Kevin Costner yesterday (May 19, Sunday) received a 10-minute standing ovation at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for his upcoming movie Horizon: An American Saga. But it is not as overwhelmingly getting much attention from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The ensemble of Horizon includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Jamie Campbell Bower and Thomas Haden Church.
Critics On Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga
Critics have shared their thoughts on the first chapter of the Horizon: An American Saga, a four-part period drama.
“Despite the shootouts, some epic vistas (frankly, not as much as you’d expect), and a few fleeting moments of genuine tension, it all feels flat. Maybe next week’s episode will turn it around.” — Gregory Ellwood, The Playlist
“While the first film in the possible “Horizon” series does well in setting up future pictures, this single film is a chore to sit through.” — Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com
“As a stand-alone film (which it isn’t, but let’s pretend for a moment), “Horizon” is by turns convoluted, ambitious, intriguing, and meandering. But it’s never quite moving.” — Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“For Costner, this is an impressive beginning, with the promise of more to come.” — Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
“Costner’s Civil-war set epic offers an old-fashioned celebration of the pioneer spirit — and a clutch of storylines that never quite have time to engage before the film moves on.” — Lee Marshall, Screen International
Costner was seen getting emotional as the film received applause. Costner was grateful to the audience during his speech and promised “three more” installments of the Horizon franchise, which is already supposed to get a sequel in August.
Kevin Costner Discusses His Self-Financed Movie
Just like Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, here Costner is also making this Horizon film on his own. He tried to find a studio for the film but was unable to get any, he put his own $38 million into the film.
“I know they say I’ve got $20 million of my own money in this movie,” Costner said. “It’s not true. I’ve got now about $38 million in the film. That’s the truth. That’s the real number,” the actor-director confirmed in a GQ cover story.
In an interview with Deadline, when asked why he decided to make this film, he said that it was because he wanted to make it.
“And when people speak of you later, they should speak of your heart. Well, who was this person? I have done what I’ve intended to do, and I’m not Ahab, but I have my own vision of what I want to give people,” he said.
On being asked about his struggle to finance the film, Costner said at a Cannes press conference, “I don’t know why it was so hard.”
It’s his first time directing since 2003’s Open Range. He also directed 1997’s The Postman and 1990’s Dances with Wolves, for which he won Best Director and Best Picture Oscars.
