A lot has changed for once-rising star Jonathan Majors in the last two years. Known for weaving his natural charisma, star power, and emotional range to a compelling effect, Majors made a name for himself with projects like The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) and HBO’s Lovecraft Country (2020). He was on the cusp of Hollywood domination, playing the seminal villain roles in Creed 3 and Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Then came the unexpected tectonic shift in his career trajectory. In March of 2023, Majors was apprehended for physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. He was later convicted and found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of harassment and assault. As a result, he was fired from multiple film projects, and his involvement with the MCU ceased immediately.
Like his career, this positioned his buzzy, then-unreleased arthouse drama, Magazine Dreams, in a state of limbo.
What is Magazine Dreams?
As a fan of Majors’ work, I was gutted by the fallout while simultaneously disappointed and enraged by his actions. Outside of ruining every major professional prospect he had, he gave credence to a long-held Hollywood trope: The Angry Black Man. A scathing label that plagued Oscar-winner Will Smith just a year prior. Because Majors’ actions were indefensible, it took immense effort for me to separate the artist from the man when viewing the Sundance darling, Magazine Dreams. About midway through, I knew resisting the comparison was doing the film a disservice. The thematic parallels between Majors’ real-life struggles and those of the tortured, body-building social pariah at the center of the film were intrinsically intertwined.
At its core, the film is a relentless and grueling exploration of the sustained effects of grief, alienation, bullying, and generational trauma. By the end, I found myself in a more gracious, empathetic state of mind. I considered the emotional turmoil Majors must have endured to access the vulnerability of this haunted character. Before it was scrapped from the 2023 release roster, Magazine Dreams was positioned to launch Majors’ first viable Oscar campaign. Emerging from the ashes after lying dormant for two years, it is not difficult to see why.
What’s the story?
Majors stars as Killian Maddox. Maddox is a mentally ill and socially awkward grocery store clerk who tends to the needs of his ailing veteran grandfather (Harrison Page). That is, of course, when he is not obsessing about being a professional bodybuilder like his lifelong celebrity idol Brad Vanderhorn (Mike O’Hearn). We watch in excruciating detail as Maddox mentally and physically prepares for a local competition. His sculptural, Greek God-like physique is a manifestation of his strenuous athleticism and more than a few steroid-induced enhancements. In many ways, Maddox’s impeccable physical form acts as a titanium shield between his internal truth and reality.
Having lost his parents in a tragic accident, Maddox also suffers from manic depression and is prone to violent outbursts. Despite his considerable emotional baggage, he makes earnest attempts to connect with other human beings. Take, for example, his well-intentioned dinner date with a local co-worker named Jessie (Haley Bennett). Everything unfolds smoothly until Maddox’s lack of self-awareness and “foot in mouth” syndrome illuminates his every flaw. His unadulterated existence changes the temperature in a room, offending everyone around him. Society’s cruel and unforgiving perception of him triggers his loneliness and awakens his worst impulses. The most indelible tragedy comes from our pity for him, even when he makes decisions that jeopardize his cause.
Should you still watch Magazine Dreams despite Majors’ tarnished public image?
So, you might be asking yourself why any of this “misery porn” is worth your time. The answer: Jonathan Majors. Not Majors the maligned rising star, but rather Majors the artistic performer. I do not say this lightly, but his performance in Magazine Dreams is nothing short of extraordinary. It is one of the most magnetic, gripping, and “transcendent” performances I’ve ever witnessed on screen. Of course, as with “most” Briarcliff Entertainment projects (looking at you, The Apprentice), it comes with a big disclaimer.
Great performance aside, I do not want to undermine the tangible, human consequences of Majors’ real-life actions. I simply want to shed light on the film’s larger objective to condemn, to interrogate, and to challenge actions like his in a substantive manner. It offers an artistic insight into the soul of a broken man, discarded and misunderstood by society. More importantly, we come to understand the root causes of and the “why” behind his consequential actions.
After leaving the theater, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own life, my failures, and my flaws. I permitted myself to forgive and extend gratitude to those who have shown me that same courtesy. Knowing in my heart that Maddox (and by extension, Majors) may never receive that same sentiment, the film’s message became all the more sobering and timely. It asks us to look at the full complexity of a human being and consider the possibility that we only know half the story.
Magazine Dreams is now available to buy or rent on VOD and DVD/Blu Ray.
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