Since the release of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, there’s been a fair share of imitators that attempt to capture the magic of a Scorsese psychological deconstruction of a man. The ideology of the film’s tagline, “On every street in every city in this country, there’s a nobody who dreams of being a somebody,” can be seen in both positive and negative contexts. That’s what makes this type of deconstruction so exciting and worth diving into.
That dive is what Elijah Bynum’s latest film, Magazine Dreams, challenges his viewers to accept. If accepted, cinephiles are greeted by one of this year’s most rewarding viewing experiences at the Sundance Film Festival. One that shows that Dreams = Nightmarish Obsession.
A complex psychological character study that examines the trajectory of familial trauma and escapism. Bynum’s film blends Pumping Iron + Whiplash + Taxi Driver into a movie set to live rent-free in my mind for the remainder of 2023.
Magazine Dreams tells the story of Killian Maddox, an introvert who dreams of becoming a world-renowned bodybuilder. But, while Maddox has a physique that would match up to the best in the world, he’s yet to receive that “big break.” With that failure comes an individual whose only ideal human interaction comes from his ailing granddad.
Magazine Dreams most gut-wrenching aspect is writer/director Elijah Bynum’s screenplay. Bynum does not let his viewer off the hook as he brings the audience to Killian’s most brutal, raw, and uncomfortable moments. From Killian’s continued use of steroids, knowing its consequences to a first date we wouldn’t want to bestow on our worst enemy, Bynum scripts Killian as a fractured soul with no way out.
Throughout the film, Bynum sprinkles familial backstory, leading to a better understanding of Killian’s current state. It’s tough not to look at strain theory as an essential factor. These events take Killian on a journey of constant negative emotion and pressure for corrective action not to repeat history.
While the doom and gloom approach may lose some, I found the method fascinating. Adam Arkapaw’s cinematography aids in the film’s dark and broody tone. His lens evokes Killian’s darkness while shining light during his “happy moments” when he’s on stage or posing in front of a mirror. With Arkapaw’s lens blended with Bynum’s direction/screenplay, cinephiles are given moments of genuine horror that would fit right in with the latest from A24.
With a subject matter this unique, a special force must be tasked with playing that role, and that striking force leads Magazine Dreams in the form of Jonathan Majors. It’s no surprise to praise Majors, but I dare not speak with hyperbole when stating Major’s performance is as close to perfection as it gets. Majors is nothing short of transcendent as he evokes a heartbreaking yet uncomfortable performance that demands your attention.
While Killian can be viewed as a horrific individual, Majors’ charm brings compassion to the character. There’s never a moment where the audience can fully root for Killian, but Majors never strives away from give Killian a fragment of hope for a better tomorrow. Majors is magical!
Magazine Dreams can be a bit long as it hits the 2-hour mark, but it’s impossible not to be glued to every word and movement Jonathan Majors makes. Yes, it will be divisive and potentially triggering, but it’s one of those films that will have a lasting impact on the film year of 2023.
