Open Range (2003)

Information From IMDb

Plot Summary
Boss Spearman, Charley Waite, Mose Harrison and Button freegraze their cattle across the vast prairies of the West, sharing a friendship forged by a steadfast code of honor and living a life unencumbered by civilization. When their wayward herd forces them near the small town of Harmonville, the cowboys encounter a corrupt sheriff and kingpin rancher who govern the territory through fear, tyranny and violence. Boss and Charley find themselves inextricably drawn towards an inevitable showdown, as they are forced to defend the freedom and values of a lifestyle that is all too quickly vanishing. Amidst the turmoil, life suddenly takes an unexpected turn for the loner Charley when he meets the beautiful and warm spirited Sue Barlow, a woman who embraces both his heart and his soul.
Written by Sujit R. Varma

Cast
Robert Duvall ... Boss Spearman
Kevin Costner ... Charley Waite
Annette Bening ... Sue Barlow
Michael Gambon ... Denton Baxter
Michael Jeter ... Percy
Diego Luna ... Button
James Russo ... Sheriff Poole
Abraham Benrubi ... Mose
Dean McDermott ... Doc Barlow
Kim Coates ... Butler
Herb Kohler ... Cafe Man
Peter MacNeill ... Mack
Cliff Saunders ... Ralph
Patricia Stutz ... Ralph's Wife (as Pat Stutz)
Julian Richings ... Wylie
Ian Tracey ... Tom
Rod Wilson ... Gus
Diego Diablo Del Mar ... Ballester (as Diego Del Mar)
Patricia Benedict ... Cafe Woman
Tim Koetting ... Bartender Bill
Tom Carey ... Ray
Kurtis Sanheim ... Cory
Billy Morton ... Junior
Alex Zahara ... Chet
Chad Camilleri ... Ace
Greg Schlosser ... Pete
Guy Bews ... Roy
Lorette Clow ... Mack's Wife
Alexis Cerkiewicz ... Mack's Daughter

Writing credits
(WGA)
Lauran Paine (novel "The Open Range Men")
Craig Storper (screenplay)

ALSO Produced by
Armyan Bernstein .... executive producer
Jake Eberts .... producer
Craig Storper .... executive producer
David Valdes .... producer

Original Music
Michael Kamen

Cinematography
J. Michael Muro

Trivia
* Producers Kevin Costner, Jake Eberts and 'David Valdes' put up almost half of the budget from their own money.

* Tig was not only the name of the dog in the movie, but also the name of the film's production company. Tig was also the name of Kevin Costner’s Grandmother.

* Kevin Costner turned down Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) to do this movie

* When we first see Denton Baxter in the sheriff's office, there is a wanted poster over his left shoulder with the name of Lloyd Buckley. Gae S. Buckley is the production designer for this film.

* Kevin Costner spent most of time filming this movie with a burst appendix.

* Composer Michael Kamen replaced a score by Basil Poledouris.

* The rifle that Charley uses in the shootout is an 1873 Winchester sporting rifle.

* Originally the studio had Kevin Costner top-billed over 'Robert Duvall (I)', but Costner asked the studio to top-bill Duvall instead.

Goofs

* Factual errors: Charlie fires 16-17 rapid fires shots from one single-action, six-shot revolver - without reloading. In fact, during the first volley, he fires four random shots and then actually "fans" the revolver and fires ten additional shots into a bad-guy gunslinger in less than seven seconds, without changing weapons or re-loading. And then fires a few more rounds at still standing gun-men.

* Continuity: When Boss and Charley ride into the town for the first time, the front view shows another carriage directly behind them. In the next shot from the rear, the carriage disappears.

* Continuity: Boss and Charley refer to the dog Tig as "she" in early scenes, but Charley calls Tig "he" when burying the dog with Mose.

* Continuity: In the last standoff between the town and Denton Baxter's men, Baxter's revolver is not loaded, and then it is. However, just before the last shoot out, it is not loaded again.

* Continuity: Near the beginning of the movie, the horse herd strayed during a heavy rain, and is found the next day standing in a crystal clear stream. Following such a rainstorm, the stream would have been muddy.

* Anachronisms: A scene showing a trail with a horse and wagon shows wear marks on the ground which were made by a vehicle. The grass in the centre of the track would also have worn from horse traffic in pre-motorized vehicles times.

* Anachronisms: The loose horses in the Remuda are wearing modern English leather halters with brass fittings when they are driven into camp.

* Continuity: When Boss and Charlie take over the jail house, they close the window shade. Later, once they've fallen asleep, the window shade is open.

* Continuity: In a scene where Boss and Charley are on the range in front of a river with a high bank on the other side in the background, first there are cattle on the bank behind them, then the cattle aren't there, then they are there, etc.

* Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): There are numerous spelling errors on the note Boss and Charlie leave on the door for Baxter, though possibly deliberate to show their lack of a formal education.

* Continuity: When Charlie drops the plank onto the sidewalk step to cross the flooded street it lands on the far right side of the step. When Boss crosses over and steps onto the step, the plank is on the far left side of the step.

* Continuity: After the initial gunfight when Boss and Percy are trying to stop Charley from shooting the injured bad guy, Percy is holding his rifle with one hand. When he steps beside Boss to stop Charley, and the camera angle changes, he is holding it in both hands.

* Continuity: When Boss and Charlie are crossing the flooded street during the rainstorm, a wood-framed building is undermined and begins to collapse. After Charley crosses the street the building can be seen intact in the background.

* Continuity: In the restaurant scene where the Marshall confronts Boss and Charlie, Charlie's sidearm is covered then uncovered at different times by his coat as the camera jumps back and forth.

* Continuity: After the final gunfight, where they pick up Button, a wagon is driven into the scene. The wagon driver is seen using a handbrake to stop the wagon. In the next shot there is no handbrake lever on the wagon.

* Anachronisms: Before the final gunfight, Boss and Charley are in the general store. Boss asks to buy some candy, and the shopkeeper offers him several varieties, including "Ju-Ju Bees." This candy didn't exist in 1882, and wasn't offered until 1920 by the Henry Heide Candy Company.

Filming locations

Alberta, Canada
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Longview, Alberta, Canada
Morley, Alberta, Canada
Stoney Indian Reservation, Alberta, Canada

Open Range is a 2003 Western film directed and co-produced by Kevin Costner.
Starring Robert Duvall and Costner, with Annette Bening
and Michael Gambon appearing in supporting roles.
The film was the final on-screen appearance of Michael Jeter,
who died before it was released, and the film was dedicated to Jeter's memory,
and to that of Costner's parents, Bill and Sharon.

The film was a box office success, and was critically favored.

Directed, Produced and Starring Kevin Costner, I have had requests
to include this movie, and now Todd can sleep easy at nights!!
A beautifully filmed and directed film, about the range wars,
and located in Montana, although filmed entirely in Canada!

Kevin Costner was top billing, but insisted
that position should go to Robert Duvall as Boss Spearman.
They both played great credible parts,
and were well supported by
Annette Bening as Sue Barlow and
Michael Gambon as Denton Baxter.
It is thought, that this, most recent of epic westerns
deserves to recognised as a modern classic western

[extendedmedia]

Watched this again, an I am still think this is a great movie.
A truly modern western classic.

Duvall & Costner had great interaction,
and Gambon, menacing as the bad guy.

With the addition of a fine performance
from Annette Bening, which made for a credible love story.
This film was perfectly acted and directed.

Add the moving score by Michael Kamen,
and you have a classic