Heaven's Gate (1981) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Honestly, Heaven's Gate is the best cure for insomnia.

[@johnepants]

It took me three sittings to get through the whole movie. There are just too many scenes where nothing happens and the plot doesn’t move forward

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

That’s because those parts are for character and thematic development.

[@johnepants]

@@vulteiuscatellus4105 usually character development still allows for things to happen and move forward. That entire breakfast scene between Ella and James along with their ride into town took forever and accomplished nothing. There are many scenes just like it that could have been trimmed and still provided the same point. Then, the one area of the movie where we probably needed a little bit more, the climactic battles at the end, those actually seemed to be cut to hell. There is a good story sitting underneath all of that padding. It just needed to be told in a tighter manner

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

@@johnepants Sometimes it helps to SIT with the characters for a moment or two. It helps us sympathize with them more and understand them more. And the battle scene runs long enough. Patience can be rewarded. Enjoy the slow, easygoing stuff in film and in life.

[@johnepants]

@@vulteiuscatellus4105 there is a difference between sitting with the characters and falling asleep with the characters. Cimino let his excesses get in the way on this one. I don’t need scene after scene of two people being together and doing nothing of substance to understand that they love each other….but then have an entire “friendship” between Averill and Champion that never seems to materialize at all on film.

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

@@johnepants Look, if you’re not patient to sit with people to understand them and only want to gEt To ThE pOiNt, then that’s a problem on your end.

[@CR41489]

I watched the fully restored Criterion Collection Blu-ray release back in 2012 and I don’t think the film is a total disaster. In my opinion it has great technical merits but the story is a mess and that is its biggest fault. This film killed Michael Cimino’s career.

[@jdayala-wright8875]

Cimino was an overrated hack with "The Deer Hunter" that was only provocative because of the Russian Roulette scene

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

That's your opinion. I thought it was a total disaster.

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

@@jdayala-wright8875 I don't agree. I thought "The Deer Hunter" was a great film. Only problem is, things went to Cimino's head, and he made "Heaven's Gate."

[@narayanasupramati1394]

@@johnfitzpatrick3094 Sad but true.

[@alcd6333]

I agree with you: I also saw the restored Criterion Collection release; it' s not a bad film, albeit not a great one as it wanted to be. The attention to detail is excellent, but it lacks a cohesive story. I don't think it killed Cimino's career though. He directed "Year of the Dragon" a few years later which was a modest hit, critically and commercially.

[@bh5606]

Just saw this movie on Netflix and expected a disaster. Wound up loving it but I had to wait for the ending to appreciate it.

[@anihtgenga4096]

I found the movie deeply troubling.

[@2ceBorn]

It’s fantastic

[@eargasm1072]

@Vaagn Avakyan I pretty much agree....and until "Dances With Wolves" probably the last big, epic Western made in Hollywood

[@TheAathi6]

The film that marked the end of the new Hollywood Era...

[@thewandering525]

New Hollywood cinema was overrated. A fitting end.

[@bobthebear1246]

Unfortunately, yes, as well as the end for United Artists.

[@rosario508]

For a brief second I thought Gene was going to say “...and it’s still a turd!”

[@williamhicks7736]

$36 million was expensive for a film in 1981... Just to provide perspective, I believe Aliens was made for half that amount in 1986...

[@bobcobb3654]

For some perspective, the first 2 Godfather films, released 8 and 6 years before Heaven’s Gate, had a combined production budget of $19 million.

[@mattlohr]

Adjusted for inflation, this would today be a budget of $104 million, which is more or less a starting point for a typical blockbuster now.

[@horsecorpse]

I would like to put some further perspective here. I won't have 3 million dollars by the end of the week, nor will I wake up tomorrow in the year 1850. However, if both of those things happened, I STILL couldn't afford to finance this film. Now if this doesn't put an end to our perspective swapping, I don't know what will.

[@williamhowe1]

Well the movie is a cure for insomnia.

[@flmbyz]

Incidentally, the longest movie of all time is actually called “The Cure for Insomnia”.

[@mattlohr]

I've tried to watch it twice, and I've fallen asleep both times.

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

@@mattlohr Then you missed out.

[@flmbyz]

This movie is also the reason that the “No animals were harmed in the making of this movie” notice was created because the irresponsible Cimino sent all of those horses into live explosions, untrained. As a result, they came back with severe injuries, some that were fatal, and a large number of them had PTSD. All so Cimino could have a ten minute sequence with a roller skating fiddle player. Cinematic splendor, right there. Cimino is vastly overrated and the result of insecure spoiled filmmaking.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

Deer Hunter was great, though. You cannot take that away from him. I think it was a case of his ambition conquered is very reason. Pure madness. And there wasn't an adult at the top to control him.

[@liza0052]

The animal abuse, injuries, and deaths are the reasons why I can't love this film. Otherwise, the restored version came close to being a work of art, or at least we can see that the potential was there. It's still too long, way too much time wasted on the Harvard graduation, Jim and Ella's entire day together, and the excruciating battle scenes with the immigrants and the mercenaries. Otherwise, the story is actually pretty good if you don't mind historical inaccuracies and revision. The location is gorgeous and the three main characters gave good performances. There were moments when I really felt them, the sadness of their lives. And you're right about the roller skating fiddler, pure cinematic splendor. But Cimino cannot be forgiven for sacrificing animals for his "artistic vision".

[@demihailis712]

Cimino has surely been out of he's mind when he did this movie and what comes to those animals that just sad but they still sacrifice more than tenthousand animals per day for our meals so whats really the difference. After all that this movie is great

[@reactingtoacting]

Couldn't agree more. While I think the movie is mostly good and the photography is beautiful, the horrendous treatment of the horses (mostly toward the end) is the biggest complaint I have about this film.

[@travisrlel2]

@@demihailis712 Cimino's coke usage at the time is legendary.

[@copperdog]

For all haters the movie was recut and restored by the Criterion Collection and know it has much better reviews.

[@bradleyhayman2682]

Nah it still sucks and always has. Great trailer by criterion but it’s a bad movie

[@GrosvnerMcaffrey]

@@bradleyhayman2682 it's a movie with alot to say and nothing to say I'd love to see it as a violent deconstruction of the old west but at the same time when you learn the real history of the Wyoming range wars you realize how much this movie makes up. Christ the real Nate champion was a real life badass not boring dickhead christopher walkin. It's a movie I wish was great but sadly there are too many better ones

[@shawnattwells5355]

I bought the Director's Edition from Criterion, and didn't think it was as bad as everybody in 80/81 thought it was. I think there was more going on besides animals being needlessly hurt for the battle scenes. The real blame for it's failing, should be on the studio that backed it. United Artists at the time was being run by a small group of novices who hadn't produced any films before, arrogantly thought that Cimino could take them to the Oscars after what happened with the Deer Hunter, and basically gave him a blank check to make the story he wanted, in his own way. Somebody should have reminded both them, and Cimino, this isn't the 1920's anymore, and your not D.W Griffith. Cimino all gave them the impression he was making another Gone with The Wind. Not even close. 10 out of 10 for effort, but in the end, all it did was ruin him and UA.

[@bradleyhayman2682]

Cimino is to blame. He made several demands of the studio that showed his ego was out of control. He was coming off of Deer Hunter and the studios “blank check” was just a way of ensuring that the young hot shot director would make a picture for UA. This was still the auteur age of filmmaking and giving complete control was commonplace, given a proven track record. Once the footage made it to editing room, even Cimino knew it was a disaster.

[@bobcobb3654]

UA had produced 3 Best Picture winners in a row when they offered to finance Heaven’s Gate.

[@eargasm1072]

I like quite a bit of Cimino's work and "Heaven's Gate"...but "Gone With the Wind" it ain't!! I give u that much lol

[@nunyabidness4220]

I bought it and watched it several times, and... it's terrible. It's not a film, just a collection of setpieces Cimino wanted to film and tried to stick together in a western, even if they didn't fit. Like that ridiculous rollerskating. The setpieces aren't badly done, but they don't add up into a story at all. There's no focus at all in the film. And, honestly, the Deer Hunter isn't that great of a film, either. I'm fascinated with it, I've watched it over a dozen times, but the more you analyze it the more ridiculous it gets.

[@Dock76]

The savaging this movie got almost felt orchestrated. A lot of these critics seemed ready to hate this movie before they saw it. Probably down to all the stories about the production.

[@LanceStoddard]

I've seen the remastered long version. Every form of this movie should be collected, then sealed in Yucca mountain with the nuclear waste.

[@Campbellzilla]

It's always been a pet peeve of mine when critics bring up the budget of a movie, their job is to review the movie itself NOT the financial books on it, I'm an accountant and even I don't care, what's their excuse?

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

If a movie is good, then the budget doesn't matter. The movie was bad, so they carped about the fact that the movie was a waste of money.

[@academyofshem]

It's always been a pet peeve of mine when accountants try to pretend they are critics of art and culture. Stick to number-crunching, pencilneck.

[@Campbellzilla]

@@academyofshem Art and culture can speak to anyone, anywhere of any situation. I work with numbers but I don't live for them. My point is no less valid.

[@academyofshem]

@@Campbellzilla If "art & culture* can speak to ANYONE, then why do you whine about two men who are famous critics of art & culture talking about why certain forms of art & culture are overpriced. You simply sound whiny.

[@Campbellzilla]

@@academyofshem I've seen good movies made for 100s of Dollars and Good movies made for Millions of dollars. By that same measure I've also seen bad movies made for 100s of dollars and bad movies made for millions of dollars. Price point is irrelevant when discussing a film in terms of narrative structure, emotional impact, and overall quality. If one dislikes or likes a movie where does the budget factor into that equation?

[@Sabacc]

I watched the movie recently and enjoyed it. The art direction is incredible and the character relationships made sense to me. With current versions of the movie, the dust doesn’t distract like the image we see in this review. It definitely helps one enjoy the movie without knowing what a boondoggle it was behind the scenes.

[@eargasm1072]

Agreed....there seems to be too many "individuals" who base (follow) their critiques and opinions on the "masses", or the movie's infamy or financial success. Seems this was the beginning of that line of thought with critics united and banding together in trashing a quality film (even when compared to much of the superfluous dreck made around the same time). These days we're lucky to see movies with even a quarter of the ambition and artistry in "Heaven's Gate".

[@bradleyhayman2682]

How do current versions of the movie erase the dust problem?

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

Siskel & Ebert were on the money with this one.

[@jasongreathouse6661]

Cimino should be the and I mean THE reason why awards should not matter to you, me, or anyone. So many have won awards and done nothing and then there are movie makers/artists who have never won awards and keep working doing their craft. I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts he'd give back those awards to have his career back.

[@BrendanJSmith]

Well he's dead, so...

[@GenerationX1967]

Fans of this channel may enjoy the book "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls; How the Sex,Drugs, and Rock and Roll Generation Saved Hollywood," by Peter Biskind, for a look at this and many other films from 1965-1982...

[@P0552]

Even better, go and try to find a copy of the book "Final Cut" but Stephen Bach - most of the book details the making of this film, Cimino's career, and how "Heaven's Gate" bankrupted United Artists and ended the classic era of American cinema for good. Fascinating read: www.amazon.com/Final-Cut-Making-Heavens-Artists/dp/1557043744

[@rmurphy440m]

”Easy Riders” is my absolute favorite book. I’ve read through it a dozen times. And as Austin mentions “Final Cut” is great too. I also recommend the documentary of the same name if you can find it, absolutely fascinating!

[@branagain]

It’s a great book

[@emmagrove6491]

There's many directors that claim that a movie bombs and has poor reception because the studio forced them to edit the film to a worse version that doesn't capture their vision. Siskel and Ebert make it clear that they think ANY version of this film would suck. Even the non-director's cut of Blade Runner had a true vision.

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

Just because they think that doesn’t mean it’s true.

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

@deadvoguestar Lemme be clearer: It’s a damn good movie. The only reason people hate it is because they can’t wrap their heads around it.

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

@deadvoguestar Having a tumultuous production history doesn’t make a film bad.

[@vulteiuscatellus4105]

@deadvoguestar “Broken and unnecessary”. Bach’s take on the film is jaded due to the money and time spent on it, so he’s no judge of the film’s aesthetic or storytelling qualities.

[@hamzarouri8454]

To tell the truth, I'm with the critics of 1980. I wanted to like this movie, because I adored Cimino's previous films Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and The Deer Hunter. However, I found this film to be extraordinarily dull and pointless, not to mention extremely misogynistic towards Isabelle Hupert's character. Sorry to say, but I just don't see the "misunderstood masterpiece of New Hollywood", some people see in this.

[@silversnail1413]

I don't think the intent of the film is misogynistic, although the period it's set in and some of the characters definitely are. Huppert's character is sexually assaulted, which is a very graphic and ugly scene, but she still comes across as fairly strong and self-sufficient in spite of everything. Cimino was probably just trying to depict how awful the period was for women who wanted to be independent.

[@hamzarouri8454]

@@silversnail1413 I see what you mean. But the problem I have, is that I just fail to see how strong or self-siffucient she was. To me, the film was written in such a way where it was hard for me to get any investment in any of these characters. Maybe you are right, and I just missed something. I just can't be bothered to revisit this movie to see myself. But hey, I do at least appreciate your take.

[@BookClubDisaster]

@@hamzarouri8454 It was the West in 1890. Women were far from liberated. So many women in Westerns are prostitutes but I think that's because that's how it was then.

[@AlonsoRules]

still better than Gotti

[@nicholasjanke3476]

I think the ending on the boat means that Jim was so devastated by Ella's death that he gave up on his 'for the people' mission out west, and chose to go back to his rich backgroubd East, and whatever work he did there previously. Its odd and somewhat contradictory being that all through the film, Jim seemingly missed his wife then when hes back with her, he behaves as if hes no longer in love with her.

[@bobthebear1246]

Roger Ebert's epic review of this film was so great when I read it back in 1996 that I finally found and rented the film 4 years later and it's pretty much as bad as he and Gene both described. I don't know that I would give it just a half-star, but it definitely gets nothing above one star for sure.

[@scottsmith7419]

I have always liked this movie. Surprise. It's long. But it is beautiful and well acted. plus the picture is not as dark as it is in this clip. I love the music, too. In the early 80's it was all the haughty rage to hate this movie. I saw it in a full theatre in Atlanta, and the audience applauded the roller skating sequence and cheered during the final battle. . . . But people are not so artificially "important" in Atlanta.

[@bradleyhayman2682]

scott smith ???

[@NoirFan84]

You talk sense. This is a beautifully shot, great movie. The version that isn't cut to ribbons that is. Most people are sheep. If critics were calling this the best film ever made then a lot of these people hating on it would be saying how fantastic it is too. 🙄

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

I've never met a person who has liked the movie.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

I've always liked this film. It's made more in the style of an European type western than a formula John Wayne one.

[@gterrymed]

If both say NO , then its usually a "NO" unless you're a TOTAL FAN of the genre in which case you love the film unconditionally

[@bareknuckles2u]

There is nothing to "misunderstand" about this movie. People who like it often say that it is "misunderstood." BS! This is just simply a bad movie! Hey, if you like it, fine. I like some bad music. But let's not pretend that there is anything being misunderstood by Siskel and Ebert here.

[@silversnail1413]

Siskel and Ebert misunderstood plenty of films. Ebert once described A Clockwork Orange as "a paranoid right-wing fantasy" because he was too much of a dolt to understand satire or nuance and Siskel completely missed out on the point of Taxi Driver, claiming that it should have been a romantic comedy. Just because they were respected critics who had their own show doesn't mean they were always right and they both had A LOT of bad takes in their careers.

[@brianvail9212]

I'm sure that 2 hr version was pretty bad, but the Criterion version is beautiful.

[@pandaeyes42]

In the immortal words of Monty Python, GET ON WITH IT!

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

Like Ishtar, it’s mainly known for its notoriety, and both don’t deserve it. However, Heaven’s Gate is a better made film than Ishtar. The cinematography and score are great. I get it-it’s an understated character study amidst an epic backdrop-but that still doesn’t justify its laborious running time, nor gross animal abuse onset. As The Onion AV Club said, when we’re talking about an all out war between land barons and immigrants, the problems of three people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

[@kali3665]

The worst thing was, everyone hated Heaven's Gate when it first came out, then when the Director's Cut came out years later, a lot of people said it was an improvement. It couldn't be worse. But, truthfully, I didn't care for the Director's Cut any more than liked the original. Now, admittedly, I haven't seen either in over a decade, but I could not see why Michael Cimino even bothered. It was the "Snyder Cut" of its day - the "Cimino Cut" - and, like the later case, the publicity was far stronger than the film turned out to be.

[@linkbiff1054]

BBC called this one of America's 100 best films. Geez!

[@NoirFan84]

link biff And right they are.

[@PRmoustache88]

No! Really?? Good thing we had that revolution. It saved us from a lot of boring movies.

[@eargasm1072]

how about actually watching the entire thing, then assessing and forming your own opinion? I doubt you have yet

[@linkbiff1054]

Sebastian Baca Gene and Roger have completely sold me on why this is a bad movie. Job well done on their behalf.

[@mikenavis2745]

I love Heaven's Gate. I think it's one of the most misunderstood films ever made. The remastered film on Blu-Ray has some wonderful visual poetry in it.

[@beckigreen]

Is it still so dusty that they had to use subtitles in some places, or did they cut that?

[@mikenavis2745]

@@beckigreen the dust is there but you can clearly see the action. Those silly subtitles are also gone. The whole color palette for the film has been tweaked. The film as remastered on the Criterion Blu-Ray has the look that Cimino intended as the original release was rushed into theaters before he can complete it. If you haven't seen it in it's current state, you owe it to yourself to see it again and give it another chance.

[@bradleyhayman2682]

Please enlighten us who misunderstood it.

[@richardenglish2195]

It's a misunderstood masterpiece, y'hear?! A MASTERPIECE!!! No, but seriously: when it came out a lot of critics took revenge on Cimino for refusing to let journalists cover the production - many of them trying to outdo each other on the vitriol. It's not without its problems (pacing, some of the performances, etc), but there's a great film in here that deserves more reappraisal.

[@hastobe303]

Not a masterpiece, but a good movie. It had the potential to be a masterpiece, though, and came pretty close. Yeah, it's dusty and smoky but come on.. The cinematography is beautiful. Classic Zsigmond and Cimino. They made some great stuff together. And the roller skating scene is one of the best things I've ever seen, so I've no idea what they're on about.

[@2ceBorn]

I get that this film doesn’t really add up to more than the some of its parts, but it’s “parts” are all mind blowing. Every scene is beautiful. The “roller skate” scene is divine. How can someone watch it and not have a strong emotional response? The ending is a little week, but everything right up to the dust battle (which is incredible in its own right) is cinematic perfection. I enjoyed it even more than Deer Hunter.

[@eargasm1072]

@@2ceBorn I'm more partial to Deer Hunter, but it's good to see there others who appreciate these films' exquisite photography and visuals, as well as the ambition and scope of their narrative

[@nicholasjanke3476]

I think mabey Cimino tried too hard to create so much historical detail. He mabey over did the old photograph look of the film.

[@kramalerav]

Gene perfectly summed up everything wrong with this film.

[@captainharris8980]

Interesting. I never saw it, buit heard about it. I'm glad I missed it.

[@JoeMama-tl4tr]

I wonder what they would have thought of the 2012 directors cut without the sepia tint

[@JoeMama-tl4tr]

The same people that hate Heavens Gate probably think Avengers Endgame was a masterpiece

[@popey129]

They were wrong. Now it's a masterpiece.

[@misternewoutlook5437]

They briefly mention the roller skating scene. Honestly, I had a hard time not switching it off during that "wtf" moment. But there's so many bad scenes, you can take your pick. It's interesting to watch The Deer Hunter afterward. You start seeing the same crappy formula. I never liked The Deer Hunter to start with, so there is some bias baked in I'll admit. But I'm sure those who did like Deer Hunter must have had some reconsiderations.

[@eargasm1072]

I know....too much exposition and detail which enhance the depth of the narrative and characterizations. Who wants to see all that boring shit in a movie, we don't want to feel involved or moved by it, just blow shit up and give us some titties and rears to grab our undivided "attention" right?? Whatever

[@misternewoutlook5437]

@@eargasm1072 Sarcastic incoherence doesn't help either, I know.

[@rmurphy440m]

"Help me!" LOL

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

Heaven’s Gate is a movie made so snobs can get mad at you for not loving it! 🤣

[@notchuckproductions5029]

It’s fascinating how both Heavens Gate and Mommie Dearest,both considered the worst movies of 1981 if not all time, when it released have been redeemed by history. Though both for different reasons

[@CanadianMonarchist]

Mommie Dearest has essentially been re-marketed as a comedy.

[@eargasm1072]

I find it ironic that two such esteemed film critics don't even mention or casually overlook Vilmos Zsigmond's outstanding cinematography and the ambition and scope of the movie itself, regardless...many times, critics just don't get or recognize the merits of some films as opposed to their flaws when originally released

[@bobcobb3654]

They did point out the cinematography. And I agree. Some nice landscape shots or wide shots of 500 extras on a town street don’t make up for entire sequences where there is so much dust, you can’t even tell who is on screen.

[@brianvail9212]

to much dust 🐴

[@gabbyb7347]

The movie looked terrible at the time too. It wasn't until restoration that this film finally found its audience.

[@eargasm1072]

@@bobcobb3654 the "too much dust" excuse is overdone...it's only in certain parts of the movie like the long battle scene at the end with hundreds fighting on horseback?? I would think they'd be kicking up quite a bit of dust...which makes it "realistic" and gives it authenticity. I really think the people who knock it so heavily just don't like or appreciate Westerns too much

[@eargasm1072]

@wayward_wyn you said it...oy vey!

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Why does the train conductor stare at Jim like that on the train? "He's putting his boots on? Wow!" and why does Jim tell Ella that he doesnt wantvto be seen in town? And if he didnt want anybody to know hes there why did he previously go to the headquarters of the cattlemen and threaten their leader???

[@IR17171717]

I watched the new cut a few years back and honestly can't remember any of it. It was so boring and left so little impression on me.

[@aliensoup2420]

I don't think I ever really understood what the movie was about, I was so distracted by the visuals and atmosphere. I mostly remember the more pretentious scenes which irritated me, such as the roller skating, and eating apple pie in bed.

[@nobodynothing00000]

the problem with the movie is the melodramatic love triangle. The story of the Johnson County War was already enough movie.

[@codypagels1598]

Finally saw this movie on a whim after hearing about what a disaster it was ever since I first got interested in movies. I didn’t love it, but I could name hundreds of worse movies.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Heaven's Gate is what's called the gothic western.

[@kpe727]

Ebert's background giggling all through SIskel's critique pretty much sums up why I can't take either of them seriously regarding this film -- they both seem so gleeful about savaging it, like they can't wait to tear it apart and get in some "wicked burns" to make themselves look clever and "above it." This isn't film criticism, it's a hit job. Any critic who takes this kind of smug, superior attitude is in it for the wrong reasons and is doing a disservice to their readers/viewers by not engaging honestly with the work and only using it as a punching bag to show off.

[@josephine1465]

or maybe it really was just a terrible movie

[@branagain]

I tried watching it but after 30 minutes I turned it off. Too boring.

[@stevenwagner27]

One of the worst films ever made it's a history film lesson where the director just keep shooting and shooting going over budget, schedule and shooting this really weird yet complicated story and it just didn't make any sense and in the end it was a poorly made movie like there was a screen with the actors wearing hockey helmets and roller skating that was deleted from the film and the film was directed by the director of the deer hunter witch is considered one of the greatest movies ever made and of the 1970s which was nominated for the best picture best screenplay all the awards and after this it changed how making a film was done in hollywood the studios took away the directors having all the power

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

I wonder if they can do a good movie with the same script.

[@daemonchild1977]

This review has aged badly. A truly great movie which has been largely vindicated.

[@Dhampir101980]

By whom?

[@allsystemsgo8678]

I don't about largely vindicated. The reviews have soften over the years. But they could only go up since it easy completely eviscerated when it was released.

[@copperdog]

@@Dhampir101980 It has a 3.6 score in Letterboxd (that's high). The movie is also part of the Criterion Collection.

[@bobcobb3654]

J G Criterion collection will do restorations for any film that someone pays to restore. Michael Bay has 2 movies in the Criterion Collection.

[@rt1326]

the movie is a mess, but the detail and cinematography is its highlight. I am surprised to hear ebert trashing that aspect.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Heaven's Gate and Legend of the Lone Ranger, two not bad at all westerns that came out at the wrong time, when interest in westerns are fading. Both westerns show a more dire, grittier, realistic view of the old west which also probably turned away audiences. I disagree with Gene Siskal, Heaven's Gate is never boring. The film is very interesting.

[@dereksupernaut]

awesome movie, 2:00 is a great example...

[@christinacascadilla4473]

No, I just bought this movie on DVD. I have the 3 1/2 half hour version. It’s terrible. It needed a complete script rewrite and a different director.

[@dereksupernaut]

@@christinacascadilla4473 its beautiful & honest... the flowing of the dresses during the Harvard Dance, the shadow of the Christopher Walken before he shotguns the fella with the meat, the french whore who tells it like it is and rides her horse so hard i thought they would crash in town--then refusing to leave the land she loves, the speed of the rolling skating party which easily could have turned serious injuries, the wide open mountain landscapes, the epic final battle... i think it for folks that know the world is not straight white males suppressing everyone else, but rather the powerful suppressing the weak; combined with a celebration of true beauty... i have it as the #18 greatest movie ever...

[@christinacascadilla4473]

@@dereksupernaut that movie stinks.

[@alcd6333]

It's actually a good film (saw the 3 1/2 hour version), but not a great one. The main problem is it lacks a solid story. Most people know nothing about the Johnson County Wars (many cannot answer who fought in the Civil War!), which works against it. The cinematography is impressive, shot on location in Wyoming and Montana. The sets, props, and costumes are historically accurate with attention to detail. As for all that dust, what do you expect? It was the 1880s - there were no roads, just dirt trails.

[@pjoseph1658]

I wanted, like many, to love this movie, especially being a teenager, and having seen The Deer Hunter. I thought that directors Cimino, Coppola, Scorsese were the best. But at eighteen years old, what did I know then. I am 60, now. I see it for what it is. A dreamed of masterpiece in Cimino's mind, like The Deer Hunter, but to top it, and all other movies made before it. Even Citizen Kane. But it was not to be. Cimino is no Welles, Griffith, Ford. He was (now that he is dead) a spoiled brat. Immature, infantile emperor, bloated ego, ponderous arrogance. His only saving grace---his painterly qualities, and fine taste for music. But he was a terrible, illogical, screenwriter, and a pompous ass of a director. A legend in his own mind. Totally deluded, with no producer to reign him in. The less said about this movie the better. And never to confuse it with real masterpieces, and fine movies that came before it by mature and talented directors, and after. It is a blot in the history of film.

[@BookClubDisaster]

Cimino just wasn't good at pacing at all. Even The Deer Hunter, if we're being honest, suffers from this a bit.

[@maryestan4331]

Mr. Walken; what were you thinking??? I can hear your Queens accent.

[@johntaylor1981]

Two thumbs down! 👎 Siskel & Ebert!

[@ethanedwards7557]

40 years later and many consider it a masterpiece.

[@AlonsoRules]

the current version is not the theatrical release

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

It’s ridiculous indulgent! Just endless scenes of establishing shots and crowds and nudity and dancing…. Barely ANY dialog! There’s nothing to care about as a viewer.

[@eargasm1072]

And they hated "Dune" too when released...another underrated film

[@travisrlel2]

Dune is silly but at least entertaining, and has some great visuals. Heaven's Gate is just dull.

[@eargasm1072]

@@travisrlel2 Depends what one finds "dull"...although it has its slow sections, I did not find it dull. And like "Dune", it does have exceptional photography and visuals. But I really like Westerns, and their wide natural landscapes and panoramas

[@thevoid99]

well, it wasn't that great either. i still love siskel and ebert despite the fact that ebert was wrong on both "a clockwork orange" and "full metal jacket". he still wrote one of the greatest reviews ever on "north". that was a BAD movie.

[@powerpopjoey]

In recent years it has become "in vogue" to look back on Heaven's Gate as a lost treasure or a misunderstood masterpiece. It is definitely neither. People love to think they're special when it comes to understanding a "misunderstood" film, or when finding and appreciating a lost, unappreciated work of art. When it comes to Heaven's Gate, there's a simple term for those people. Pompous Imbeciles. At the time of its release, Heaven's Gate was DESERVEDLY considered a disaster and quickly became the biggest financial failure in film history (at that time). Michael Cimino shot 120 hours of content from which a 5 hour version, 3 and a half hour version, and an hour and a half version exist. No matter which version you see, it's going to be an excruciatingly awful viewing experience. The film is a lifeless, poorly conceived disaster.

[@silversnail1413]

It's much better than The Deer Hunter, which was essentially just a piece of racist, dehumanizing propaganda wrapped up in a thick layer of sappy melodrama. Heaven's Gate is an honest film, poetic yet unsentimental, and it was way too honest and real for American critics to appreciate. Thankfully the film was appreciated in Europe and is regarded in a much better light today, regardless of what gatekeeping pedants like you may think. Martin Scorsese even praised it and claimed it has many overlooked virtues, and the opinion of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time is worth more than those of a million pretentious armchair critics.

[@blastbeatindustries3191]

This is the "western" which begins at Harvard and ends on a yacht. Disgraceful. Cimino is/was awful.

[@SupremacySinema]

Blastbeat Industries it was trying to be a more true to life portrayal of the west. Not the typical cowboys and Indians stuff hollywood normally throws at us

[@eargasm1072]

And still more of an "artsy" filmmaker who took risks than just about anyone we have nowadays

[@blastbeatindustries3191]

@@SupremacySinema That's also called "missing the point."

[@SupremacySinema]

Blastbeat Industries what is “the point”?

[@mikesilva3868]

Worst movie ever made 😅

[@NovaFeedback1979]

Not it's not. Give me a break.

[@mikesilva3868]

​@@NovaFeedback1979okay everybody has their opinions 😊

[@christopherthorkon3997]

Worst film ever.

[@ns281]

$36 MM to say that lawless ranchers and corporations answer to nobody - then and now. Just put a microphone in front of them and they will say it for free.