A Western thriller is hailed by fans as one of the most underrated “of all time” and is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Open Range (2003) is set in Montana in the 1880s and opens with former Union soldier turned cattle rancher “Boss” Spearman (Robert Duvall) leading a herd cross country with hired hands Charley Waite (Kevin Costner), Mose (Abraham Benrubi), and Button (Diego Luna).
But their attempts to lead a quiet life and move on from their violent pasts are upended when one Mose fails to return after heading to a village to pick up supplies. The film was written by Craig Storper and based on the 1990 Ralph Kimball novel The Open Range Men. Costner directed and co-produced it. Annette Bening and Michael Gambon also star in a cast packed with big names.
One Audience Reviewer called it the “best western film I have ever seen”. “Great story and good acting,” they continued.
“A true western masterpiece. Powerful, riveting, and plenty of impressive western action.”
Another said is the “most underrated Western of all time”, adding: “One of the best shootout scenes ever.”
A third said: “A bit of an underrated gem for western fans and a small comeback for Costner.
“This is another old fashioned look at the western frontier that is beautifully shot and well acted, with a stand out performance from Duvall. One of the best westerns made in the 00’s and deserves a re-evaluation.”
Some suggested the film, which has a run time of two hours and 18 minutes, was “too long”.
Though even some who agreed suggested the payoff was worth it, with one saying said it takes “forever to get to the finale but when it does…”.
The film has an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, which reflects the percentage of users who rated it 3.5 stars or higher.
Meanwhile, on its Tomatometer, showing the percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given it a positive review, it has a 79% score.
Open Range is streaming free of charge on Channel 4 now.
