I saw it today. I didn’t have a problem with the pacing. It was a fast three hours. But it was a weird experience watching it. There were a few times I was like “wait..what?” during the movie. The end was especially confounding and odd to me. But I did like it and hope the second movie will redeem the first movie as it as set the plate.
Ignore the critics – Kevin Costner’s three-hour western is a must-watch
- Thread starter NorthernHawkeye
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I thought it was solid.
Liked the montage at the end as a lead in/connection to part 2.
Some really good scenes.
Everyone needs to go into this understanding that it's a miniseries.
True. Exactly the thing NA’s were doing to each other before european involvement. Nothing new or unique about this whether it was Red Cloud dominating lesser NA nations or europeans expanding west.
Stand alone it would be pretty bad with as many storylines happening at once and the amount of bouncing back and forth between them. Then not tying anything together at the end. But like you said, have to understand it’s part of a series and the storylines will start being connected, I assume, in part 2. I definitely enjoyed it enough to go back for part 2.
We went last night. I enjoyed it once it started putting all the plot lines together. Even after sitting through 3+ hours, I left wishing for more. I now have something to look forward to August 16. And like you, it would seem, to me, it might work better as a television series.
With ticket sales where they are, I would have to imagine parts 3 & 4 might never be finished.
3 is already being filmed. If anything, they may wrap it up with the 3rd one.
I’ll watch them. Always liked Costner. Think No Way Out is his best flick.
The problem with Westerns is that Eastwood made the perfect one with Unforgiven and everything else is fighting for second place.
The problem with Westerns is that Eastwood made the perfect one with Unforgiven and everything else is fighting for second place.
I’d go Lonesome Dove for mini-series - Diane Lane helps - but that’s a good one too.
Hopefully they have a streaming plan to help make up for it or there likely won’t finish four movies.
Meanwhile, the even quieter place is on the Western front. Kevin Costner‘s hopeful franchise-starter “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1″ isn’t performing up to its price point on opening weekend. The epic-length Western took in $4.1 million from 3,334 locations across Friday and preview screenings. That puts it on track to land within projections for a three-day opening in the low-teens — good for bronze on domestic charts.
That’s not small potatoes for an original adult drama these days. But the first chapter of “Horizon” was built to be a blockbuster, with a $100 million production cost — $38 million of which was put up by Costner himself, the film’s director, star and co-writer has bluntly shared. Then there’s a $30 million P&A spend on top of that, also backed by Costner and mysterious investors. Warner Bros. is distributing the film, but it’s not on the hook for production or marketing costs apart from some development costs incurred through New Line.
More than three decades ago, reports gave the coming release of Costner’s directorial debut “Dances With Wolves” the humorous moniker of “Kevin’s Gate,” coloring the Western as a brewing disaster on par with Michael Cimino’s notorious flop “Heaven’s Gate.” Like “Horizon,” Costner invested millions of his own money into “Wolves” too. But he proved the naysayers wrong then, scoring the sixth-highest-grossing release of 1991 and taking home the Oscars for best picture and best director.
But there have been clouds over the box office prospects for “Horizon” for a while now, not only because of its hefty price point. The film largely bellyflopped with critics after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. But now, more alarmingly, Costner’s target audience doesn’t seem to especially taken with the film either. “Horizon” landed with a B- grade on Cinema Score — an ominous sign that the Western isn’t fostering the buzz that it would need to leg out a successful run at the box office. Older audiences don’t usually rush for opening weekend and the coming Fourth of July holiday may end up buoying things a bit, but “Horizon” could’ve really used a bigger splash than this. And with Warner Bros. putting out “Chapter 2” in theaters just seven weeks from now, the overall fortunes of the production stand to sink lower.
Box Office: ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Gets Loud With Franchise-Record Opening Day, ‘Horizon’ Moseys to Third as ‘Inside Out’ Vies to Stay on Top
'A Quiet Place: Day One' scored the franchise's biggest opening day, while 'Inside Out 2' stayed on top and Kevin Costner's 'Horizon' opens in third.
variety.com
Meanwhile, the even quieter place is on the Western front. Kevin Costner‘s hopeful franchise-starter “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1″ isn’t performing up to its price point on opening weekend. The epic-length Western took in $4.1 million from 3,334 locations across Friday and preview screenings. That puts it on track to land within projections for a three-day opening in the low-teens — good for bronze on domestic charts.
That’s not small potatoes for an original adult drama these days. But the first chapter of “Horizon” was built to be a blockbuster, with a $100 million production cost — $38 million of which was put up by Costner himself, the film’s director, star and co-writer has bluntly shared. Then there’s a $30 million P&A spend on top of that, also backed by Costner and mysterious investors. Warner Bros. is distributing the film, but it’s not on the hook for production or marketing costs apart from some development costs incurred through New Line.
More than three decades ago, reports gave the coming release of Costner’s directorial debut “Dances With Wolves” the humorous moniker of “Kevin’s Gate,” coloring the Western as a brewing disaster on par with Michael Cimino’s notorious flop “Heaven’s Gate.” Like “Horizon,” Costner invested millions of his own money into “Wolves” too. But he proved the naysayers wrong then, scoring the sixth-highest-grossing release of 1991 and taking home the Oscars for best picture and best director.
But there have been clouds over the box office prospects for “Horizon” for a while now, not only because of its hefty price point. The film largely bellyflopped with critics after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. But now, more alarmingly, Costner’s target audience doesn’t seem to especially taken with the film either. “Horizon” landed with a B- grade on Cinema Score — an ominous sign that the Western isn’t fostering the buzz that it would need to leg out a successful run at the box office. Older audiences don’t usually rush for opening weekend and the coming Fourth of July holiday may end up buoying things a bit, but “Horizon” could’ve really used a bigger splash than this. And with Warner Bros. putting out “Chapter 2” in theaters just seven weeks from now, the overall fortunes of the production stand to sink lower.
Kevin Costner Is ‘So Tired’ of People Being ‘So Delicate’ About Indigenous Representation
Kevin Costner Is ‘So Tired’ of People Being ‘So Delicate’ About Indigenous Representation
The "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1" writer/director/star Kevin Costner spoke out about "limited" Indigenous representation in Westerns.
www.indiewire.com
Somehow, I'd gone most of my life without watching Bull Durham - not deliberate, just somehow we never rented it or anything growing up. Finally got around to watching a couple years back; while a good flick, I honestly don't get the absolute love for this movie either.
Yeah I get that - I've just heard so many times that it's THE gold standard for baseball/sports movies...I just don't get it.
At the pace of tickets sales even that could be a devastating decision. If relatively few people see part 1, why would studio execs have any reason to think tickets sales with continue to grow for parts 2 & 3?
This unfortunately could be one of the worst decisions in film history playing out in slow motion, with no hope for a graceful landing. It's too bad, I'd have liked to have watched the film on HBO.
When we went the other day it was a decidedly older crowd. That surprised me because even in my younger days I enjoyed a good western.
That makes sense to me, and I'm right there with you.
We consume media differently now. Add in the fact the built in movie going audience didn’t grow up with Westerns on TV or the movies.
Then there is no younger star attached to it. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Leonardo, etc etc r now considered elder stars by young people . They are who molded their culture.
The promotion of the film is terrible. You don’t see many commercials for it and when you do you don’t see the fast cuts showing some action/drama, etc that will excite an audience. And, I haven’t seen anything yet but from all I’ve heard this should have been broken into a 10-episode series on HBO or something instead of several films.
I guess - sometimes I wonder if it's a movie that had just been hyped for me for so long it couldn't meet expectations.
Expectations can certainly taint a film. For example, went into Dune with zero expectations as I didn’t think a good film adaptation was possible. Fvcking loved it.
Pretty sure 100% of the first trailer was in the 1st movie except for maybe the end where he shoots 3 cowboys but maybe that was in the montage.
I am hoping this is one of those movies that has a slow build in its following and more and more come out to see it as positive word of mouth spreads. I could also see Part 1 being a flop at the theatres, coming out quickly to streaming services where it gets binge watched like crazy, and people flooding to the theatres to see Part 2 in August. I think that is the only thing saving this bold project right now, that Part 2 is coming out real soon. If 3 is in shooting right now I think we'll get to see at least on streaming, not sure about a Part 4.
I am planning on seeing it as I love Westerns, and this looks awesome. Problem is my schedule won't allow it in the near term and who knows if makes it even a month in theatres before it is pulled off the screens.
Watch this project becoming a massive financial flop only to be revered as an ultimate spectacle of film making and beloved 20-30 years from now.
I am planning on seeing it as I love Westerns, and this looks awesome. Problem is my schedule won't allow it in the near term and who knows if makes it even a month in theatres before it is pulled off the screens.
Watch this project becoming a massive financial flop only to be revered as an ultimate spectacle of film making and beloved 20-30 years from now.
For whatever reason, haven’t most westerns made in recent years not been the financial blockbusters expected?
I also think Costner goofed by clearly making this a part 1, with part 2 coming later in the year.
I don't think he goofed at all. People know for sure a second film is coming, therefore they are more willing to invest in the first movie, theoretically.
I get the idea in theory. In practice it appears to be blowing up in his face; unless you see people trying to see the first movie right as the second movie is released.
I saw it last night, solid flick. I'll be looking forward to the next one too.
I liked the different story lines and seeing how they will likely converge. I didn't mind the pace because with so many plots, they didn't have to rush through it. The cinematography is top notch while capturing the beauty of the surroundings, but also the tragedies going on within it. Lots of likeable characters as well with more to come. That said, I could pretty much watch Sienna Miller all day.
I liked the different story lines and seeing how they will likely converge. I didn't mind the pace because with so many plots, they didn't have to rush through it. The cinematography is top notch while capturing the beauty of the surroundings, but also the tragedies going on within it. Lots of likeable characters as well with more to come. That said, I could pretty much watch Sienna Miller all day.
I saw Old Henry last weekend. Holy shit that is a great movie. The producer of Old Henry is making a new movie called "The Devil's Rope"
In the Wild West in the year 1871, John Wesley Hardin and Wild Bill Hickok join forces to bring down Levi Alston, a powerful landowner responsible for destroying the lives of local ranchers-and the man responsible for the brutal murder of Hardin’s cousin and his wife, leaving their child Emma, an orphan.
In the Wild West in the year 1871, John Wesley Hardin and Wild Bill Hickok join forces to bring down Levi Alston, a powerful landowner responsible for destroying the lives of local ranchers-and the man responsible for the brutal murder of Hardin’s cousin and his wife, leaving their child Emma, an orphan.
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