The Surprising ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ and Kevin Costner’s Big Bet on ‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1’
Jun 28, 2024
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Lupita Nyong’o stars in 'A Quiet Place: Day One' with surprising scale and quality. Kevin Costner's risk on 'Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1' is discussed. The podcast covers weirdness, Western tropes, and potential success of the projects.
The podcast explores the multilayered narrative of 'Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1' through intertwined storylines and diverse characters.
The episodic storytelling and teaser for future installments give the movie a serialized TV series touch rather than a traditional film structure.
Kevin Costner's unique visual style and self-funding approach to 'Horizon' reflect his passion for Westerns and challenge the conventional film distribution model.
Deep dives
Multiple Storylines Intersecting
The podcast episode delves into various intertwined storylines within the movie, where characters converge towards the town of Horizon. Each storyline, such as Sienna Miller's plotline, Kevin Costner's journey in Wyoming, Luke Wilson's encounters in the wagon train, and other characters like a child and a group of dusty men, contribute to the multilayered narrative of the film.
Structured like a TV Series
The movie's three-hour duration and segmented plotlines align with a TV series format rather than a conventional film structure. Each significant character's arrival at different intervals corresponds to distinct parts of the movie, reminiscent of episodes in a series. The episodic nature of the storytelling, combined with the teaser for the subsequent installment at the end, adds a serialized touch to the cinematic experience.
Visual Aesthetic and Cinematic Choices
The podcast explores the film's visual style and filming choices, highlighting the Western genre's scenic beauty and Costner's unique approach to cinematic storytelling. Despite the movie's grandeur and picturesque landscapes, the decision to shoot on digital rather than film provokes discussion. The visual language and narrative tone reflect Costner's longstanding love for Westerns and his endeavor to present an epic tale of Western expansion with a modern twist.
Horizon Part 1: A Cinematic Prologue
The movie Horizon Part 1 is critiqued for its sprawling cast and disjointed plot, perceived as a prologue setting the stage for future installments. The podcast discusses the challenge of weaving together multiple character arcs in a cohesive manner and compares it to a series of character introductions for upcoming movies.
Artistic Vision and Business Realities
The podcast delves into Kevin Costner's creative decisions and self-funding approach to the film Horizon, highlighting the contrast between artistic vision and commercial viability. The discussion touches on the evolving landscape of film distribution and audience consumption patterns, exploring the impact of Costner's personal investment on the film's reception and potential financial returns.
Sean and Amanda recap the third installment of the ‘Quiet Place’ franchise—the Lupita Nyong’o–starring ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’—which surprised both of them with its scale and quality (1:00). Then, they are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss Kevin Costner’s gigantic gamble, ‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1’ (25:00). The trio dig into its weirdness, its Western tropes and subversions, and whether it stands even the slightest chance of not bombing.
