HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA - CHAPTER 1 Movie Review | Kevin Costner

Saddle up and join us for a review of "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1." We're catching up with the first part of Kevin Costner's sprawling, four-part epic set in the American West during the Civil War. Our dear friend Tim Grierson from Screen International steps in to share his thoughts, and is a bit more positive on this movie than Christy is. Costner co-stars and directs from a script he co-wrote with Jon Baird. Also starring Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Luke Wilson, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Jamie Campbell Bower, Danny Huston, Michael Rooker and Georgia MacPhail. In theaters now. We'll review Chapter 2 whenever it comes out.
#horizon #kevincostner #jamiecampbellbower

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[WaitingtoHit]

Thanks for raising public awareness of this obscure indie filmmaker. I'm sure he did the best he could with the limited resources at his disposal.

[ruthafritap]

I really LOVED this movie! Saw it twice. The 2nd viewing was so much better. It felt like I had my third eye opened. So many details, parallels, blockings popped up. This is the kind of slow cinema that would attract the best & worst of people.

Those who loved it can recognize it as a pure labor of love & admire Costner’s dedication in the kind of filmmaking that’s rarely seen nowadays.

Costner’s cinematography looks like it was inspired by Frederic Remington paintings. So beautiful.

Those who can’t appreciate slow cinema will hate it & gaslight those who loved for appreciating anything in it. It’s just the way it is.

But one thing for sure, this movie will be a classic!

[RenePeraza]

Waaay (as in horse's neigh) over two months later, finally saw Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 (em dash here)! As it's 3 hours long, I sat down thinking I'd do an hour a night but watched through the whole thing uninterrupted! I frankly didn't want it to end! It's beautifully done with heart! I want my Chapter Two NOW!

[AhBeeDoi]

I like Horizon part 1 and look forward to seeing part 2. It's a well made western that has a Lonesome Dove vibe.

[MarcosIsABaritone]

You guys made 30k+ subscribers! Congratulations! Y'all deserve many, many more.

[thisisevan]

I think literally everyone who saw this film came out with the same reaction. "This should have been a miniseries."

I don't know that I was ever bored, there are some really good action sequences in the movie, but because so much of the film is setup and exposition, and it never builds to a self-contained "Chapter 1 Climax, " that it felt lacking and unsatisfying considering its run time.

And the way the montage trailer for Chapter 2 / sizzle reel was awkwardly shoe-horned in at the end, it only emphasized "THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MINISERIES!"

Considering how badly Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 flopped at the box office, there's only going to be maybe half the audience returning for Chapter 2, which is going to make it nearly impossible to justify making another two in this series.

UPDATE: Chapter 2 won't make it into the theaters after all. Eventually will debut on MAX, where a total of 892 people will watch it in 1-hour chunks.

[rosemarymartel]

Give it a chance Drama is coming i love his long movies It's a background first to explain the history Kevin Costner is very very interesting & his movies are long and I love that he has longer movies than no other, because you are getting all information first for the set up for the future Movie/ part 1, 2, 3, 4, maybe more Kevin Costner is telling a long story that needs to be said I don't know him, would love to meet Him, Kevin Costner Thats not going to happen That would be a wish to come true ! LOL !! Follow the actor since I was twenty and that was robin hood Fell in love bottom line, give him a chance. Let him do his brilliant work because he is making his dream come true😊 he's building up the suspense, which is brilliant!!! Can't wait to see the movies, confident they will be brilliant

[jasoncraig]

I went to see Part 1 expecting it to be bad based on this review. I was very surprised and it was quite good. Perhaps this movie is just too complex for Christy to understand and follow. Do movies need to be dumbed down these days for people to enjoy them? I am thinking you guys should stick to Minions type reviews.

[alicerandall]

People who watch this movie has to be smart enough to know what's going on with the story line. I love Kevin Costner's movie skills.💕💕💕💕

[oldcdog]

I saw it and didn’t love all of the editing choices or the timing of the story jumps, but the acting and writing made go back to the theater and watch it a second time.

You’re definitely asked to infer a lot about the characters because the film seems to explore archetypes of the old west more than delving too deeply into the individuals. But everyone is bringing their A-game to breathe life into the archetypes they represent.

I’m excited for the future chapters and was a little bummed to hear that the release of chapter 2 is being delayed, although I understand the reasoning. I hope it gets more eyes on it because I believe it’s going to be an epic project.

[christopherfarley]

I Love this Movie too, despite what Christy thinks.

[cutterhale]

I really enjoyed the first part I’m looking forward to the second part

[Pswayze]

Dont listen to christie, this movie has heart.

[adamw]

Actually thought this had one of Luke Wilson's best parts as the trail boss. Unfortunately his voice is distinct so people give him shit about always playing Luke Wilson and not having range. I also think Costner was not just helping Lee's character as a means to an end. I think he wants to be tough but realized she was trying to protect herself and the baby. He knew he was obligated to help her. I think he's tough but a genuinely good man! Also in addition to Lee I'm really hoping Jena Malone's character's fate was a bait and switch and well see her again in the next film at least in flashback. She's such a talented actress now in her thirties not that she wasn't as a kid. Also thought, I think making her debut Ella Hunt was great, the other Brit actress then Lee, oh and Miller of course. But so great to see Isabella Thurman get such a great role as one of the trail boss women, like Malone been watching her since she was a kid starting with Orphan playing a crazy Eastern European thirty five year old at the real age of twelve. Can't wait to see her get older and just better in this series. I also can't wait to se Part 2 in August and despite the soft box office results I could care less that! I think Costner is making a new classic!

[langleymneely]

Sweet baby Gebus, the look on Christys face speaks volumes!! Lmao

[Locusto]

I understand this is Costern’s saga, and he wants it on the big screen, but as Christy mentioned it certainly seems like it would work better as a 10-12 episode series.

[LukeLovesRose]

I am looking forward to this saga. I love Kevin Costners Westerns

[SoulStylistJukeBox]

I really liked this film. It’s a shame that so many are cheering its financial failure. I appreciate Tim being here to prevent this review turning into a predictable Costner hate-fest.

[jeze]

I watched this in theatres and I can understand the frustration, but the montage at the end sets up for a bigger movie in Chapter 2. As far as the "Yellowstone" is concerned, I get much more "1883" vibes when it comes to the scale and scenery.

[joshknoll]

I might be in the minority, but I really, really liked this movie. I was so enthralled with the various storylines which I found very easy to follow. I was never bored for the entire three hour run. While I might have not remembered every characters' name, I knew which storyline they belonged to. I thought it was beautiful to look at thanks to the scenery and period detail, wonderful to listen to thanks to the musical score, and just interesting. I am so looking forward to Part 2 in August. Again, I'm probably in the minority.