User Reviews

Saw this at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

"Magazine Dreams" is a story about a Black amateur bodybuilder struggles to find human connection in this exploration of celebrity and violence. This is director Elijah Bynum's second film as his first feature was "Hot Summer Nights" which I thought was pretty bad. Here, this is an improvement and his best work so far. The film is filled with angry tension and it's an interesting character study of a man dealing with violence, desiring fame, and connection.

The camerawork was amazing and the soundtrack choices were pretty good. Some of these elements reminded me of Nightcrawler or Whiplash. Jonathan Majors gave a amazing performance for his character. After seeing him in "The Last Black Man in San Francisco", I knew this was an actor I wanted to keep my eyes out and now, this may be his best performance to date. The writing aspects were pretty interesting and it's impactful tone helps to explore from beginning to end.

For characters, most characters were written well and while some background characters felt underdeveloped, I feel like it was unintentional for the perspective of the main character. Some of the pacing could have used some work. There were a few scenes that did feel a bit silly like when Majors character gets assaulted by a group of man that didn't felt the tone and felt out of place.

Overall, this film was pretty good and one of the surprises from Sundance.

Rating: B.

Magazine Dreams is a 2023 drama film that tells the story of Killian Maddox (Jonathan Majors), an aspiring bodybuilder who dreams of becoming a champion like his idol Brad Vanderhorn (Mike O'Hearn). However, his pursuit of perfection comes at a high cost, as he suffers from physical, mental and emotional damage caused by his extreme diet, training and steroid use. He also faces obstacles such as poverty, racism and loneliness, as well as a traumatic past that haunts him.

The film, written and directed by Elijah Bynum, is a bleak and unflinching portrait of a man driven by obsession and insecurity. The film does not glamorize or romanticize Killian's journey, but rather exposes the harsh realities and consequences of his choices. The film also explores the themes of identity, masculinity and celebrity, as Killian struggles to find his place in a world that expects him to be either a hero or a villain.

The film features a remarkable performance by Jonathan Majors, who underwent a stunning physical transformation to play Killian. Majors portrays Killian with nuance and depth, showing his vulnerability, anger and pain. He is supported by a strong cast that includes Haley Bennett as Jessie, a grocery store worker who becomes Killian's love interest; Taylour Paige as Pink Coat, a prostitute who offers Killian some comfort; Harrison Page as William Lattimore, Killian's grandfather who tries to guide him; and Harriet Sansom Harris as Killian's counselor who tries to help him.

Magazine Dreams is a powerful and provocative film that challenges the audience to empathize with a flawed and complex character.