Kevin Costner's $38 Million Bet: A Look into the Production and Reception of His Western Epic, Horizon: An American Saga

Cannes, France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France France
Horizon: An American Saga has received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its cinematography and star-studded cast, while others criticize its clumsy episodic structure and jumbled plotlines.
Horizon: An American Saga is a Western film exploring multiple generations surrounding the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. It's the first in a series of four films.
Kevin Costner invested $38 million of his own money into the production of Horizon: An American Saga, which has a budget of $100 million.
The film introduces two major characters: Hayes Ellison (Costner) and Matthew Van Weyden (Luke Wilson).
The film's success at the box office will depend on its ability to attract audiences and generate revenue beyond production costs.
Kevin Costner's $38 Million Bet: A Look into the Production and Reception of His Western Epic, Horizon: An American Saga

Kevin Costner, the renowned actor and director, made a rare appearance at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival with five of his seven children. The occasion was the screening of his latest film, Horizon: An American Saga. Costner's investment in this project is significant; he put in $38 million of his own money towards its production, which has a budget of $100 million.

Horizon: An American Saga is a Western film that explores multiple generations surrounding the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. It's the first in a series of four films, with Parts Two, Three, and Four yet to be released. The film has received mixed reviews from critics.

Costner was seen on the red carpet with his children Hayes, Grace, Annie, Cayden, and Lily. He shares daughters Annie and Lily as well as son Joe with ex-wife Cindy Silva. He is also father to sons Liam with ex Bridget Rooney and Cayden, Hayes, and Grace with ex-wife Christine Baumgartner.

The film's release represents a major financial risk for Costner. Westerns are considered a risky proposition at the box office due to their declining popularity in recent years. The success of Horizon: An American Saga will depend on its ability to attract audiences and generate revenue beyond its production costs.

The film introduces two major characters: Hayes Ellison, played by Costner himself, and Matthew Van Weyden, portrayed by Luke Wilson. The story follows the wagon train on the Santa Fe Trail as it faces challenges in the harsh West Kansas heat. The ensemble cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Huston, and Isabelle Fuhrman.

Despite some positive reviews praising the cinematography and performances of its star-studded cast, Horizon: An American Saga has also been criticized for its clumsy episodic structure and jumbled plotlines. Some critics have compared it to Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis due to these issues.

Costner's passion for the project is evident in his investment, but only time will tell if Horizon: An American Saga will be a success at the box office and justify the financial risk taken by its star and producer.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • It's unclear if there are any other significant investors in the film besides Costner.
  • The article mentions some positive reviews but does not provide specific quotes or sources.

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Cannes: Kevin Costner Talks Passion Project ‘Horizon,’ ‘Yellowstone’ Standoff at Lively ‘Awards Chatter’ Podcast Taping

The Hollywood Reporter Aaron Couch Monday, 20 May 2024 16:32
  • Unique Points
    • Kevin Costner invested $20 million of his own money into the production of Horizon: An American Saga.
    • Horizon: An American Saga is a four-picture plan that Costner has bet on himself for.
    • Costner filmed the second chapter of Horizon and has already shot a few days for Chapter 3.
  • Accuracy
    • Kevin Costner invested $38 million of his own money into the production of Horizon: An American Saga.
    • Horizon: An American Saga is a Western film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. It is the first in a series of four films.
    • The film explores multiple generations surrounding the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. Release date is June 28, 2024.
    • Kevin Costner spent $38 million of his own money to finance the $90 million-budgeted film 'Horizon: An American Saga'.
    • The first film in the series, 'Chapter 1', is three hours long and focuses on setting the stage by introducing a sprawling ensemble of characters.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    There are no formal fallacies present in the article. However, there are some informal fallacies and dichotomous depictions. The author shares Kevin Costner's personal stories and thoughts without providing evidence or outside perspectives which could lead to an appeal to pathos.
    • Kevin Costner invested $20 million of his own money into Horizon, deferred his fees and took out a loan on his Santa Barbara home to make it happen...
    • From his star-making turn in 1985's Silverado to 1990's Dances With Wolves, for which he won producing and directing Oscars, to becoming one of the first A-list movie stars to transition to TV with the 2012 miniseries Hatfield & McCoys and then the ratings phenomenon Yellowstone...
    • During the podcast taping, Costner said that from his perspective, the scripts for season 5B just weren't ready by the time they were supposed to be, and he could only wait around for so long before having to start on Horizon.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Kevin Costner Makes Rare Appearance with 5 of His Kids as They Walk Red Carpet at Cannes Film Festival

People Magazine Monday, 20 May 2024 20:22
  • Unique Points
    • Kevin Costner posed on the red carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival with five of his seven children: Hayes, Grace, Annie, Cayden, and Lily.
    • Costner is father to daughters Annie and Lily, as well as sons Joe, Liam, Cayden, Hayes and Grace.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Kevin Costner Confirms How Much Of His Own Money He Spent On New Western Movie Horizon

Screen Rant (Disney) Ryan Northrup Monday, 20 May 2024 18:29
  • Unique Points
    • Kevin Costner invested $38 million of his own money into the production of Horizon: An American Saga.
    • Horizon: An American Saga is a Western film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. It is the first in a series of four films.
    • The film explores multiple generations surrounding the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. Release date is June 28, 2024.
    • Horizon: An American Saga has a budget of $100 million and will need to earn around $200 million to break even.
    • The film's release is one of the year’s big theatrical gambles for Warner Bros., as Westerns are a risky proposition at the box office.
  • Accuracy
    • ,
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority by mentioning the financial risk Kevin Costner is taking by investing in his own movie. It also uses inflammatory rhetoric when discussing the potential failure of the film, stating that Westerns are a 'risky theatrical proposition' and that Horizon needs to earn around $200 million to break even. Additionally, there is an example of dichotomous depiction by presenting positive reactions from Cannes premiere versus negative reviews from critics.
    • Kevin Costner...is taking a major risk by investing his own money in the film
    • Horizon: An American Saga may have earned a 10-minute standing ovation at its Cannes premiere, but many of the early reviews from critics are less than positive.
    • Westerns are a risky theatrical proposition these days.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

74%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Critics Slam Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga’: “A Clumsy Slog Beyond Saving”

The Hollywood Reporter James Hibberd Monday, 20 May 2024 15:06
  • Unique Points
    • Kevin Costner spent $38 million of his own money to finance the $90 million-budgeted film 'Horizon: An American Saga.'
    • The first film in the series, 'Chapter 1', is three hours long and focuses on setting the stage by introducing a sprawling ensemble of characters.
    • Some critics have compared 'Horizon: An American Saga' to Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis due to its clumsy episodic structure and jumbled plotlines.
    • The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics praising the cinematography and others finding it a dull cinematic vanity project.
    • Horizon: An American Saga stars a large ensemble cast including Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Will Patton, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe and Ella Hunt.
    • The first chapter of the series sets up future pictures but has been criticized for its shapeless script and lack of clear direction.
  • Accuracy
    • Kevin Costner spent $38 million of his own money to finance the $90 million-budgeted film ‘Horizon: An American Saga.’
    • Kevin Costner invested $20 million of his own money into the production of Horizon: An American Saga.
    • Horizon: An American Saga has a budget of $100 million and will need to earn around $200 million to break even.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. The author uses emotional manipulation by describing the critics' reviews as 'harsh' and 'pretty harsh'. He also uses selective reporting by only quoting negative reviews and ignoring positive ones. Additionally, he engages in sensationalism by implying that the film is a 'biggest American boondoggle at this year's Cannes'. The author does not disclose any sources for the quotes used in the article.
    • Horizon may rival Megalopolis as the biggest American boondoggle at this year’s Cannes.
    • The most common complaint is the film doesn’t feel like cinema so much as a trio of back-to-back episodes of a new TV series, and one that’s rather jumbled at that, as the film jumps between four central storylines.
    • Costner's vainglorious efforts in crafting a sincere Western opus he poured much of his own money into are commendable mainly for what he’s put on the line here. But Horizon makes even that other $100-million-plus vanity project at Cannes – Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis – look like a work of uninhibited genius by comparison.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The author makes several comparisons between 'Horizon: An American Saga' and other films, implying that the former is inferior. This is an appeal to authority fallacy as the author does not provide any evidence or reasoning to support this claim. Additionally, there are instances of inflammatory rhetoric in some of the review excerpts provided by the author, such as 'biggest American boondoggle' and 'dullest cinematic vanity project of the century'. These statements do not add any value to the analysis and are intended to elicit an emotional response from readers.
    • ][The Hollywood Reporter] called it a 'clumsy slog ... It plays like a limited series overhauled as a movie, but more like a hasty rough cut than a release ready for any format.'[[/]
    • [IndieWire] called it the 'dullest cinematic vanity project of the century' and wrote, '[Costner] may have been trying to out-Taylor Sheridan Taylor Sheridan... Costner’s vainglorious efforts in crafting a sincere Western opus he poured much of his own money into are commendable mainly for what he’s put on the line here. But Horizon makes even that other $100-million-plus vanity project at Cannes – Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis – look like a work of uninhibited genius by comparison.'[[
    • The author states, 'Some are even comparing it to Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, another decades-in-the-making directorial passion project that has drawn critical fire at the festival.' This is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy as the author does not provide any evidence or reasoning to support this claim. Additionally, there are instances of inflammatory rhetoric in some of the review excerpts provided by the author, such as 'biggest American boondoggle' and 'dullest cinematic vanity project of the century'. These statements do not add any value to the analysis and are intended to elicit an emotional response from readers.
  • Bias (80%)
    The author expresses a negative opinion of the film 'Horizon: An American Saga' by quoting and summarizing harsh criticisms from other sources. While not directly making biased assertions himself, he does present a disproportionate number of quotes that reflect a negative position towards the film.
    • biggest American boondoggle
      • clumsy slog
        • dullest cinematic vanity project of the century
          • glorified TV series made with more expensively gritty production values
            • setup for a TV series
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            74%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            Review: ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ Is for the Dads

            Vulture Magazine Bilge Ebiri Monday, 20 May 2024 17:52
            • Unique Points
              • Kevin Costner introduces two major characters: Hayes Ellison and Matthew Van Weyden.
              • Horizon: An American Saga is a three-hour film with Parts Two, Three, and Four yet to be released.
            • Accuracy
              • Horizon: An American Saga is a three-hour film.
              • Horizon: An American Saga is a four-picture plan.
              • Kevin Costner invested $20 million of his own money into the production of Horizon: An American Saga.
            • Deception (30%)
              The author makes editorializing statements and uses sensational language to describe the film as 'Dune: Part One for Dads' and 'a gorgeous, sprawling, and at times moving blast of old-fashioned storytelling'. He also implies that the incompleteness of the film is a problem by stating that 'The power of those big, sweeping, novelistic stories lies in the ways we watch those characters change' and 'Horizon is basically just a rising line'. These statements are not facts but rather opinions and emotional manipulation.
              • Horizon: An American Saga Is Dune: Part One for Dads
              • a gorgeous, sprawling, and at times moving blast of old-fashioned storytelling
              • Horizon is basically just a rising line
              • The power of those big, sweeping, novelistic stories lies in the ways we watch those characters change
            • Fallacies (80%)
              The author makes an informal fallacy by comparing 'Horizon: An American Saga' to Dune: Part One without providing sufficient evidence or explanation as to why the two are similar beyond both being long and incomplete. The comparison is not explicitly stated as a quote from the article, but rather an interpretation of the author's words.
              • Horizon: An American Saga Is Dune: Part One for Dads
            • Bias (90%)
              The author expresses a clear preference for the film being a complete novelistic story rather than an incomplete one. He uses the term 'Dune: Part One for dads' to describe the film, implying that it is not yet finished and that audiences will have to wait for future installments to see the full story. This can be seen as an expression of monetary bias, as the author is implying that audiences should continue investing in this franchise by coming back for future installments.
              • Horizon: An American Saga Is Dune: Part One for dads
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication