MOVIE REVIEW: HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA-CHAPTER 1 (R)

“Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1” is the latest epic western from Kevin Costner (who also serves as the film’s director, co-star, and co-writer) and there’s very little doubt that this endeavor is quite the ambitious gamble. It should also be noted that this is an old-fashioned, swing-for-the-fences, passion project that’s very difficult to review on its own because–in case you haven’t heard– this particular movie is but one piece of a much bigger 4-part picture. Hence the subtitle, “Chapter 1.”

In this regard, Costner (a beloved storyteller who has managed to maintain superstar status deep into his decades-spanning career thanks greatly in part to his work on Taylor Sheridan’s popular streaming series, “Yellowstone”), is asking quite a bit from his audience. That’s why I pointed out what a gamble this is for both Costner and Warner Brothers.  But then, the heart wants what the heart wants and it’s clear that Costner’s heart is all in. As for me? I’m more than willing to go along for the ride. This isn’t to say I don’t have issues with “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1,” but having seen the movie twice now, I certainly appreciate the ambition.

This sprawling, episodic, Civil War-set film delves into the lives of multiple characters as they all look to make their way through harsh times in a country divided. It’s a story of men, women, soldiers, mothers, fathers, children, life, death, history, and politics told through various points of view. Yes, that’s a pretty broad description but then, this is a pretty broad movie. 

“Horizon” features a huge ensemble (some of these actors are more familiar than others) and the extensive cast includes the likes of Costner (whose Hayes Ellison doesn’t show up until about the one hour mark of this three hour movie), Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Abbey Lee, Jena Malone, Luke Wilson, Jamie Campbell Bowler, Michael Rooker, Will Patton, Owen Crow Shoe, Danny Huston, Tatanka Means, Colin Cunningham, Hayes Costner, Michael Angarano, James Russo, Jeff Fahey, and Dale Dickey, just to name a few.

Of the sizable cast, there are a handful of notable standouts to speak of; Rooker (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”) is warm and charming as a military Sgt. looking to keep up the morale of both his soldiers and the civilians he sets out to look after. Malone (“Neon Demon,” “Stepmom”) brings real tenacity to the table as a no-nonsense firecracker of a mother/wife with a complicated past. Miller (“Layer Cake,” “American Sniper”) is elegant and lovely as a woman looking to start anew with her daughter after tragedy strikes. Etienne Kellici (“Falling,” “Ready or Not”) makes quite the impression in a small amount of screen time as a boy on the cusp of manhood desperately trying to make sense of a world he doesn’t quite understand. And Bower (“Stranger Things”) is all villainous bravado as a baddie who’s used to getting his way. Finally, a shout out to TV character actor Colin Cunningham (“Falling Skies,” “Preacher”) for making the most of his limited screen time as an understated character that I suspect we’ll see more of in “Chapter 2.”

As directed by Costner and as written by his co-writer Jon Baird, “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1” has a lot going on. Perhaps too much. The film does meander at times and there are certainly characters, relationships, and situations that leave more of an impact than others. Additionally, the film is a bit clunky with pacing at times and it probably could have stood to be tightened up a bit. At the same time, kudos to Costner and crew for mounting some impressive set pieces (the settlement attack in the first act is quite harrowing) and for striving to show the good and bad aspects of human nature on various sides.

From a technical standpoint, “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1” is really impressive. The highest of praise to DP J. Michael Muro for his spectacular cinematography, composer John Debney for his rousing score, and costume designer Lisa Lovaas for bringing an undeniable level of authenticity to the proceedings.

It’s clear that Costner has a full-blown love for the western and if you’ve seen some of his work of the past–dating back to his high energy turn in Lawrence Kasdan’s 80s gem “Silverado” — then you’re already well aware of this. With its episodic nature, this first chapter of “Horizon” certainly recalls John Ford epics like “The Searchers” and “How the West Was Won.” That said, there are many times throughout this film where one might get the impression that this entire endeavor might have worked better as a 12-part miniseries. Again, though, that may be a premature statement given that we have yet to see how this whole thing is going to play out. Perhaps I’ll hold out on my official opinion on the matter until after I bear witness to the next three chapters.

Regardless, the flipside to the miniseries argument comes in the form of the massive scope at the core of this visually sumptuous movie. The breathtaking landscapes on display (most of which was shot in the beautiful, picturesque state of Utah), make it the kind of effort worthy of seeing on the biggest screen possible. In other words, if you want to get the full epic effect, don’t wait for streaming. Go see this bad boy in a theater. Just allow me to reiterate that “Chapter 1” is more of a groundwork movie. This is to say that in terms of flow and story structure, “Chapter 1” isn’t in the same vein as something like the “Lord of the Rings” movies. While “Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers,” and “Return of the King” certainly make for one massive story, they also played as effective standalone stories. “Horizon: An American Saga- Chapter 1” requires an entirely different kind of patience. Again, though, as I’m sure is the case with many a fan, I’m willing to stick with it because this isn’t Costner’s first rodeo and quite frankly, when it comes to the old school western, the man behind the superior “Dances With Wolves” and “Open Range” tends to deliver.

On a final note, “Chapter 1” ends with a peek at “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 2” which opens in theaters on August 18th but it should be noted that this sizzle reel is oddly placed. For whatever reason, Costner and crew have placed the clip right after the final moments of “Chapter 1,” and given that there’s real no separation there, it’s somewhat confusing at first because it appears that it’s actually part of the first movie. Regardless, this “Chapter 2” reel is exciting and suggests that the next entry will be a little more up tempo. Beyond that, “Chapter 3” is expected to go into production in August and in all likelihood, it’ll drop in theaters at some point in 2025.