A modern western with classic sensibilities, Open Range is an exceptional cowboy movie that sees Kevin Costner returning to the directing form that earned Dances With Wolves 7 Oscars – including best picture and director. Open Range is reminiscent of Wolves in the sense that Costner is not afraid to take as much time as necessary to develop his characters and he allows the story to unfold in its own time. And, his wonderful eye for breathtaking landscapes is evident in frame after frame of Open Range with breathtaking long shots of sweeping valleys and rolling hills painting a picture of a land uncluttered by progress.

       Charley Waite (Costner) and Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) are free-graze cattle ranchers, moving their herd from place to place. Conflict erupts when they happen near a small town run by greedy rancher Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon) and his hip-pocket sheriff, Poole (James Russo). Baxter doesn't look too kindly on the practice of free-grazing and sends a band of cronies out to either take the herd or scatter them to the wind. This action sets off a chain of events that will have Waite and Spearman seeking retribution in an OK Corral-style gun battle that will either make them heroes or dead.

       As I mentioned previously, Costner takes time to develop his characters and we become deeply invested in wanting to see them survive the final showdown. Costner's Charley is a man more complex than the surface would suggest, a man deeply troubled by his past. Robert Duvall delivers a subtle, but studied, performance as the tough and seasoned cowpoke ready to defend his life and livelihood. Annette Bening plays against type as the sister of the town doctor, who becomes smitten with Charley and gives him a reason to give up his wandering ways. The film also features a nice little supporting performance from the late Michael Jeter as the stable owner who becomes an important ally.

       After stumbling with the horrible The Postman, Open Range delivers proof positive that Costner's Oscar was no fluke when working with the right material. Costner's Old West is authentic, from the dialogue to the sets and costuming that appears to be right out of the pages of True West. The final gun battle is staged in a way that will have you either sitting on the edge of your seat or ducking for cover.

       The DVD is offered in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and a choice of DTS 5.1 surround or 5.1 Dolby Digital. A posse of extras include a fantastic director's journal entitled 'Beyond Open Range' which pretty much covers the entire process of making the film – right down to the premiere, 'America's Open Range' which offers a brief look at the history of the American west, commentary from Costner, deleted scenes with optional commentary, a brief look at the story-boarding for the film, and a music video.

Open Range, with its gritty depictions of the uncertainty of frontier life, is an instant classic and a fine return to form for Costner as a director to be reckoned with.