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Post by willmark on Jul 10, 2012 15:37:41 GMT -6
Got it for $4.99 on DVD and I must say is a pretty darn good Western. There are a few places where it misses the mark. Surprisingly Costner is good in his role because he is like Forest Gump's chocolate: "You never know what you are going to get" Good: Dances with Wolves, bad: Wyatt Earp.
Of course Duvall is great as Boss Spearman.
Anyone else see this movie? Could be a good basis for an adventure and obviously a great example of range wars.
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Post by bigjackbrass on Jul 13, 2012 9:43:51 GMT -6
It's an absolutely corking film, although as the basis for an adventure I think that Tombstone has the edge. What I particularly like about Open Range are moments like the business with the chocolate bar, splashing out on an absurd luxury like that at such a seemingly inappropriate moment which drives home how truly dangerous the impending situation is.
To be honest I'm a fan of neither Costner or Duvall generally, but both deserve praise for their performances in Open Range. Michael Gambon plays it a little too broadly for my taste, but it's a small criticism of a great film.
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Post by maxvale76 on Jul 13, 2012 19:26:43 GMT -6
As a big fan of Westerns and western history; "Wyatt Earp" is probably the most accurate movie in regards to the actual Wyatt Earp made yet....though, it is very dry. Earp wasn't really a hero; just a very cold fish with an iron will.
I do agree though that "Open Range" is a great film and I actually like most of Costner's movies; while not necessarily liking the man. (This is a problem I think too many people have; they see someone in an interview and think: What an idiot; and then they can't enjoy that person's films. Tom Cruise is another actor that comes to mind...I like most of his films, even though I think he's nuts)
I will say though; that if you're looking for good material for a "cinematic" or "fast paced" RPG; I'd recommend the following movies: "Tombstone"; "Outlaw Josie Wales"; "Magnificent Seven".
Just my two cents!
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Post by Finarvyn on Jul 14, 2012 6:04:38 GMT -6
As a big fan of Westerns and western history; "Wyatt Earp" is probably the most accurate movie in regards to the actual Wyatt Earp made yet.... The funny thing for me is that I felt I was watching TOMBSTONE all over again, but with different actors. Some scenes seemed to me like they had been reading lines from exactly the same script.  I'm sure it wasn't as bad as my impression. Just so much deja vu... |
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Post by willmark on Jul 15, 2012 7:30:37 GMT -6
I should further clarify. I have no issues with Costner per say (I rarely care enough about actors views). Tombstone is indeed awesome for a western.
Open range is a great tale because it uses the economic aspect of the old west to the tale: I.e. open range vs closed. There are few that focus on that which was as important a factor as gold silver mining in the economy of the west.
I like Wyatt Earp the movie it just runs way to long. And in his own way Quaids Doc Holliday is just as menacing as Kilmer to me.
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Post by willmark on Jul 15, 2012 10:23:40 GMT -6
I should add that on my re-watch list is the Searchers and Two Mules for Sister Sarah.
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Post by simonw on Jul 15, 2012 15:35:01 GMT -6
Appaloosa is a cool movie along similar lines (Viggo Mortensen & Ed Harris as lawmen and Jeremy Irons as the bad rancher).
The books it was based on (by Robert B Parker) are a great read too.
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Post by bigjackbrass on Jul 16, 2012 9:33:03 GMT -6
Open range is a great tale because it uses the economic aspect of the old west to the tale: I.e. open range vs closed. I wonder if this would fall foul of many people's issues with historical/semi-historical RPGs, the notion that you can't change history? There's an inevitability to the end of the range; indeed, the film plays strongly on that sense of the world changing and Costner and Duvall's characters finding it hard to adapt and move with it. Sadly, I've met too many people who won't explore the wonderful possibilities for depth in situations like that because they can't see beyond the fact that the world did change, so anything their character may do feels futile to them. I've even known someone who dismissed Call of Cthulhu because World War II was going to happen eventually and he didn't like the idea of his character being unable to change it. My observation that the chances of a 1920s CoC character still being alive and functional in 1939 were somewhat remote was not met graciously  |
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Post by willmark on Jul 16, 2012 10:44:48 GMT -6
Quite possible.
One area I think that is lacking in the RPG world is a traditional western. Most of the popular ones (Deadlands) and (Aces & eights) are more akin to weird west, or AD&D in the old west.
I think the beauty of a system is in the way that Gary described the placement of Promise City in Boot Hill as "somewhere in the southeast US". Once you make it that generic anything is possible.
Where I think folks get tripped up is realizing that it's interactions with other humans that drive the stories in the old west, rather then humans in "funny suits".
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Post by simrion on Oct 2, 2012 14:38:00 GMT -6
AMC's Hell on Wheels could be another source of enjoyable western adventure.
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Post by thorswulf on Oct 2, 2012 21:45:10 GMT -6
My favorite scene in Open Range is the flash flood running through the middle of town. That's a historical bit that just oozes authenticity for me. The mayhem weather could wreck on a town in the frontier is so often an element that is ignored other than an occasional blizzard.
For a different kind of western try BBC America's Copper. It is set in New York City during 1863/4 and deals with the darker side of the city ala the Gangs of New York. Good gritty stuff and a nice reminder that even the "civilized" east was pretty wild too.
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zeraser
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 184
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Post by zeraser on Oct 4, 2012 10:21:23 GMT -6
I always thought The Wild Bunch could be an exemplary movie for a Western RPG aligned with the grimier end of the old-school affect: Bunch of guys ride around, get into trouble, and eventually raid an enemy fortress. Plus you get to listen to the late great Ernest Borgnine chew mad scenery. For a different flavor but just as much fun, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a classic.
I'm sure someone's beaten me to the punch on this one, but I think it would be cool to do a Boot Hill (or suitable clone) supplement that covers the Australian outback. The Proposition would be a good starting point, with lots of strongly drawn characters (and great performances by Huston, Winstone, Pearce, Hurt, etc.). Somebody should also do a supplement about gauchos on the pampas, but I don't know of a good gaucho movie.
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Post by thorswulf on Oct 4, 2012 17:12:15 GMT -6
Try "The Gaucho" starring Douglas Fairbanks! It's a silent movie, but it's a classic of cinema. I found it at my local library. It's one of those newly restored/TCM type movies. The DVD also had some shorts that were early (pre prohibition) dope movies starring Fairbanks too. Man I had no idea such stuff existed.
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zeraser
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 184
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Post by zeraser on Oct 5, 2012 7:03:39 GMT -6
Thanks for the recommendation!
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