HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA is a promising but incomplete Old West journey

written by Tim Estiloz

Horizon: An American Saga is Kevin Costner’s ambitious return to the big screen “Old West” genre where he’s staked out an impressive claim in such films as “Dances with Wolves”, “Wyatt Earp”, “Silverado” and “Open Range” to name a few. With “Horizon”, Costner has invested both millions of his own dollars and he says, 30-years of his own time in creating this sprawling, multi-faceted story of American settlers heading westward in search of a new life on the frontier.

However, this first chapter ( of an upcoming three ) also requires quite a bit of time investment, and perhaps patience, on the part of movie audiences willing to see if Costner’s self described saga has the right stuff in an era where watching movies at home via streaming is becoming increasingly popular.

While I enjoy much of the content that streaming services are providing for home consumption; I’m somewhat forced to accept that concession as long as streamers such as Hulu, Apple TV+, Netlflix and others increasingly debut their films on the home screen.

However, I’ll forever be a “old-school” purist to enjoy a sprawling, visually impressive film on the wide screen wherever and whenever possible; and in that regard, I was willing to give Horizon a look-see in the cinema. That said, Costner’s film does have its challenges as a theatrical event with a running time of three-hours. But, for this moviegoer, I mostly enjoyed this first chapter in what should be seen not as one self-contained story; but rather the first course in a bigger cinematic storyline.

Set in 1859 and spanning the wilderness territories from Kansas to Wyoming, “Horizon” encompasses multiple groups of separate characters; embattled settlers fending off Indigenous Native American people, army cavalry soldiers aiming to protect the settlers, a seedy ramshackle town filled with prostitutes and unsavory characters and a typical covered wagon train slowly headed west.

Amid each of the situations above are various characters and narratives that easily pique the audience’s interest. However, where the film falls short to a large extent is that Costner ( as director ) has the aforementioned various narratives cross-cut one another in the film to a somewhat confusing degree. Just as we settle in to follow one story, the film abruptly cuts to another completely different situation involving the other characters, then back again. One has a difficult time becoming completely invested in the characters or their motivations, before the film resumes someplace else.

That said, within those situations are seeds of stories that merit one’s attention, however challenging as an observer. The performances by Costner and his cast which includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Giovanni Ribisi, Abby Lee, Michael Rooker, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Danny Huston, Tom Payne and more bring their A-game to the proceedings.

Costner also brings a realistic and knowledgeable craftsman’s eye to depict a relatively accurate picture of the Old West in all its picturesque majesty and its grimy, brutal violence. A gun battle is no quick and easy “one shot kill” ala’ TV’s Gunsmoke or Bonanza. Costner’s gunfight with a murderous outlaw named Caleb ( Jamie Campbell Bower ) is up close and definitely personal, requiring multiple shots at each other at almost point blank range and necessitating several shots in the gut to make sure your opponent is surely dead. It’s a death that’s ugly and visceral and definitely not easy. 

Costner’s depiction of a Native-American raid on a group of homesteading settlers is equally unsparing in its violence. The indigenous people are brutally fighting to repel those they see as invaders to their homeland. No one is spared. Conversely, brutal white opportunists kill innocent native Americans simply to obtain their scalps solely for commerce and profit.

Horizon: An American Saga indeed has its faults in this execution of its first chapter. There are those who argue it’s best designed as a TV mini-series.

I strongly disagree. Costner has created a film that is worth seeing on the big screen to fully appreciate a grand visual image of the Old West on a scale that’s become literally minimized and diminished on the home screen with other such efforts in an age of streaming. Costner plans to release “Chapter Two” of his Horizon saga mid July. Go into this film not expecting the stories contained within to be resolved completely, but rather as a prelude to an increasingly bigger, more majestic and more entertaining complete tapestry to come.   

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