Kevin Costner took a risk. After a bad run of critically panned
movies and nearly a decade devoid of any respectable Westerns, he
not only decided to direct and star in “Open Range” but
to do so for a summer release. Not the most welcoming time for a
thoughtful, low-budget, hold-off-on-the-action throwback to classic
filmmaking — but it was a risk worth taking.

With a cast that includes Costner, Robert Duvall and Annette
Bening, “Open Range” details a violent conflict that
arises between roaming cowboys and cattle ranchers. Costner
utilizes a subtle style and holds off on the traditional showdown,
focusing instead on the relationships between characters and
gorgeous, open scenery of Alberta, Canada.

The DVD comes in a two-disc package with the film and
Costner’s commentary in Dolby Digital or DDS sound that
perfectly accompanies the striking images of “Open
Range.” More notably, though, the second disc features an
enjoyable and informative featurette and one of the most complete
start-to-finish behind-the-scenes features available.

“The Real Open Range” is a 12-minute documentary,
narrated by Costner, that discusses the freedom of the open range,
the people who made it famous and the ranching and barbed wire that
brought an end to that roaming. Better fit for The History Channel,
the feature inspires in viewers a yearning to know more of this
rich Western history.

“Beyond the Open Range” follows Costner from the
movie’s inception to its conclusion with all the candid
Costner commentary one could want. Deleted scenes, storyboards and
a music video are also available, but the true gems leave you
wanting just a bit more than the two discs offer.

Movie: 4 stars

Picture/Sound: 4 1/2 stars

Features: 4 stars

All ratings out of 5 stars.