This Western film has been named as “The Best Western Films of the 21st Century” in a listing by Film Obessessive, and you can stream it now on Channel 4. Open Range is a 2003 American revisionist Western film directed and co-produced by Kevin Costner, written by Craig Storper and based on the novel The Open Range Men by Lauran Paine. It stars Robert Duvall and Costner, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, and Michael Jeter.
The film’s synopsis reads: “Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) and his cowhands Charley (Kevin Costner) and Mose (Abraham Benrubi) are driving cattle across a large expanse of country. When Mose ventures into a sparse village to buy a few necessities, he is met with violent hostility from Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon), an affluent landowner, and his right-hand man, Poole (James Russo). When Mose doesn’t come back, Boss and Charley realize he’s in trouble, so they plot to get him back and get revenge on those who captured him.”
Open Range has received generally positive reviews and it has a 79% rating from the critics of Rotten Tomatoes. Their consensus states: “Greatly benefiting from the tremendous chemistry between Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall, Open Range is a sturdy modern Western with classic roots.”
Roger Ebert gave it three and a half out of four stars, calling it “an imperfect but deeply involving and beautifully made Western”.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian awarded the film four out of five stars, writing: “Duvall gives his best performance in ages” in a “tough, muscular, satisfying movie”.
One fan wrote in their review: “By far one of my favorite westerns. Great cast, Costner’s and Duvall’s tremendous chemistry make it a classic. A little predictable, but so what. Gunfight scene at the end .. one of the best.”
“All Time Classic. The cinematography and direction of Costner is first rate across the board. The lush green plains, the framing/camerawork, shootout is all breathtaking. You can see the influence of John Ford, Tombstone, and Costners other Westerns he directed all over this. The shootout is excellent and really does a great job capturing a frantic, chaotic, and realisitic Western shootout,” added another.Open Range is available to stream now on Channel 4.