"Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1" - a movie review.

To make a three-hours long movie captivating in spite of a plot that lacks both cohesiveness and clarity is quite a feat. Yet, it is just such a feat that Kevin Costner accomplishes with his first installment in the “Horizon” movie series. Of an age when many Hollywood actors begin to see their careers wane, Costner came to the forefront of the acting world once again with his portrayal of John Dutton, the family patriarch in the Western television series, “Yellowstone”. And to the surprise of many in the entertainment industry, Costner left his role in the popular television series to fulfill his dream of bringing a Wild West saga to the big screen.

The Wild West is an era of American history that has been presented in various forms throughout the decades. The disarmingly optimistic Shirley Temple element of singing and tap dancing her way into the hearts of both the Native American Chiefs and the US Army Generals alike is most certainly not present in Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga”. Although, there is some fiddle playing and dancing present in the movie. The U.S. Cavalry coming to the rescue headed by John Wayne as he struggles with his romance with the strong-willed Kate, as portrayed by Maureen O’Hara, is also not given the same portrayal in Costner’s “Horizon”. As while the U.S. Cavalry does come to the rescue, it is with much reluctance since they are overextended with the settlers pioneering on ever farther flung and dangerous areas. The singing cowboy motif popularized by Gene Autry in his Western movies is also a motif that is not present in Costner’s “Horizon”, although, in his own life, Kevin Costner did grow up singing in the Baptist Church choir. And “Amazing Grace” is played during the ending credits. What is present, however, to the delight of fans of the Western movie genre, are the “shoot ‘em ups”. With plenty of gunfights to satisfy even the most macho of audience members, “Horizon:

An American Saga” provides a very serious and realistic portrayal of the struggles of the Wild West. And it is this gritty portrayal of the Wild West that makes Costner’s Western a compelling film to see.

First commissioned by Kevin Costner in 1988, the “Horizon” four-part movie series intends to chronicle the fifteen-year span of pre-War Between The States and post-War Between The States settlement in the Wild West. Filmed primarily in Utah, its target audience is middle America. And there is much emphasis in the movie about the American value of hard work. With hard work being defined as hardy manual labor. Which given the struggle-to-survive element of the Wild frontier was of utmost importance. However, the movie appeals to the

common element of American society by shunning the fiddle players and the artists in the storyline in favor of the rough and tough blue collar of the times element.

While there are various concurrent storylines in Chapter 1 of “Horizon”, the main protagonist, Hayes Ellison, is portrayed by Kevin Costner himself. Not much is revealed about his character’s background in the movie, however, he does have the misfortune of getting involved in a gunfight rescue of a very attractive blonde lady of the evening who is caring for a child that is not hers. And just when it appears that they are about to become attracted to each other in a way that isn’t merely a questionable business arrangement, the lady of the evening disappears.

No Wild West movie is complete without a wagon train and in “Horizon” the head of the wagon train is portrayed by Luke Wilson, a Texas native, who is actually a fan of the present

day Dallas Cowboys NFL team. His main challenge as the leader of the wagon train is keeping the peace along the way since it includes a British couple that doesn’t understand the physical labor required on the part of everyone in keeping the wagon train going. And given the British wife’s ladylike ways, she is an object of curiosity among some of the more nefarious members of the wagon train. Especially when she gives herself a rather sensuous sponge bath out in the open.

The complexity of the Native Americans and their situation in the Wild West is also given a realistic portrayal in Costner’s Western drama. For not all of the Native Americans are united

in taking aggressive action against the never-ending influx of European settlers. And the actors portraying Native Americans were given lessons in the Apache language that is featured in the dialogue.

There is not much connecting the various storylines in Chapter One of Costner’s “Horizon”, however, there is some indication towards the end of the first installment that all of

these various characters are going to somehow end up in the same Wild West frontier town of “Horizon”. Which is being promoted as a sort of paradise in the Wild West, yet there are some indications that the town will be much rougher and more rudimentary than it is being advertised.

A co-writer of the script used for “Horizon”, Costner’s screenplay could definitely benefit from some good editing. And while the second installment has already been filmed. It is hoped

that he will consult some editors for his subsequent chapters. For while many attendees of the first installment expressed a curiosity to attend the second installment, as well. Costner’s multi-million-dollar investment in his labor of love will yield greater returns with a more clearly written storyline.

On a side note, astute listeners to the background track will notice a Scottish influence in the music. While this can be explained away as due to the influence of Old Scottish airs on

early American Olde Time music, it also shows the influence of the music track being recorded in Glasgow by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

“Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1” is currently being shown in movie theaters. And is currently also available for streaming on Apple TV, Fandango, Google Play, and most video on demand sources. It isn’t a movie without serious flaws in the storyline, but a compelling film, nonetheless. And one which shows the overwhelming struggle for survival in the Wild West.

Luisa Reyes is an attorney in Tuscaloosa with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Judson, a master's degree in library science, and a law degree from Samford's Cumberland School of Law. She is also a piano instructor and vocalist.