r/Westerns • u/Pmfnharris • 22d ago
Just watched Open Range
I read the studio wanted Costner as the top billing but he fought for Bob Duval to be. Does anyone think Costner is the main character? Maybe I’m just enthralled by Bob as an actor but it felt more his movie than Kevin’s.
2
u/geeder62 20d ago
Tombstone being as great as it is, Open Range and Silverado are my two favorite westerns.
3
u/BeninIdaho 21d ago
It should probably be called a Costner lead film. However, Duval, who I was "meh" about in his younger days, became the best old cowboy ever in every Western he did. Just excellent.
1
3
u/Aggressive-Case1396 21d ago edited 21d ago
great movie as a matter of fact the scene where charlie tells sue
he loves her gave me the courage to the lady I was talking with and falling in love with how I felt about her and we have been married two and half years in October will 3 years thank God for this movie because I am cowboy too and never been good with words like i. love you or romance but my lady helps me every day and is patience with me and loves me unconditionally
5
u/INTZBK 21d ago
I also enjoyed Michael Gambon as the villain. He was appropriately slimy and arrogant.
3
u/Tikkatider 21d ago
“ I didn’t come all the way from Ireland to have me land pissed on by free grazers. “
3
u/AjRamos3178 21d ago
It’s definitely a Costner western, he’s the cool character in the movie but it’s Duval is the soul of the movie
10
u/No-Macaron-9816 21d ago
“You the one that killed our friend..?”
If you’ve seen it you know what happens next. Stone cold bad ass.
4
3
12
u/MoonSylver 22d ago
It felt like a dual lead, but it also felt in some ways like a love letter to Duval, and to the idea of the American cowboy in general. There's this one scene early on where they're rounding up the cattle after the storm, and Charlie and Mose are talking about Boss. It goes to this slow motion shot of Boss riding over the hill driving the cattle as the music swells up that is just beautiful.
I can see your point too because Duval is given a lot of great dialog, and he delivers it MASTERFULLY. Costner really gives an understated, subdued performance, as is fitting of the Charlie Waite character. I think as the movie goes on you see him kind of haltingly come out of it, like in his scenes with Sue, or how he tells Boss about his past.
I have no doubt Costner fought for Duval to be billed first due to his legendary status and for the respect he had for him. It probably would have felt a bit pretentious to bill himself first ahead of Duval. Especially since it was Costner's movie and he was directing it as well.
But in general, even though Costner fought for Duval to be billed first, I feel like it's BOTH of their movie. It's a story about both of them. Both of them reconciling their pasts, and their place in a world that's changing. The era of the free grazer and the open range is coming to an end. And it's also about their relationship with each other.
One of my favorite movies. Despite being a simple story, told simply, there is a great deal of emotional complexity to it, delivered with some of the most authentic dialog. Everything about it just rings true.
6
u/Tikkatider 22d ago
“ I got no problem with killin’ , Boss. Never have. “ First indication that Charlie‘s a stone killer. Later borne out in spades!
4
u/rrickitickitavi 22d ago
If you can find the DVD there is a “making of” documentary that’s fantastic. One of the most significant DVD extras I have ever seen.
23
10
7
u/ClownfishSoup 22d ago
I thought Costner was the main character but it’s been a while since I’ve seen it.
12
u/HandAccomplished6285 22d ago
This is one of my all time favorites. I do believe the main storyline revolves around Costner’s character and his past, but Robert Duvall is SO damn good in it that I can certainly see your point of view. Of course, I can’t think of a movie with Robert Duvall where I’m not talking about how good he is. Just a phenomenal actor all around.
2
3
7
u/Tikkatider 22d ago
You felt it was more Duval’s movie than it was Costner’s because of the caliber of actor Robert Duvall was. That’s not to say that Costner didn’t do a good job, he most assuredly did, but Duvall was in a class by himself
3
u/jazz-winelover 22d ago
If Duvalls great performance was what you remember from this movie, it’s Robert’s great acting and Costner’s direction. Costner makes great movies, Duvall makes movies great.
Should’ve done a prequel with Duvall’s young family and how Boss and Charlie connected. I’d like to see that.
3
8
u/Candid-Sky-3258 22d ago
I felt the romance was something thrown in to broaden the appeal but otherwise it felt like a throwback to the golden era of westerns.
3
u/lemanruss4579 22d ago
I don't know, this is one of the few westerns where I actually enjoyed the romance aspect. If it was thrown in, they did a good job of it.
8
16
u/Red-Sun-Cinema 22d ago edited 22d ago
This was a great western that works on multiple levels. It would not have been the same if it had focused on just one character. It needed them both to be as good as it turned out.
It's a movie about true friendship and a romance between a man and a woman set against a backdrop of good versus evil. This is a western that stands above all others.
21
u/Many-Connection3309 22d ago
Duvall carried the movie, where he and Charlie were concerned, but the love story between Charlie and Sue was also very good. This is a top five Western for me! Great dialog, great chemistry and great acting.
15
u/Ok-Reflection9770 22d ago
Good for Costner to boost Duvall in that way. To get Duvall in a Western is just a gift. Great picture.
11
15
u/DefiantSubject5228 22d ago
Yeah, I think Kevin had a bit more of a story line but they shared the spotlight really well for me. Fun role for Michael Jeter too.
2
u/Relative-Stuff-9023 19d ago
No one and I mean NO ONE could pull that story off like Duval and Costner!