Kevin Costner's highly anticipated Western saga, "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1," made quite a splash at the Cannes Film Festival. The film received a standing ovation lasting for 10 minutes, showcasing the initial excitement surrounding Costner's ambitious four-picture gamble. However, once critics had the chance to watch the film and share their opinions, the reviews were far from unanimous.

Costner, who took a substantial financial risk by leveraging one of his homes to help finance the $90 million-budgeted film, delivers a three-hour cinematic experience in Chapter 1 that primarily focuses on setting the stage for what's to come in the remaining films. The narrative introduces a sprawling ensemble of characters, weaving together multiple storylines against the backdrop of post-Civil War America.

Early reviews for "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1" have been rather critical, with some reviewers expressing disappointment in the film's execution. One recurring complaint is that the film feels more like a series of back-to-back TV episodes, lacking cohesion and leaving unresolved plot threads. Some even draw comparisons to Francis Ford Coppola's troubled passion project, "Megalopolis," which has also faced its share of harsh criticism at the festival.

The Hollywood Reporter describes the film as a "clumsy slog" that struggles to connect its messy plot threads. Vanity Fair criticizes the clichéd plots, washed-out performances, and the overall feeling of a missed opportunity. IndieWire declares it to be the "dullest cinematic vanity project of the century," highlighting the film's clumsy episodic structure and questioning Costner's attempt to outshine Yellowstone's showrunner, Taylor Sheridan. The Guardian remarks on the lack of exciting storytelling and suspense, while Variety concludes that the film feels like the seedbed for a miniseries.

Not all the reviews are negative, though. The Telegraph praises the film's grandeur and the magisterial sweep of its visuals, while acknowledging that its full impact may only be realized when the complete series is seen. Overall, it seems that the critical reception of "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1" is divided, with varying opinions on its success as a standalone film and as an introduction to a larger saga.

"Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1" is set to be released in theaters on June 28th, marking the beginning of Costner's ambitious four-picture project. The subsequent chapters will follow at two-month intervals. As audiences eagerly await the release, it remains to be seen whether the film will overcome its initial mixed reviews and make a mark on the genre in the same way Costner's previous Western works have done.