"Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter Two"
Offers Drama with a Few Highs and Lows If you're drawn to epic Western sagas, "Horizon:
An American Saga – Chapter Two" might catch your interest, though it's far from perfect. The latest
entry in Kevin Costner’s four-part film series, released in the U.S. this past July, has been
met with a mix of criticism and disappointing box office numbers. Much like its predecessor,
this film struggles with its fair share of issues. "Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter Two" spans
three hours of Wild West drama, but unfortunately, it doesn’t resolve many of the problems seen in
the first installment. It features slow pacing, disjointed editing, and a storyline
that feels predictably clichéd. It seems aimed at fans of Costner’s
previous works like "Dances with Wolves" and "Yellowstone," but doesn’t
quite live up to those expectations. Despite these drawbacks, there’s an oddly
captivating quality to this chapter. Watching both films back-to-back might create a sense of
attachment or "Stockholm Syndrome," making the experience surprisingly engaging. By the
end, you might even find yourself rooting for characters like Frances (played by
Sienna Miller) and Trent (played by Sam Worthington) to resolve their romantic
tension and overcome their challenges. One notable improvement in this installment is the
expanded role of female characters. Frances and her daughter Lizzie (played by Georgia MacPhail)
become central to the plot, dealing with their own difficulties as Trent goes off to fight in the
Civil War. The film does a better job highlighting their strength and resilience, showing them
facing the harsh realities of frontier life. On the flip side, the representation of Native
Americans, which was somewhat nuanced in the first film, is notably reduced here.
The presence of Native characters, such as the young Sacaton (played by Bodhi
Okuma Linton), feels minimal compared to before. The film shifts its focus to the Chinese community
arriving in Horizon, led by Mr. Hong (played by Jim Lau), but their portrayal includes some
stereotypical elements that might be off-putting. The film also features various side plots
involving wagon trains and pioneers. The storyline of Juliette (played by Ella Hunt)
and her tormentors adds a dark element, but the resolution seems somewhat predictable.
Meanwhile, Costner’s character, Hayes Ellison, spends much of the film in a less dynamic
role until he’s given another chance to shine. Despite its flaws, the film has its moments of
charm. The dialogue occasionally sparkles with 19th-century authenticity, and the cinematography
by J. Michael Muro continues to impress with stunning shots of the Utah landscape. The costumes
by Lisa Lovaas add a touch of period detail, making one wonder if this series might
have fared better as a streaming series, allowing for deeper exploration and development. In conclusion, while "Horizon: An American Saga –
Chapter Two" may not transform the Western genre, it manages to provide enough drama and
intrigue to keep viewers interested, especially if they’re already invested in
the saga. Whether this will be enough to win over critics and secure funding for
the remaining films remains to be seen. buatlah ringkasan pendek salam
satu paragraf tentang artikel berita diatas dan masukan kata kunci
wajib: Film, Western, 19th-century, Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Ella
Hunt, Georgia MacPhail, Sam Worthington, Horizon: An American Saga, Chapter Two,
Kevin Costner, Western film, Wild West, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, drama, Civil War,
frontier life, cinematography, Utah landscape, wagon trains, pioneers, Hayes Ellison, Frances,
Lizzie, Native Americans, Chinese community, Juliette, 19th-century dialogue, Lisa Lovaas,
costumes, streaming series, box office, critics.