The film centers on a pair of seasoned cattlemen in 1882, Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) and Charlie Waite (Costner) who along with hired hands Mose (Abraham Benrubi) and Button (Andor’s Diego Luna in an early Hollywood role) are driving their herd cross-country across Montana to graze on open range grasslands. But at this point in the history of the American West, wealthy ranchers are staking ever greater claims of ownership, and they don’t take kindly to so-called “free grazers” on their land.
Unaware of the danger they face, Spearman and Waite send Mose into the nearby town of Harmonville to buy provisions before moving on. But when he doesn’t return after two days, they ride in after him and discover that the young man has been beaten and locked in jail by the local marshal (James Russo) and his henchmen, at the direction of the ruthless land-owner Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon). Upon freeing Mose, and receiving a warning from Baxter, Spearman and Waite take their injured hand to the town doctor—whose sister Sue (Annette Bening) treats them kindly—then return to their camp, hoping to put the troubles behind them.
But it soon becomes apparent that Baxter has no intention of letting them leave; he means to murder them and steal their cattle into the bargain. And when things inevitably turn violent, Spearman and Waite—a former Union soldier still traumatized by his service in the Civil War—realize that the only way they’ll survive and find a measure of justice is to confront Baxter and his men head on, with the good citizens of Harmonville caught in the crossfire.
Despite having been filmed on a modest budget of just $22 million, Open Range offers stunning cinematography by first time DP J. Michael Muro (who served as a camera operator on Costner’s Dance with Wolves and several James Cameron films including The Abyss, Terminator 2, and Titanic) that renders the Alberta landscape a character unto itself, not to mention a steadfast and passionate score by the great composer Michael Kamen (which turned out to be his last).
But the heart and soul of the film is the relationship between Spearman and Waite. The easy rapport that Costner and Duvall share on screen is clearly a reflection of their fondness for one another in real life, and it’s just a pleasure to behold.
Duvall’s Spearman exhibits a steady confidence born of having lived a long life well, guided at every turn by a keen moral compass. Duvall infuses his character with humor and kindness, evidenced by a twinkle of the eye or a few simple words of wisdom, making Spearman a fine example of strength paired with gentle humanity, and above all with an unwavering sense of decency. It’s these attributes, as much as Spearman’s ability to cowboy, which inspire the respect and admiration of Waite, Mose, Button, and others they meet.
In addition to its leads, the supporting cast is populated by a host great character actors, including Michael Jeter, appearing here in his final role (the film is dedicated to his memory and to that of Costner’s parents). Open Range is packed with great character moments, stunning vistas, and simple and evocative moods. And when its full fury is finally unleashed, the violence is muscular and unflinching, and the film’s climactic gunfight is widely regarded by Western experts as one of the best ever filmed, with fine stunt work and award-winning sound mixing.
But what rings out most loudly here is the film’s underlying message, which is that true strength lies not in dominating others, enriching oneself, or seeking out violence. Rather, it means having the confidence to protect others while living by a moral code, and having the strength to meet violence with courage when and if it becomes necessary.
To close this review, I thought long and hard about what I might show you from the film—perhaps its trailer, or a particularly good scene. Instead, I offer this… the film’s first six minutes on YouTube. It’ll give you a good taste of what’s in store. And if that doesn’t hook you, nothing will…
Bottom line: Open Range is one of the finest and yet sadly most overlooked Westerns of the last several decades. And for my money, while Costner has made a number of great films, if there’s a better one than this I haven’t seen it.
At the moment, I don’t know if it’s the film’s producers or distributors that have kept Open Range from getting a proper US physical media release (beyond a long out-of-print DVD), or simply apathy on the part of Disney (which owns the film via their Touchstone Pictures label). But the fact that you can only watch it here in the States via Digital streaming is a crime against cinema.
Note that while there is no US Blu-ray, there are decent German and UK versions (from Universum Film and 101 Films) that can be imported, but they’re Region B only. There’s also an all-region French Blu-ray (from Pathé), but it has unfortunate PAL audio pitch issues.
If by some chance Kevin Costner should read this review, let me just say something plainly: Thank you for this film. Truly. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I watch Open Range at least two or three times a year, and it’s a gift I appreciate more with each new viewing.
If anyone at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment should read this, let me say this even more plainly: You need to release Open Range on properly remastered 4K disc and Blu-ray right now. Please do this, and soon!
And if you’re already a fan of this film: Share word of it online as far and as widely as possible. Watch it as often as you can on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, AMC+, or wherever the hell it’s available Digitally. Make this film spike in the streaming charts and keep it there until Disney takes notice and finally gets the message.
It’s high past time Open Range got the proper US physical media release that both the film and its many admirers so richly deserve.
In the meantime, for those of you who might be inspired by these humble words to watch Open Range for the very first (but certainly not the last) time… I give you joy of it!
- Bill Hunt
(You can follow Bill on social media on Twitter/X, BlueSky, and Facebook, and also here on Patreon)