OPEN RANGE
US, 2003, 139 minutes, Colour.
Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, Michael Jeter, Diego Luna, James Russo.
Directed by Kevin Costner.
After his Oscar-winning success and worldwide approval with Dances With Wolves and a number of star turns in the early 1980s, like JFK and The Bodyguard, Kevin Costner fell on hard times with his futuristic epic, Waterworld, and then his apocalyptic actioner, The Postman. He has struggled to regain his popularity. Whether Open Range will do this is uncertain. However, it is certain that this film is an achievement and restores confidence in Costner's ability as a director and in his power as a screen presence.
Open Range is a classic western (and can be compared with Ron Howard's The Missing which was released at the same time). It is the 1880s, the end of the era of the open range where cowboys can roam freely and tend their herds. Landowners are now taking possession, building barbed wire fences and protecting their interests by using gunmen to get rid of enemies and dominate the towns.
Into this setting comes The Boss, with Robert Duvall in a role that suits him perfectly. With him is a veteran cowboy who has seen grim days, Charley, played by Costner himself (who ensures that Duvall is the star and is centre film). When their hands are attacked by the gunmen of the Irishman who is the local landowner (Michael Gambon), the stage is set for a showdown. Costner evokes memories of all the OK Coral films as well as High Noon where the townspeople flee the coming danger.
The plot is more complex and has several strands including the young Mexican hand (Diego Luna), the manager of the stables who is on their side (Michael Jeter), some of the business people in the town, the sheriff who is in the pay of the landowner (James Russo), and the hired killer (Kim Coates).
The other central character is the local doctor's wife, a middle-aged woman who has given up on marriage. She is played effectively and without by Annette Bening.
Costner has re-created his town on location in Alberta, Canada. It is both stark and beautiful. Weather is important and there is a powerful storm and deluge. But it is the scenes with the cattle, the life in the bar and the stores, the shootout at the coral that are reminiscent of the past but have a strong life of their own indicating that Costner can be a fine film-maker.
1. The work of Kevin Costner, his presence in westerns? His Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves? A western for the 21st century?
2. The tradition of the western, his drawing on the tradition, High Noon, The Gunfight at the OK Corral, Heaven's Gate? The films about the open range, cattle and horses, land ownership, the fencing off of the open range?
3. The quality of the landscapes, the Canada locations, the plains the hills, the mountains, water? The title? The musical score?
4. The new town, its streets, the rain, the wet and the mud? In fine weather? The houses, the saloon, the staples? Authentic atmosphere?
5. The importance of the weather, the seasons, the fine and the wet, the fierce storm, the flood, the aftermath?
6. The free range, ownership of the land, freedom of the land, the cattle grazers, roaming the free plains? The new owners, the barbed wire images, the enclosure of the land, ownership, greed, selfishness leading to violence? The 1880s and the end of this period?
7. The portrait of Boss and his team, their coherence as a group, the bonds, travelling together, sense of family? Boss and his leadership, his relationship with Charlie, with Mose, Button? The hard work, play and games, cards, talking or not, exercising their skills, preferring to stay camping rather than go into the towns? The picture of the cowboys?
8. The crisis, Mose going to town, his becoming involved with the fight, the men and their guns, Mose in jail? The Boss and Charlie going into town, the confrontation with the sheriff, meeting Baxter and his men? The doctor and Sue? The consequences for Mose, the violence, Button and the violence? The ambush?
9. Mose, a good man, hard work? The fight in the town, his return, the doctor? Button and his place in the group, the young boy, Mexican, his learning English, cheating at cards and his being reprimanded, Charlie pushing him? His trying to please, making mistakes, away from his post, his being injured and his being tended by the doctor? Their going to Mose's funeral, Boss and his remarks about God and the kind of God who would allow such things?
10. The doctor and his help, the doctor having to go to Baxter? Sue, in the house, her strength, her views, the relationship with Charlie? Her talking, perspectives? The discovery that she was the doctor's sister? Her age, her lack of marriage prospects? Their staying the night, Charlie's dream? Her china, breaking the china? The pledge? Her help in the gunfight, being taken hostage, standing up? The doctor and his involvement? The promise to Charlie, his return, her being in the garden, a future?
11. Baxter, his Irish background, buying the land, the sense of ownership, his thugs and gunfighters, the shoot-outs? His dominating speeches? The clash with Mose? His having the sheriff in his power? Confronting the sheriff?
12. The Boss, his real name, explaining his life story, wife and child and their death from typhus? The passing of the years? His skills, his principles? His relationship with Charlie - a kind of surrogate son? His looking after Button? His going to town, his attitude towards the sheriff, the confrontations?
13. Charlie, explaining his past, his mother, the Civil War, the ten years? Taciturn? His principles? Collaboration with the Boss, trying to educate Button? Their going to town, the doctor, Sue, his dream, the breaking of the china?
14. Percy, at the stables, looking after the horses, his talk and explanation, his willingness to help, the bond with Boss and Charlie? The gunfight, his warnings and saving them? A sympathetic character?
15. The shop owner, his dog, Charlie saving him from drowning? His sons? The storekeeper, the chocolate and the cigars, spending their money, relishing the chocolate, smoking the cigars? These people helping the group during the gunfight?
16. The flood, its effect, people in the saloon, the Boss and Charlie and their meal, their return, staying with Sue, the decision to take action, confronting the sheriff and his men, the chloroform, putting them in the prison? The quiet night and the preparation for the gunfight, breakfast?
17. The day of the confrontation, the scenes of people leaving the town, Boss and his strategy, the corral, the showdown? The shoot-out? Percy's information? The gunfighter and the scenes from the past, the killing of Mose, the ambush, Boss and Charlie confronting the men thinking they were stealing the herd? The gunfighter and his quick death? The shootings, Baxter and his taking Sue, taking Button as a hostage? Button and his injuries? Boss and his being wounded? People taking sides, the people coming back, standing up against Baxter, the confrontation between Boss and Baxter, his not dying?
18. Boss and his character, Charlie - humane, talking or not, secrets, sharing names, the taste of chocolate - and the comment that they were like an old married couple? Boss and his decision to buy the saloon and settle down? Charlie and his returning for Sue?
19. The ruggedness of the west, the violence - yet sensitivity, treating people well? The western traditions and a slant on the end of an old era and the beginning of a new?
