Kim Amendt

In my humble opinion, it’s better than Dances with Wolves. Absolutely brilliant scene composition right from the start. Robert Duval getting top billing in a Costner production is not only generous but apropos, since Duvall’s performance is, for want of a better word, awesome. Great screenplay, brilliant cinematography, wonderful characters, and a romance that can’t help but make grown men cry. Bravo to Annette Bening for bringing her love starved character to life. I’ve seen Open Range 3 times, first at the Movies when it debuted, and twice on my home big screen, about 2 years apart. If you only saw this one at the cinema, you are in for a treat because the streaming version is the extended cut. This is not only of Costner very best, but also one of the best westerns, ever.

Well done visuals equally portraying the horror of war and the tragedy of our 20 years of futility that was Afghanistan. Guy Ritchie’s hand is evident throughout, but if he’d paid as much attention to the screenplay as he did to the camera work, he would have had something that appeals to more than just the male audience. A plus for effort and for telling a story too many don’t know. I hope The Covenant inspires others to tell it better, and tell it again and again. It’s the absolute least we can do for all those loyal and brave Afghanis who we screwed over so thoroughly.