Good westerns are hard to find these days, or any westerns at all for that matter. There are a number of made for TV movies and series, as well as the infamous "Deadwood," but as a whole this is a genre from a different time. It is therefore hard to compare "Open Range" to any other recent material, so it will need to stand on its own merits.
Strong performances and actors with genre experience are always necessary for a good western. Both Kostner and Duvall have considerable western experience and it shows. I was particularly impressed by Duvall's performance. He is in his 70s by this point and can still play a very believable, rough and tumble character. Very impressive. Kostner also holds his own as well and looks like he hasn't aged a day since Dances With Wolves (at least until he takes off his hat), over 13 years ago. Both actors have remarkable chemistry.
The story set up is fairly original - the protagonists are neither lawmen nor loners/drifters but hard working cattlemen. The antagonists are all relatively one-sided and unlikable if not downright despicable, as are most western villains. It's a time tested formula that almost always helps the story, even if it is cliché.
I am a bit of a biased lover of the western, so I cannot find too much to fault here. Although the set up is not something I've seen in a western, the development of the story is not very original and the progression predictable. This is more of an observation than a flaw, since I was interested the whole time and in the end more than satisfied with the experience. Recommended for any who enjoy the genre.
Strong performances and actors with genre experience are always necessary for a good western. Both Kostner and Duvall have considerable western experience and it shows. I was particularly impressed by Duvall's performance. He is in his 70s by this point and can still play a very believable, rough and tumble character. Very impressive. Kostner also holds his own as well and looks like he hasn't aged a day since Dances With Wolves (at least until he takes off his hat), over 13 years ago. Both actors have remarkable chemistry.
The story set up is fairly original - the protagonists are neither lawmen nor loners/drifters but hard working cattlemen. The antagonists are all relatively one-sided and unlikable if not downright despicable, as are most western villains. It's a time tested formula that almost always helps the story, even if it is cliché.
I am a bit of a biased lover of the western, so I cannot find too much to fault here. Although the set up is not something I've seen in a western, the development of the story is not very original and the progression predictable. This is more of an observation than a flaw, since I was interested the whole time and in the end more than satisfied with the experience. Recommended for any who enjoy the genre.