KEVIN COSTNER COMES HOME WITH `RANGE'.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic `OPEN RANGE'' is a two-hour, 15-minute Western starring Kevin Costner, who also directed and produced the movie. Ten years ago, that would sound pretty good to a lot of people, but right about now, Costner's stock in Hollywood is pretty low. Not ``Gigli'' low, but low enough that Disney seems to be releasing the movie almost as an afterthought rather than the event film it would have been a year or two after ``Dances With Wolves.'' And that's unfortunate (especially for Costner), because ``Open Range'' is actually pretty good. It's a little long and more than a little corny corn·y adj. corn·i·er, corn·i·est Trite, dated, melodramatic, or mawkishly sentimental. [From corn1. , but then, it's a traditional Western, a genre whose movies (especially in retrospect) can sometimes be a little long and more than a little corny. (Have you watched a John Ford movie lately?) Seeing as we haven't had a decent Western since Clint Eastwood walked off with the Oscar for ``Unforgiven'' in 1992, watching this movie's men drive cattle through sweeping prairies of Big Sky Country, talk kindly to womenfolk wom·en·folk also wom·en·folks pl.n. 1. Women considered as a group. 2. The women of a community or family. womenfolk Noun, pl 1. women collectively 2. and seek some old-fashioned justice feels like a novel concept. And it's made more so by Costner's straight-arrow adherence to the genre's timeworn themes of freedom and honor. But just as he tweaked the relationships between cowboys and American Indians American Indians: see Americas, antiquity and prehistory of the; Natives, Middle American; Natives, North American; Natives, South American. in ``Dances With Wolves,'' Costner can't resist a little revisionism re·vi·sion·ism n. 1. Advocacy of the revision of an accepted, usually long-standing view, theory, or doctrine, especially a revision of historical events and movements. 2. in ``Open Range.'' Don't look for any strong-and-silent types in this movie. The rugged men here have more than a few words, and they're not afraid to use them as they examine themselves, their friends and enemies with an awareness that seems more in keeping with an episode of ``Sex and the City'' than it does with our ideas of 19th-century manhood. That doesn't mean all that gab isn't entertaining. Charley Waite (Costner) and Boss Spearman spear·man n. A man, especially a soldier, armed with a spear. (Robert Duvall) have been together for 10 years and, Boss admits, bicker bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. like ``an old married couple.'' As the movie leisurely opens, Charley and Boss are leading a team of cattle across the open range along with their burly bear of a buddy, Mose (Abraham Benrubi Abraham Rubin Hercules Benrubi (born October 4, 1969 in Bloomington, Indiana, USA) is an actor best known for his regular appearances as Jerry Markovic on the long-running US TV drama ER ), and a young Mexican boy (Diego Luna Diego Luna (born December 29, 1979) is a Mexican actor. Biography Early life Luna was born Diego Luna Alexander in Mexico City, the son of Fiona Alexander, a British-born costume designer,[1] and Alejandro Luna, a set designer[2] from ``Y Tu Mama Tambien''). The movie takes its time in establishing character and letting us know that these are men who strictly adhere to the Old West's code of honor. Not everyone does. The team runs into trouble when they approach a frontier town owned by a ruthless rancher, Baxter (Michael Gambon, over-the-top and then some), who doesn't cotton to free rangers. The townsfolk don't much like Baxter, but they're afraid to stand up to him because he controls the commerce - and the sheriff. So everyone keeps quiet, except a sass-mouthed stable owner (the late, great Michael Jeter, showing a fine familiarity with the work of Walter Brennan). This leads to some big speeches (Costner: ``You men, ain't you? There's things that gnaw at a man worse than dying.''), plenty of gunfights (bloodier than Hawks, tamer than Peckinpah) and, for Charley, a whole lot of grappling with the sins of his past. (Kevin: We forgive you for ``The Postman.'' Really.) The filmmakers lay the redemption stuff on a little thick, making the movie seem at times like an ``Unforgiven'' knockoff knock·off n. Informal An unauthorized copy or imitation, as of designer clothing: "the place to go for quality knockoffs" Women's Wear Daily. Noun 1. . There's also a romance between Charlie and a town nurse (Annette Bening), which is sweet but, ultimately, too protracted pro·tract tr.v. pro·tract·ed, pro·tract·ing, pro·tracts 1. To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong: disputants who needlessly protracted the negotiations. 2. . For the most part, though, ``Open Range'' works, and anyone with a hankering for an old-fashioned Western (and here's hoping that's a big crowd) will come away with their thirst slaked slake v. slaked, slak·ing, slakes v.tr. 1. To satisfy (a craving); quench: slaked her thirst. 2. . The genre doesn't rest on Boot Hill; it just takes someone with a little talent and gumption to see it in a new way. That the someone is Costner is a nice surprise in a summer full of big-budget washouts. So, support your local gunfighter, won't you? OPEN RANGE - three stars (R: violence) Starring: Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Annette Bening. Director: Kevin Costner. Running time: 2 hr. 15 min. Playing: Wide release. In a nutshell: Kevin Costner directs a Western. And it's good! Get along little doggie! CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Kevin Costner, left, and Robert Duvall come out firing in ``Open Range,'' an entertaining and articulate Western. |
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