Open Range
Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 40
  3. Negative: 1 out of 40
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  1. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    91
    It's a gorgeously atmospheric, perfectly cast, beautifully crafted oater of the old school, made with heaps of integrity, no gimmicks and few concessions to the box office. Its only real flaw is that it strains a bit too hard to be a "classic" western.
  2. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Kevin Carr
    90
    Open Range gets better the deeper you get into the story.
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    90
    There's a lot in this movie, simple, big, small and exciting. It's the year's first serious contender for big prizes. What's not to like about this picture?
  4. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: David Denby
    90
    In this handsomely traditional movie, Kevin Costner has tried to fix the Western myth for all time in the stern contours of Duvall’s face and the guttural beauty of his voice. [1 September 2003, p. 130]
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  5. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    An imperfect but deeply involving and beautifully made Western.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 33
  3. Negative: 6 out of 33
  1. Compi24
    7
    "Open Range" is a 2003 film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. The movie tells the story of two cattle ranchers (Costner, Duvall) who are forced to take up arms when threatened by corrupt lawmen. The movie to me looked like it was gonna' be a slightly boring film about life on the. . .wait for it. . .open range. I was half right. A very large portion of this movie's beginning 45 minutes is about just that. However, past that point the movie picks up with a fairly plain, but still enjoyable plot. The characters in the movie are pretty good. Duvall's portrayal of Boss Spearman is the best in the film, by my opinion. I thought Costner's performance was a little stoic, but not bothersome (makes me think that that was the intention). The script was standard in terms of dialogue I guess. Then again, I wasn't alive during the 19th century, so I have no frame of reference. The best and most entertaining point in this film is the last hour where the film's most impressive set piece is set into motion - a really incredible gunfight happens. It's shot spectacularly well - a worthy testament of Costner's directorial aptitude. Through and through I found "Open Range" to be a fairly entertaining film with a great climax.… Full Review »
  2. tallmanwriting
    7
    Duvall is just brilliant. Costner is Costner...the Jerry Seinfeld of dramas. He's just Kevin, in 19th-century America, hardly even trying to act. Just being Kevin. Despite that, it's a lovely film, well shot.… Full Review »
  3. PatC.
    3
    Two-thirds of the way through this movie was working. It really was. Then Costner was turned loose with his Aw-Shucks-I'm-just-a-gentle-caring-man-in-a-world-of-sexual-predators act. He's also a vicious killer with a conscience. Yea right. Like the stereotypes he guns down deserve a second thought. Duvall & Bening tried, but Costner's Dances-With-Dorks character is increasingly more than I can stand. This is a parody of Unforgiven pretending to merit being taken seriously. Oh Kevin Kevin, what to do with you?… Full Review »
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