'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1' is the start of a series of epic westerns helmed by Kevin Costner, which are projected to run from 2 to 4 parts, depending on how these early chapters do. I saw a matinee showing with about a half dozen baby boomer couples in the audience, so the appeal of this project may not be demographicly diverse; though it was the old school 'event western' aura of the project that drew me to it.
Covering the years 1859 - 1863 and set in multiple western states and territories, the film encompasses several story lines, including a wagon train, a fronter military outpost, and several small towns including the titular Horizon, a settlement struggling to establish its self in Apache territory; a high point of the film is an Indian siege on that community which may be the best such sequence I've ever seen in a western.
Clocking in at 3 hours and 1 minute, the films length and pacing may be an irritant to some viewers, but I found its willingness to take its time and develop its character's charming. I like and feel invested in a good number of them and am excited for the sequel which comes out in August. The films tones and motifs are generally conservative and conventional, but historical truths such as prejudice against Chinese people and divisions among the Indians are acknowldged and given screen time, there are positively depicted black characters as well
There are of course multiple romances in the picture, from Jena Malone and Micheal Angarano, Sam Worthington and Sienna Miller (who I've never liked more in a role) to 69 year old Kevin Costner and 37 year old Abbey Lee, I'll just leave that there without further comment.
It's a beautiful looking film, effective soundtrack, I felt most of the storylines got sufficent screen time though on occasion it did feel like there were scenes missing, for example two characters got rather close really quick, it felt like that should have been developed more. 'Horizon' isn't for all palettes, but I thought it did what it set out to do with a real steady hand and had some moments well worth seeing on a big screen. ***
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