One of the films that generated a lot of buzz at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023 was Magazine Dreams, from writer and director Elijah Bynum. Star Jonathan Majors was definitely on the come up, starring in critically acclaimed pieces like The Last Black Man in San Francisco and Lovecraft Country and playing Kang in the MCU. But then, Majors was accused and convicted of assault and harassment, and despite its promise, the film was shelved.
Majors is still serving a 52-week domestic violence intervention program, but Magazine Dreams is free, finding a new home with Briarcliff Entertainment. It is difficult to know quite how to discuss a movie where the protagonist regularly threatens (and occasionally doles out) violence, played by a man who was convicted of committing violence. Life imitates art, and this story is one of the most stark examples of that. And all of that is a shame because Magazine Dreams is an exceptional piece of art.
Killian Maddox (Jonathan Majors) is a bodybuilder whose primary goal is to figure out how to be remembered. His search history is filled with inquiries about legacy and becoming someone who is able to leave their mark. He sends letters and leaves regular voicemails for his hero, Brad Vanderhorn (Michael O’Hearn), a professional bodybuilder who has graced the cover of numerous magazines. He tries to connect with the checkout girl, Jessie (Haley Bennett). And, of course, he is obsessed with becoming a name in the body-building community.
But all of these attempts at making a mark fall short. When he finally meets Brad, Killian realizes his hero isn’t quite what he expected. He goes on a date with Jessie, but his intensity drives her away. When he tries to protect his grandfather’s interests, he finds himself bloodied and battered. His unregulated use of testosterone to maintain his physique leads to tumors on his liver, but Killian is unwilling to undergo surgery as that will leave a scar that will negatively impact his ability to compete. When confronted with any obstacle, his go-to response is that he will crack open their skull and drink their brains.
Magazine Dreams rides the incredibly fine line of creating a protagonist in Killian Maddox who is both loathsome and pitiable. His fits of violence are frightening and shocking, but he is also subject to violence that often feels out of sync with what he has doled out. We understand that he has experienced cruelty of one kind or another all of his life, but we also come to realize that, in his mind, the death of his parents is equal to a judge telling him that his lats are too small, which is equal to a business doing a slap-dash job painting his house which is equal to a sexual assault that he experiences. All slights are at the same level, and this dysregulation results in some genuinely unhinged moments in the film that are difficult to watch.
The film requires much of Majors, and he delivers an absolutely stunning performance. Throughout the movie, I consistently felt on edge about how the story would play out, recognizing that every action was on a razor’s edge. Majors manages to hold that tension in himself in a way that is riveting to watch. This is no doubt amplified by the real-life story of Jonathan Majors, a man who has reportedly dealt with anger issues since his days studying at Yale.
The supporting cast also does an excellent job filling in much of Killian’s story. Most are required to show some level of revulsion or fear at what Maddox does, and each conveys that impressively. This enriches the viewing experience as we find ourselves connecting with the emotional beats that the other characters are feeling.
The pacing in Magazine Dreams is exquisite. The film never rushes through scenes and never lingers for too long. Though it is just over two hours, no second is wasted, allowing every moment to hit precisely as intended. The script reminded me of Todd Phillips’ Joker, but Killian Maddox is a far more complex and nuanced character than Arthur Fleck. There are beats that are similar, but because this wasn’t an origin story, it was allowed to follow Killian’s story in a more organic way.
I understand why people may be hesitant to go watch Magazine Dreams. To be honest, I was unsure about reviewing it. It feels like a bit of an ethical nightmare to recommend a film that stars and will financially benefit someone who has been convicted of domestic violence. But Bynum deserves to have his work seen and appreciated. The rest of the cast deserves to have their work analyzed apart from that of Majors. Film lovers deserve to see a movie that explores what it means to leave a legacy and think about what that means for each of us. I certainly hope that its star is considering that.
Magazine Dreams will be in theaters on March 21, 2025.
Learn more about the film, including how to get tickets, at the official website.
You might also like…
