Author Topic: "Open Range"  (Read 5641 times)

Offline PJ Hardtack

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"Open Range"
« on: March 12, 2018, 01:45:16 PM »
After catching it on TV recently, I have upped "Open Range" to near the top of my all-time favourite western movies. I missed it in the theatres.

What appeals to me is the dark side of Costner's character 'Will' which defined his attitude towards injustice and power trippers. He knew that the best way of dealing with them was direct confrontation, not negotiation. He was adept at judging men's character and their willingness to fight.
He also believed in the dictum - "Never leave an enemy alive" saying - "I don't want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life."

His character was neatly balanced by the quiet reason of 'Boss' (Duval) who kept him from going back into the dark side from which he might not return. Duval epitomizes the taciturn, no nonsense Cowboy who puts honour ahead of profit.

Bening as the love interest was perfect. Not a glamour puss, but enduring, courageous; the perfect western heroine.

The final gun fight was one of the best. Real BP gunsmoke! A real CAS type shoot out with rifle, pistol and shotgun. Not a whole lot of aiming, but a lot of instinctive point shooting you'd expect from people who lived with their guns.
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Offline Jake C

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2018, 02:27:32 PM »
It's a great one. When my only complaint about a film is "I wish they had kept the scene of Costner switching out his empty six-guns for loaded ones," then they did a fine job. Everything else was about as good as could be, in my opinion.
Win with ability, not with numbers.- Alexander Suvorov, Russian Field Marshal, 1729-1800

Online Johnny McCrae

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2018, 04:27:00 PM »
Great movie! It's one of my favorites.
You need to learn to like all the little everday things like a sip of good whiskey, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk,  and a feisty old gentleman like myself

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #3 on: Today at 02:16:37 PM »

Offline PJ Hardtack

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2018, 06:09:29 PM »
A minor gripe might be the impact of the 12 bore SxS, tumbling people like wind blown sage brush.

One of my take aways was the calm of accepting the likelihood of one's own death and being OK with it. That makes you unbeatable as you have nothing to lose.
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to others and I require the same from them."  John Wayne

Offline Abilene

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2018, 08:52:58 PM »
PJ, the reason you missed it in the theaters is that it was made for TV  :)

Offline Major 2

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2018, 09:09:21 PM »
PJ, the reason you missed it in the theaters is that it was made for TV  :)

No Sir,  it was Feature Film premiered
USA
11 August 2003

Open in theatres in the USA
15 August 2003
and Canada
15 August 2003

Budget:$22,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend USA: $14,047,781, 17 August 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA earnings : $58,331,254
Cumulative Worldwide Gross: $68,613,992

In todays Movie Money , it was not a great investment  :(






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Offline Abilene

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2018, 11:02:46 PM »
Oops, my bad!  I had thought it was a TNT production like Crossfire Trail, or AMC's Broken Trail.

Offline PJ Hardtack

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2018, 11:55:59 AM »
Showstagoya that a great movie isn't always a box office success.

But look at some of the duds that were, like some of the recent "Star Wars" flicks.

"Casablanca" was a low budget offering and everyone loved it. It has become a much loved classic.

Some just resonate with you on a level that cannot be explained or interpreted rationally.
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to others and I require the same from them."  John Wayne

Offline Daniel Dodge

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2018, 10:28:59 AM »
It's been my absolute favorite since I saw in the theater when it came out. I can't think of a better set of characters and a better running gunfight.

DD

Offline PJ Hardtack

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2018, 03:22:09 PM »
I think I'd like a collection of all the westerns with Robert Duval.

If I had to give a reason, it would be - "He'd be a good man to ride the river with."

He'd have my back and keep me from being my worst enemy. I tend to be good at that .....
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to others and I require the same from them."  John Wayne

Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2018, 03:48:06 PM »
I think I'd like a collection of all the westerns with Robert Duval.

That's interesting.  Let's see, I have "Lawman", "True Grit", "Lonesome Dove", "Open Range", "Broken Trail"...  Without checking IMDB, I wonder which ones I'm missing.

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Offline Major 2

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2018, 04:27:44 PM »
If just westerns then add

" God & Generals " ( not a western,  but its the right period ! )
" Geronimo: An American Legend "
"The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid"

and just for fun add " Secondhand Lions " 
when planets align...do the deal !

Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #12 on: March 16, 2018, 05:06:46 PM »
That's right, I have "Geronimo" too.  I've seen the others, but don't own them.

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Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2018, 10:32:59 PM »
Open Range is a classic.  It has the best western gunfight.  They used real live black powder loads to dub in the sound over the blanks.  NICE touch!

One of my favorite, and in fact in my top five (in no particular order).

Lonesome Dove (original)
Unforgiven
Open Range
Broken trail
Cohnagher/Quick and the Dead (Sam Elliot flicks a tie)

Honorable mention:

Monte walsh
Last Stand at Sabre River
Crossfire Trail



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Offline Doug.38PR

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2019, 11:42:44 PM »
My only complaint is with the trailer.  It spoiled the whole movie.  But the movie itself was great.

Costner has made a good comeback as a serious actor(better actually than his sillier early career in the 80s and 90s).  Open Range, Hatfields & McCoys and The Highwaymen (came out on Netlfix a few weeks ago.  He plays Ranger Frank Hamer) are all great

Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #15 on: April 23, 2019, 09:57:42 AM »
Abilene, You were probably thinking about Broken Trail, which was a 2006 made for TV with Robert Duvall.
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Offline Buffalo Creek Law Dog

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #16 on: April 24, 2019, 08:41:51 AM »
One of our club members worked on the movie Open Range as the gun guy and he and I were chatting one night after a shoot
 and he said that he was asked by Costner if he could make blue gun smoke.  He said Costner had read a western novel where, "Blue gun smoke drifted across the room."  He thought it would look neat on film.  So, Gun Guy (that's also his cowboy shooting alias) tried everything but could not produce blue coloured gun smoke. He went and told his boss that he couldn't do it.  His boss said, "Well, you are going to have to tell Kevin.   He said Kevin was quite nice about it and thanked him for trying.

He was later pulled off that movie to go and work with the remake of High Noon with Tom Skerritt, which was filmed on the same location as the town in Lonesome Dove, The Series.
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Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: "Open Range"
« Reply #17 on: April 24, 2019, 09:37:14 AM »
Interesting story.  Thanks.

I, for one, am glad that he couldn't make blue gun smoke.

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