Hey folks, Harry here... Between this and SECONDHAND LIONS, it seems that Robert Duvall has a damn fine year of cinema coming to theaters for you and me. Costner is at it again, we'll have to see how this goes. This first review holds promise, but will the rest of the audience care for it? That's the key. Costner has been making movies that a few people like, what he hasn't been doing of late is making films that nearly everybody likes... like FIELD OF DREAMS or DANCES WITH WOLVES or UNTOUCHABLES or JFK... It's been a while, let's hope he pulls a Gere and has a great year.
Hey Harry,
Just got out of a test screening of a work in progress called "Open Range." Of course we're supposed to stay silent, but I'm sure nobody will mind a positive review!
This latest western is set in 1882. Kevin Costner (Charlie) and Robert Duvall (Boss) are two free range cattle drivers trying to make their way in the old west. As companions and partial comic relief, Diego Luna and some other guy-who was funny, are part of their gang. As it was a work in progress, the usual problems came about within the first few minutes of film. Sound effects off, music not quite in place, and some really odd cuts and some queer looking credits flashing about.
However, despite everyone groaning that another Costner flick is due out, you may just have to give him a chance here. Costner fits well into the role of an x-military assasin trying to forget his past and forge a future. Robert Duvall, the Boss of the bunch is absolutely hilarious throughout the movie. If there's a reason to see this puppy, it's Duvall's amazing comic and dramatic contributions.
The basic plot involves these free range cattle herders coming across a smal town. They send one of their men in to get supplies, only to find that he gets locked up by the sheriff for "starting a brawl." Slowly but surely we learn that the town is ruled over by a powerful rancher who HATES free rangers. This rancher assaults Duvall's band of herders, killing the big funny guy, badly wounding Diego Luna's character, and killing their poor dog. With their cattle scattered to hell, and no supplies, Costner and Duvall turn to revenge against the evil rancher.
To make this short, Annette Bening is the love interest of Costner, and sister to the doctor of the town, who they bring their wounded to. Now enough background . . .what was good? what was bad?
There is a truly epic gun battle in the movie, a face off against Duvall and Costner and the rancher and his gang. Words can't really explain the badassness of both men in the battle. Both are hilarious during the fight, and so deadly at the same time. It was a pretty nice balance between the two. Costner has some kills that just make you respect him. Don't believe me? Respect Costner? OH YES. He even has a monologue that rocks the casbah ladies and gentlemen. What more to say, all the acting was top notch, the plot interesting. The movie dragged a bit in the beginning and ending, but most of those scenes, and some of the REALLY awkward ones between Bening and Costner, will be cut down. The score needs some work, but then again, what doesn't in film? All in all the film has some serious potential to be a classic western tale. An Unforgivenesque feel, with a gun battle that will be remembered as epic in film. Duvall-Impressive, Costner-Got to hand it to him, this is his ticket out of scorn and into the lime light again! Annette Bening-Really liked the character. Everyone did a rockin job.
Cheers,
