I agree about Open Range. I usually call it the last really great western. Everything you say about it is true. I also like Annette Bening in the movie. I have read that some people felt she didn't need to be there, but her presence adds another classic western movie element. At this point I don't think there be any more great westerns. At best there will be remakes of great westerns, but the remakes will not be as good.
I really disagree with those people. The slow building love and respect between Costner and Bening subplot added much to the movie. It showed a frontier woman of strength and admiration to help overcome Costner's internal demons from his past. I don't think that was original in concept either, but the way it was done compared to the old John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara westerns where the cowboy abruptly forces a kiss, this was more believable to their characters.
Their best scene is when Costner returns to Bening and asked her to marry him. She says yes, and Costner asks if he can kiss her. Very touching scene, and in line with Costner's soft side which Bening had worked on to bring that out with her patience. I watch Open Range every time it comes on.
Spoiler alert: The gun fight was one of the best ever.
The remakes will have either an all-black cast and/or several of the leads will be gay/bi or trans.
It's requisite in Hollywood these days to get anything made.
Will Smith himself was cast as one of the leads in Wild Wild West. He had to turn down the role of Neo in the Matrix, which went to Keanu Reeves instead.