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:

Pacto de justicia

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

Kevin Costner said that the dog's death scene was hard for him, because he's "a great lover of animals, dogs in particular."

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Goofs

In a scene where Boss and Charley are on the range in front of a river with a high bank on the other side in the background, first there are cattle on the bank behind them, then the cattle aren't there, then they are there, etc.

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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

Featured in Beyond the 'Open Range' (2004)

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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 modern classic Western.

Personally, I didn't find it long. I've seen many great Westerns--such films as "Will Penny," "Shane," "The Unforgiven," and several other Eastwood movies spring to mind--and this was right up there with them. My thanks to Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall (of course), and Annette Bening for giving me a wonderful experience at the movies. It doesn't happen all that often anymore. To those who say, "They don't make 'em like they used to," my response is "This one's better."