun role to play and Jeter made the most of it. Sadly, Michael Jeter died this past March 30th from complications related to HIV.

Open Range is a western in the classic sense. It avoids the glitz, glam, and relentless action associated with most Hollywood productions. It chooses instead to reveal the west in the gritty manner it was most-likely lived. For that, Costner and crew can sit at my campfire anytime.