Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)

Horizon:-An-American-Saga-Chapter-1-(2024)
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)

The fact that a traditional, western American movie can be expected to divide opinions given today’s sentiments about such combinations probably sounds a bit juvenile. That is precisely the case for those who did not factor in the setting as they skimmed through the first reviews of “Horizon An American Saga – Chapter 1” the first episode in a series that is over two decades in the making as envisioned by Kevin Costner. It took me very little regard to rapidly shape many of the responses that ought to have been obvious as I calmly embraced several reasonable expectations about the film.

To tell the truth, traditional Westerns (unfortunately) used to be rather prominent, and now trends have shifted with the passing of time. Currently, the masses seem to prefer socially realistic or dramatic portrayals, the ‘art house’ brashness, & pretty grim but rather realistic style of horror with the occasional flick of mainstream entertainment focus. So when something or the likes of “Horizon” for example enters the melancholic wasteland, it shouldn’t be surprising when what it seems like to be an American masterpiece doesn’t appeal to everyone. And there is nothing wrong with that.

But some of the criticism towards it has been rather laughable and dishonest. For example, the term “vanity project” is associated with it by detractors. Or the accusation of nepotism because he placed his son in a small cameo. My suggestion, forget all of those aspects. To say the least, “Horizon An American Saga” is a personal project for Costner which explains a significant amount of the film’s financing coming from him, and why not nearly every frame of this epic frontier saga is breathtaking as it is huge in scale and immerses a viewer within its world intensively.

As this first chapter clearly shows, the Horizon saga isn’t your stereotypical documentary-driven stage. Kevin Costner himself has remade a story with no plot movie’ and some of them may, in fact, be hard. However having his intentions in consideration and the breadth of his brave polymorphic vision in the future, “Chapter 1” not only pumps the energy into the first chapter but also clears up the way for something breathtaking.

Don’t get it twisted. A lot of setting up takes place in “Chapter 1” and all are pointing towards the much-anticipated release of “Chapter 2” which is set for an August release in National theaters. Once again, it is a very unorthodox approach to storytelling. But it succeeds very well largely because of the emphasis Costner pays to the multiple key characters and their distinctively personal arcs. While Costner the actor may be the star of this picture, Hayes Ellison played by Costner is one amongst a multitude of characters inhabiting this portrayal of robust characters at its heart.

With “Horizon” Costner aims to present us with an exquisite picture of the American West through frontier stories given over Kansas or Wyoming, Montana to other interesting lands. Set for the screen by Costner and writer Jon Baird, the separable narratives are not only honestly interesting, but each of them possesses an extraordinary amount of drama that captures you, and for what’s to come quite simply, anticipates it.

And as much as Costner relishes the expansive geographies and the old-world Western feel of the film, it is hard to pigeonhole his cinema into such narrow parameters. This is because he does not romanticize frontier life. War and barbarism are frequent counterpoints to any plucky image of the “Old West”. And even the many that he digs into such as, but not limited to, freedom, morality, justice, sorrow, family, greed, and vengeance, are not pretty ones.

One of the most important characters is Hayes Ellison played by Costner who is Ellis Avery’s former bodyguard and is reincarnated in the new and pavilion way, as an outlaw. His love interest was played by the forever fascinating Dale Dickey who was the head of the violent Sykes family. He, a somehow complex man, together with a sex worker who has a good heart, Marigold (Abbey Lee), retreats to the mountains hoping to cut off the Sykes clan.

In the upper section of the screen where most horrible events of the film’s document were Frances Kittredge (Sienna Miller in the movie) together with her daughter Lizzy (Georgia MacPhail) who managed to escape an Apache massacre that destroyed their settlement. She’s found refuge with the US Calvary where she develops feelings for one of the soldiers Lt. Trent Gephardt (Sam Worthington). We also become acquainted with some characters belonging to a wagon train whose reluctant leader is Matthew Van Weyden (Luke Wilson). And we are introduced to a boy, in search of vengeance after the slaughter of his kin. Circumstantial evidence brings him into the circle of ruthless marauders who derive pleasure in the killing of natives for money.

An exceptional cast not only breathes real life into these accounts but they weave their personal accounts simultaneously. To be fair, it’s a lot to take in. But it is totally worth it, especially based on the impressive movie performances from the lead actors and the dependable Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, along Will Patton. Also, there is Costner’s optimistic and courageous direction that has confidence in his audience to get what he is trying to do and willingness to take the ride as well. I am very much ready. “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” is now available in the cinemas.

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