10 Criminally Underrated Westerns You Must See Before You Die
3. Open Range
Kevin Costner may have developed a reputation for being something of a bland leading man, but Open Range - his overlooked 2003 Western starring Robert Duvall and Michael Gambon - goes a long way in providing a compelling counterargument as to why that isn't the case.
Set in the years following the American Civil War, Open Range follows Costner and Duvall - two open range cattlemen - as they become targeted by a ruthless land baron, played venomously by Michael Gambon. The ensuing 140 minutes are fantastic, with Costner and Duvall striking up a great rapport, all the while Gambon's villain attempts to make their life a living hell.
Given Open Range's initial success, it's a wonder that it isn't held alongside the likes of 3:10 to Yuma, The Assassination of Jesse James, and 2010's True Great as genuinely brilliant modern Western. It's beautifully shot, visceral, but is permeated by a distinct romanticism for the Old West. The resulting product isn't one so much at odds with itself, but rather one that takes a new approach to the genre and reappraises it in a uniquely compelling manner.
Oh, and it has one of the best shootouts in movie history - so there's that too.