Filmmaker/actor Kevin Costner has put together some directorial efforts in between all of his films over the years. In 1990, Costner made his directorial debut with the highly acclaimed epic ‘Dances with Wolves,’ which earned numerous accolades.
Later on, Costner eventually directed ‘The Postman’ (a box office dud) and a 2003 Western ‘Open Range’ (a decent hit). Now, the filmmaker/actor returns to the director’s chair in an ambitious passion project that he has been putting together for many years.
In the great radiation of some of the most iconic Westerns, ‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1’ explores the lure of the Old West and how it was on - and lost - through the blood, sweat and tears of many.
This Western film will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at a war with itself, experienced through the eyes of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.
‘An American Saga - Chapter 1’ delivers a lot of breath-taking scenery, some brutal fights and a little bit of light humor here and there.
‘Horizon’ does an outstanding job blending several stories together. The film shows the reality of what all people went through when the West was settled. It also does a superb job showing how people wanted to change their lives in America after migrating from other countries.
One plot point that can be powerful is some of the scenes that show the American Indians fighting for their land as settlers try to make a new life on their territory. There is a whole sequence that shows them attacking some new settlers, and it’s really empowering.
‘Horizon: An American Saga’ also introduces us to several characters that are involved in all of these stories. The acting from the entire cast is great, and even though a couple of these plots can be hard to follow, I’m sure they’ll be easier to follow in the next installment of this journey - ‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2.’
Overall, ‘Horizon’ is an epic Western that can be entertaining, moving and has some of the best Western scenery I have recently seen in a film. So, if you truly enjoy the Western genre, then I am certain you’ll enjoy ‘Horizon.’
Some of the cast: Kevin Costner as Hayes Ellison; Sienna Miller as Frances Kittredge; Sam Worthington as Trent Gephart; Jena Malone as “Ellen” Harvey; Owen Crow Shoe as Pionsency; Tatanka Means as Taklishim; Danny Huston as Col. Albert Houghton; Abbey Lee as Marigold; Michael Rooker as Sgt. Major Thomas Riordan and Luke Wilson as Matthew Van Weyden, among many others.
‘Horizon’ is written by Jon Baird and co-written, produced and directed by Kevin Costner.
Costner first tried to get this story made in 1988, but couldn’t get a film studio to make it. It took four attempts before the film was finally green-lit.
‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2’ is currently slated for an August release and Costner is planning this as a four part film series.
‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1’ is rated R for violence, some nudity and sexuality and has a running time of 181 minutes (3 hours 1 min).
Make sure to keep on checking my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews Facebook page to see what I plan on checking out during the upcoming summer film festival. And on the new release front - ‘Despicable Me 4,’ ‘Twisters’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
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