“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42)
Jesus’ words in The Sermon on the Mount seem to be the underpinning of a new western movie, The Open Range. What exactly did Jesus mean when he told us to turn the other cheek? Did he mean for us to be passive in all situations? Is retaliation (if not revenge) ever justified? These questions figure into Kevin Costner’s film about the conflict between freegrazers and ranchers in the Old West in 1882. What would Jesus have done?
Kevin Costner not only directs the movie but also plays the principal role of Charley Waite, who works for his long-term friend Boss Spearman, played by Robert Duvall. Boss and Charley are itinerant cowboys who freegraze a herd of cattle on the open range. This is to the consternation of ranchers who believe that the land belongs solely to them and who regard open range grazers as vermin who should be exterminated if necessary. Free-range grazing is legal, however, and thus the stage is set for the film’s major conflict. After the evil henchmen of a villainous local rancher kill one of Boss’s herd hands and severely wound another, Boss and Charley decide that they must face up to this evil, and they proceed to take things into their own hands. What ensues is a gunfight reminiscent of those in High Noon and Unforgiven.
On the negative side: (1) Some people who have seen this movie say it’s too slow. (though I didn’t find it so.) (2) There’s no denying that the gunfight scenes are violent (but no more so than other cinematic gunfights) and are the main reason for the film’s R rating. (3) The Lord’s name is taken in vain several times, and there are other swear words. There is absolutely no justification for this.
On the positive side: (1) This is a simple, well-told story with a refreshing absence of the special effects or gimmicks so commonly used to cover up a weak script. This script, however, is more than strong enough to carry the movie. (2) The scenery is gorgeous and among other things reminds us of the value of an uncluttered life. (3) Westerns are rare these days, making this film all the more welcome. (4) The acting is uniformly excellent. In particular, Annette Bening as the redemptive frontier woman Sue is luminous in one of her best roles ever. (5) The love story which parallels the gunfight is sweet and inspiring and in no way objectionable. (6) There’s an excellent scene where Charley Waite prays to the Lord and Boss Spearman seems to be moving toward the Lord, whom he had earlier scorned.
The issue of vengeance versus justice remains, however. In the heat of battle, when Charley Waite is ready to kill everyone on the evil rancher’s side, he is restrained by a friendly townsperson with words to the effect of, “No, son. This is justice, not vengeance. You’ve done enough.” Those are well taken words indeed, but is any retaliation consistent with scripture? Do we have the individual right to dispense justice? The jury is out on those questions, but The Open Range certainly makes us think about them.
Film Rating: R, no doubt for the gunfight violence.
My Rating: 3 stars.
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