OPEN RANGE

OPEN RANGE, (2003) is directed by Kevin Costner, who also plays the lead (Charley)—a noble soul haunted by his violent past—along with Robert Duvall (“Boss”) a “free-range” cattleman for whom he works. Love and violence complement each other toward an emotional crescendo three-fourths of the way along, and the ensuing anti-climax is disappointing. The violence suits my guy proclivities, without being too visually gory. In the 1880s, Boss, Charley and two others are driving a herd cross country. They come to a town that is controlled by a ruthless land baron, his crony sheriff, and cautious, cowed townspeople. One of the party and a dog are killed and another wounded and left for dead. Boss and Charlie seek revenge, and we feel their utter loneliness, up against incredible odds. The doctor’s sister (Annette Bening as Sue) becomes Charlie’s love interest, and the danger he’s in heightens the appeal of the relationship. When she shows that she sees the goodness in him, a veil is stripped away and tears roll freely down my face. But the soon-to-follow gunfight was a close second for my attention. The fight was filmed from unusual angles. They really worked on this. The little boy in me was thrilled by the thud and the red dust where a bullet exits from the back of a villain, whereupon he falls, like a hunk of beef, close up to the picture plane. But, for me, the film is less convincing from there on.