An amateur bodybuilder battles both the limits of his physical body and his own inner demons to gain recognition.
Chuck says:
Like all of us, Killian Maddox is looking for validation. What with his parents absent since he was a young boy, feelings of alienation have plagued him. Suffering from a case of arrested development, Maddox’s nearly debilitating shyness has kept him from having a traditional support unit. His imposing size and stoic demeanor tend to frighten people rather than pull them in. The only consistent human contact he has is with his invalid grandfather who he lives with and cares for. And though he does have a job at a local grocery store, he’s seen as an outcast there as well.
Realizing he can only count on himself, he’s taken to bodybuilding, hoping to find the attention he craves in the world of steroid-laden narcissists. Focused and determined, Maddox has transformed himself into a muscle-bound Adonis, hoping to one day be on the cover of one of the many magazines he devours. However, his naivety and ever-increasing rage are hurdles that leave him vulnerable to his own faults and those who would exploit him.
Elijah Bynum’s long-delayed “Magazine Dreams” is a difficult, yet gripping examination of mental illness and desired salvation. Driven by a staggering performance from Jonathan Majors, it’s a film that draws immediate comparisons to “Taxi Driver” and “Joker” in its examination of the effects of alienation and the psychological instability that arises through such isolation.
Bynum’s raw approach to the subject and its environment establish a sense of realism that grounds the story and makes it all the more tragic. There’s a lived-in feel to each of the settings. His grandfather’s home is rundown, its rooms are tight and claustrophobic, the neighborhood in which Maddox lives is tattered, while his car is held together by duct tape and its driver’s will. The inescapable nature of poverty is underscored again and again, providing key information regarding the character’s background and motivation.
This is beautifully complimented by Majors’ performance, a sense of desperation at the core of all Maddox does. A child in the body of a behemoth, the actor gives us a lost boy, grasping at straws, longing to make a meaningful human connection. A date with a co-worker (Haley Bennett) proves revelatory as he lets his guard down, telling her of his devotion to his craft with an intensity that proves frightening and off-putting. Unaware of the effect he has on others, Maddox wind up as an island of want and need.
Bynum’s script may be rightly criticized for heaping a bit too much on Maddox. You may begin to question just how much tragedy this character deserves. Yet, Majors keeps us captivated throughout, our sympathies always with this struggling man-child. We become just as hopeful that he will make a connection thanks to the actor’s ability to establish an emotional connection with the viewer. Never resorting to cheap theatrics, you simply can’t take your eyes off him. Had he not run into legal troubles and this film been delayed, a 2024 Oscar nomination would have likely come Majors’ way.
Films like “Magazine Dreams” are ones you tend to admire more than like. It’s the compelling nature of the story and the artistry through which it is rendered that keeps us hooked, seeing it through to its bittersweet ending. Much like “Taxi Driver” and “Joker,” this serves as a cautionary tale as well as plea for more attention to be given to mental health awareness. It also serves as a reminder to us all, that a simple act of kindness, a kind word or an encouraging gesture can serve as a lifeline to those who are convinced, they are unworthy of such modest acts.
3 1/2 Stars
