Open Range (2003)

A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.

Director:

Kevin Costner

Writers:

Lauran Paine (novel), Craig Storper (screenplay)

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Diego Luna

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Duvall	...	Boss Spearman
Kevin Costner	...	Charley Waite
Annette Bening	...	Sue Barlow
Michael Gambon	...	Denton Baxter
Michael Jeter	...	Percy
Diego Luna	...	Button
James Russo	...	Sheriff Poole
Abraham Benrubi	...	Mose
Dean McDermott	...	Doc Barlow
Kim Coates	...	Butler
Herb Kohler	...	Cafe Man
Peter MacNeill	...	Mack
Cliff Saunders	...	Ralph
Patricia Stutz	...	Ralph's Wife (as Pat Stutz)
Julian Richings	...	Wylie

Storyline

Boss Spearman, Charley Waite, Mose Harrison and Button freegraze their cattle across the vast prairies of the West, sharing a friendship forged by a steadfast code of honor and living a life unencumbered by civilization. When their wayward herd forces them near the small town of Harmonville, the cowboys encounter a corrupt sheriff and kingpin rancher who govern the territory through fear, tyranny and violence. Boss and Charley find themselves inextricably drawn towards an inevitable showdown, as they are forced to defend the freedom and values of a lifestyle that is all too quickly vanishing. Amidst the turmoil, life suddenly takes an unexpected turn for the loner Charley when he meets the beautiful and warm spirited Sue Barlow, a woman who embraces both his heart and his soul.

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Plot Keywords:

revisionist western | vigilantism | good versus evil | villain | hero | 

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Taglines:

No place to run. No reason to hide.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Romance | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Open Range

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,047,781, 17 August 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$58,331,254

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$68,613,992

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Cobalt Media Group, Beacon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a scene cut from the movie, Charley had already killed one injured man.

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Goofs

Before the final gunfight, Boss and Charley are in the general store. Boss asks to buy some candy, and the shopkeeper offers him several varieties, including "Ju-Ju Bees." This candy was first made in 1920 by the Henry Heide Candy Company.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Boss Spearman: [indicating a thunderstorm] Think she'll get over this-a-way?
Charley Waite: Might.
Boss Spearman: Best bed 'em down.

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Alternate Versions

AMC version severely edits Butler's death. The sound of the gunshot that kills him is played at a lower volume, and the scenes of him falling back is sped up, so as to avoid showing the hole in his head from the shot.

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Connections

Referenced in Confession (2005)

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Soundtracks

Holding All My Love for You
Written by Michael Kamen (BMI) and Julianna Raye (BMI)
Performed by Julianna Raye
Produced by James Harrah
(P) (C) K-Man Corp. (BMI) / Ziffy Music, Inc. (BMI) / Open Range Productions USA, Inc. (BMI)

User Reviews

A traditional, well-made western

A traditional, well-made western - suitable for most ages, features good guys herdin' cattle, bad guys tryin' to steal the cattle, codes of honour, a corrupt sheriff, a fantastic shoot-out, and Annette Bening being lovely in the wings. Open Range doesn't do anything particularly new, it just does it particularly well. For actor/director/producer Kevin Costner, it seems to have been a labour of love and one that has paid off handsomely. The characters are well fleshed out, it has plenty to appeal to adults (men and women) rather than being just a boys-with-guns film. The qualities of the main heroes are likeable - they value the trust, respect and confidence that is given them and realise the value of these things. Open Range is no high and mighty moraliser however; there are plenty true-to-genre one-liners, such as "You're nothing!" (grim-faced, cornered bad guy) - "Maybe so," (good guy pointing a gun at him), "but I'll still be breathing in another minute!" Towards the end of the film they also battle with their own inner demons. What starts out with all the flavour of a Boys' Own adventure (complete with cutesy dog) turns out to be a well-rounded minor classic. Long live the Western!