Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate (Part 8 of 8)

[Ziru322]

So I think what we all have learned from this documentary is that Americans are stupid and too susceptible to what the news tells them.

[servo90]

Thanks for the upload. Gene Shalit was an idiot.

[grtas1]

Thanks greatly for this upload. It's really helped with the research for my book.

[AllusCats]

Heavens Gate is a work of art albeit, a little too long. To ask art (it) to translate itself into cashflow is like asking sliced prime rib of beef to make of itself a ham sandwich. It could've been done better, for sure and it should've been managed better by the studio. What passes for movies nowadays should be shown out on the Nevada atomic test sites in open-air venues where you're given shovels to dig trenches from which you can watch them from a safe distance.

[AllusCats]

The Johnson County War and what led up to it was certainly a story that movie-goers have loved. SHANE is of/about the types of goings-on that led to it and it changed movie history. Filmed in Jackson Hole through telephoto lenses to make everything in focus SHANE was thrilling, visually. If Heaven's Gate had been made by a less compulsive, more financially realistic director and if Cimino had stuck exactly to the history of the Johnson County War he might've succeeded in his goal of perfection.

[Jdub14000]

At 0:57. Now that's an afro! 

[EverettDudgeon138]

It's also odd to me that a director like Welles had complete control and yet he always finished under budget and under schedule. I don't think (as the ending has said) it had anything to do with money or anything, it was just the business people wanted to take over the movie people in order to manipulate people and sell products and make more money. As Daffoe stated it's hard to see how films are better off.

[thedrmat]

It was a very interesting analysis on how a moviemaking experience can go horribly wrong, with devastating consequences to many people. Just like they said, an ideal cautionary tale. And WTF?? Cimino looks quite well in that interview segment from 7:30-7:54; what the hell did he do to himself later, to look like a cheap, ugly tranny?

[Miles3363]

I looked at Gene Shalit and was like WTF

[Urvy1A]

Michael Cimino was the Rarity (the pony who's obsessed with perfection) of movies., obsessed with perfection. And his obsession was the death of this turd of a bloated film.

[crownvic03]

So why doesn't Shalit question every director then about the budget of a movie? Sure 36 million is ton of money, but what about films that cost 3-5 million at the time? How many familys would that feed?

[jksonny]

Shalit's questions were definitely irrelevant and condescending. And Cimino is an arrogant twit.

[auggie87]

Kristofferson is a badass

[cerclerouge]

I find frustratingg the generalisation that apparently all of EUROPE (quite a large continent!) sees Heaven's Gate as a work of art.

[Urvy1A]

@cerclerouge Europe loves bad films apparently.

[MassimoPiai]

@Urvy1A nah... lately we are getting used to loving good ones, like "transformers"

[McLarenMercedes]

@Urvy1A

I don't know. Twilight and Transformers were far bigger hits in the USA than in Europe.

Bladerunner and Once Upon A Time in the west were well received in Europe.

I rest my case.

[lamentate07]

@cerclerouge Nobody said that 'all' of Europe saw Heaven's Gate as an accomplished work of art. It was simply stated that European critics saw it that way. Obviously not every critic thought it was great but that isn't the point. The point was that it was well received in Europe, and not in America. There are no time for specifics in a documentary like this.

I'd say by Europe they mean France, Germany, Italy etc. the 'big' countries

[EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

I agree with the third man interviewed- I think ultimately it was WHAT the movie was about that hurt it- it was so obscure that nobody cared or was ignorant.

[EverettDudgeon138]

@EricAKATheBelgianGuy So do I. People didn't complain that 2001 was long or obscure or that The Human Condition was 9 1/2 hours long. The press killed the film and blurred any opinions people may have had.

[rgrksa]

Thanks for upload. This was an unique insight into moviemaking, I was glued to my chair all throughout this documentary.

[DaveLucas427]

"Heaven's Gate" is an interesting movie...for all the wrong reasons. Sluggishly paced, dusty photography and muddled sound make the film almost unwatchable. Sitting thru it is a major challenge, yet it should be seen out of curiosity alone. Just don't expect great entertainment.

[delavalmilker]

Having just finished watching this entire documentary, one gets the impression that by this time in his career Cimino was totally lost in megalomania. So much so that he felt he didn't have to worry about protests from mere mortals like studio execs.

I also strongly suspect he was surrounded by flunkies and yes-men who wouldn't dare trouble the Great One with such trivialities as budgets and cost overruns. Or suggest to him that his monumental opus was actually a boring flop.

[trulysarcastic]

Part of the legend of failure that surrounds the film is bad luck.But, you ahve to consider some of the facts. Why did they choose Kris Kristophern to lead a 3 1/2 hr epic? He's a mediocre actor at best. Cimino hasn't helped either by becoming a virtual recluse amd refusing to ever talk about the movie. I think it's sad how The Deer hunter was reappraised following HG's failure. I thought Year of the dragon was a very good movie and the critics kiled that movie as well.

[TheGatorfan93]

@trulysarcastic Well said,the casting of kristopherson was ridiculous,huppert just as much(for different reasons,being french).But in the end,everything appraised, it fails on every level.Script,editing,sound are atrocious.There is not drama,tension.Eventually,even the only real strength,beside the music,the great visuals,are inconsistant,because of trying to make it TOO authentic.But this documentary proves,talking about heavens gate,is sure hell of alot better than watching the awful film.

[jbdream3]

This is so disappointing because I have The Deer Hunter on DVD and to think that that film won 5 academy awards plus best picture and this film was such an utter failure, Cimino went from one extreme to another, it's as if the achievement with The Deer Hunter never even existed. It's just so hard to believe that both movies are total black and white, The Deer Hunter was a perfect movie and Heaven's Gate was a "Don't let this happen to you" movie.

[Atlasfilms08]

@jbdream3 Eh there are certainly signs in the Deer Hunter that Cimino could make something like Heaven's gate if given the freedom. The Deer Hunter certainly had sequences towards the beginning that could have been cut because they were slow and didn't add enough to the story to be in there. He probably could have shaved off 20 minutes or so and would have been left with an even better film. It's funny to see the contrasting directing styles of Eastwood and Cimino in reference to Tbolt & Lfoot.

[everton1941]

Thirty to fifty years from now Heaven's Gate will be appearing on greatest ever lists. When all of the really amusing tales from this documentary are forgotten, when Criterion has released a five-disc box set, people will finally judge the film solely on its merits. The 219min version currently available on dvd has endured as well as Peckinpah's Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, in my opinion. Or, fuck it, even The Searchers. And that's the triple truth, Ruth.

[lukebccb]

@everton1941: No.  It won't be appearing on any "greatest lists". Ever.

Movies need to be "reevaluated" within approximately a few years to two decade time frame or it's never going anywhere. Plus "Searchers" was never considered "flop" nor was "Vertigo".

"Once Upon A Time In The West" and "Once Upon A Time In America" were given "reevaluation" within approximately a 10-15 year time frame and went from "bad" to "greatest"

(cont.)

[thevoid99]

@lukebccb well, with the films of leone. they were cut by people who weren't involved in the production. when people saw the full versions of those movies, they realized that it's a masterpiece. "heaven's gate" isn't that bad of a film but it is a bloated mess. it's still going to have an uneasy reputation while michael cimino has pretty much disappeared.

[lukebccb]

@everton1941: "heaven's gate" is not forgotten nor being "rediscovered". On the contrary it's in circulation and the reviews for the original 4 hour version have been consistently in the "B-" or "2 1/2 stars" rating...... meaning the "re-evaluation" has already taken place and "heaven's gate" has had it's "reputation" "reestablished" and that is "heaven's gate" is, at best, a flawed but watchable movie.

YOU have your opinion of "greatist list" but the public consensus is no.

[72Yonatan]

It is a shame that the film is more appreciated outside of Hollywood, but it only shows that many American film goers are unable to appreciate their own history. In that sense, whatever the faults of the director, and whatever budget was spent, it may have been the best effort of Cimino. I liked The Deer Hunter, but never got a chance to see this film.

[RyanStileswliia]

@72Yonatan

Haha, this film is about as historically accurate as the patriot. Cimino wanted to make the Ultimate Anti-Western and prove that the West was formed by rich, psychotic and powerful landowners who abused the hell out of poor immigrants who were in search of another life.

The entire final battle of the movie never happened. Its just meant to show that the cattleman's armada is here to preserve their property from immigrants. About only 4-5 people died in actuality. Still, i like it

[RyanStileswliia]

@72Yonatan

I really do think this is a good movie. I think the media unfailry targeted Cimino when he was trying hard to create a masterpiece. Despite the inaccuracy, I think the movie should be studied in classes, with Gangs of New York and Titanic, to show the poor conditions many immigrants lived in and how they trukked across country to settle in the west.

[platovaya]

Ive never heard of this movie. So many famous actors... I feel like the director stole the money, this is just too bombastic to believe....

[GTBurns48215]

1980 the Audience's taste in films changed by the time this film came out. 1975 saw the debut of jaws and then1977 Saw the coming of Star Wars then Superman. The age of the blockbuster began and films like Cimino's were no longer wanted.

Public wanted to be entertained and to escape, not to be bored with some directors self indulgent ego. In many ways we are full circle with audiences Anti-Iraq war films flop (many of those were bad as well) while films like Transformers sell tickets.

[GTBurns48215]

Difference between James Cameron with Avatar and Titanic and Cimino with Heaven's gate is that Cameron's films made money. You do see the same ego and same obsession and attention to detail bordering in mental illness.

[TeehpodT]

@GTBurns48215 No, the main difference is that "Titanic" and "Avatar" are crap whereas "Heaven's Gate" is grand cinema.

[darkkramer666]

@TeehpodT yes, its IS grand cinema.........on the MOON.

yes, on the MOON Cimino is loved and revered.........and everyone must watch Heavens Gate daily.....ON THE MOON.

[MagnesDrachen13]

$44 million and it has two fans. Boy, that was worth it. Cmino wanted his epic and he got it, he got HIS epic. Too bad no one else cared.

[Supenmanu]

Does anybody remember the Deer Hunter?

But people remember Heaven's Gate (as the biggest Flop - but at least they remember it)

[donniegerrard]

@Supenmanu according to wikipedia, The Deer Hunter (good film) took a major bashing after Heavens Gate was released. Apparently many reviewers who had initially praised The Deer Hunter re-reviewed it and slated it. Suspected that it was a way to further stick the knife into Cimino when all the bad reviews of Heavens Gate were hitting public domain.

[trinityj1]

@Supenmanu Anyone who gives any kind of shit about cinema remembers The Deer Hunter, I watched it recently because I've absorbed that it's an important film through cultural osmosis without anyone ever telling me it was important. I'd heard of Heaven's Gate only once in passing on late-night tv years ago, all they said was that it was a legendary failure.

[dropzone52761]

Cimino and Kristofferson are two of the biggest pompous asses on the planet, put them together for a movie, what else could they expect?

[simonpenum]

I'm delighted this film was a disaster and I'm overjoyed that it ruined Cimino's career. He willingly tortured and killed a vast number of animals in this endeavour. I have nothing but utter contempt for the man

[CristinaFernandez]

@simonpenum You bring up an interesting point. As a result of the cruelty to horses on this film, Hollywood's entire policy changed and it required ASPCA people on set to witness treatment of animals. Thanks to this movie and the public outcry over it, every movie has the stamp "No Animals were harmed in the making of this film."

[blue32ism]

It took him five fucking months to edit out an hour.

what bullshit

[jngr1]

@blue32ism To be fair, that sounds about on pace with everything else involving this movie.

[JuanMacready]

Worst film ever made. I hope Kristofferson dies of cancer.

Soon.

[gupsphoo]

Only a moron would tie everything to politics.

[industrialsun]

Guy's comments at 2:57 sum it all up. Movie business and nation were changing, becoming more conservative. Leftwingers were slow to realize this movement because US domestic/economic status was decent from the bicentennial in 1976 until Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979. By start of new decade people were fed up with excess and cynicism of 1970s. HG was spawned from those conditions. People were eager to move in new direction and this bleak story/self-indulgent filmmaking process was not part of it

[primeholyassasin20]

Heaven's gate's problem is that it doesn't justify it's indulgence. There's a decent western about immigrant mistreatment in the west buried in there, but too many long pointless scenes of dialogue and other stuff that doesn't contribute to character development or plot, leaving these vacuous boring spaces that cloud the film up in boredom. i wouldn't say the film is without any virtue, but given it's expense, I expected more.

[frantic1971]

I always thought Gene Shalit was a poor excuse for a movie critic.

[zooeyhall]

Are there people picketing in the background at 0:53?

[GriNGoLocoTe]

@zooeyhall: Yes the signs say "Boycott Heavens Gate". Why would people boycott a movie? I think this is fishier than what this documentary makes us see.

[HVACSoldier]

@GriNGoLocoTe There were allegations of animal abuse.

[GriNGoLocoTe]

@HVACSoldier. Hmm.. Did they prove anything?

[AJoeProduction]

0:40 what are the people protesting in the background?

[jngr1]

@AJoeProduction If you freeze-frame it at 0:33 you can see a sign that mentions animal cruelty under the larger headline "Boycott Heaven's Gate." Thiis movie is notorious- aside from it being a flop- for how animals were treated on the set.

[todtubetod]

The sound is more offending for me than anything. It's over-indulgent, and half the time makes it impossible to hear what the characters are saying. There is not much of a plot. I love to 'lose' myself in a film but it needs to make up it's mind what it's going to be - either a mood piece or a plot/character driven film. Heaven's Gate isn't clear on those terms, so it's frustrating to watch. I'd really like to see the first 5 + hour version though.

[todtubetod]

The movie has some of the most realistic scenes of the West ever filmed. The music is the only uplifting part of it all, even the beautiful cinematography is somehow depressing. Maybe too much dust, but wasn't that the way the West really was?

[todtubetod]

The book 'Final Cut' is a lot like Heaven's Gate the movie - it promises to be a big deal, and ends up with not much happening. Bach was only on the set 2 times.

What really happened during the Johnson County Wars was different in many ways than what the film shows. So much for Cimino's insistance on historically accurate detail. I guess it was more important to knock a set down so it could be moved 3 feet than to get the story correct.

[TheGatorfan93]

I think this film IS the worst film ever made,because ultimately,when you judge it as a whole?There's nothing memorable about it.Horribly miscast(kristopherson has no charisma,huppert,walken are also bad choices).No tension,no engaging plot,poor sound,poor visuals(some are beautiful...but ultimately ruined,by trying to hard).Im fascinated by this film because i think its the biggest waste in cinematic history.But cimino did accomplish something with this film,a cure for insomnia.

[quidseeker]

This a great doc...y'all should read Biskind's take on it....saying this movie single-handedly brought down the auteur filmmaking of the '70's by it's commercial/critical failures. I like portions of it (the opening at Harvard, the street scenes in Helena, Terry Lewis as a homicidal beartrapper ready to cut off tongues, Sam Waterston as a vile landgrabber, the final 'Bonnie and Clyde' ending), but the overdub and dialogue was muddy and hard to make out.

[1917redstar]

I'm glad Jeff Bridges got a nice log cabin out of this, makes it all worthwhile somehow.

[industrialsun]

Do not feel sorry for Cimino. He did what he wanted and his vision was on the screen. The movie was not good. A major flaw was all the smoke and dust that he chose to film, dooming Zsigmond's otherwise splendid cinematography. John Hurt (a fine actor) gave a performance that was hideously awful. Most importantly, the movie's storyline is not a proud moment in US history and American audiences did not need another reason at the end of the 70s to feel lousy about everything.

[pjdr]

I'm actually really intrested in seeing this movie now. I haven't seen the Deer Hunter in a long time but from what I can remember it was good. I liked Year of the Dragon but I'm probably in the minority there.

[JetblastAZ]

I actually watched the origial 3 hr 49 min version of "Heaven's Gate" - it was the most painful movie I ever saw. Only when "Pearl Harbor" was released - when 90 minutes into it you start rooting for the Japanese to get it over with - was nearly as painful. "Heaven's Gate" is a piece of shit.

[shipman1]

I never liked Gene Shalit. He's a hack film critic. I now hate Gene Shalit.

[80sfanfreak]

I really do feel sorry for Cimino. Even though it was a bad movie, he didn't have to get beaten down like he did. And in all truth, he's certainly not the first film maker to suffer a critcal and/or commercial flop and he certainly isn't the last.

[carefreeforever]

This director is just as bad as a pedophille. And the execs are gutless twits

[teesee03]

@carefreeforever

"This director is just as bad as a pedophille."

Oh really? What a vile, idiotic comment to make.

He squandered a lot of other people's money, and they let him do it. End of story.

[carefreeforever]

@teesee03 and he should be jailed for life for trying to harness power a commoner should never have. He blackmailed the execs

[teesee03]

@carefreeforever

Would you care to make any more ludicrous comparisons? Boston strangler? Al Capone? Hitler, maybe?

I don't know where you got your education, but you ought to be a good citizen and demand a refund. It was sold to you under false pretences.

[carefreeforever]

@teesee03 have you seen the background documentary on this? He treatened to walk away if he didnt get his way, aka blackmail - therefore a criminal. The execs should always write a contract in thier favor to begin with, only then do they have the upper hand.

[eng20007]

Interesting doc and the book Final Cut by Steven Bach is worth reading.

I watched the first 45 minutes of the long cut many years ago. A really boring film. I think it's visually really ugly and oppressive in its camera work and sepia lighting. On a shot by shot basis it might look okay but after five minutes it beats you down. Just a really boring story very poorly filmed. Audience poison. I wonder how many people have got to the end?

[BufordStone]

Critics trashed "Heaven's Gate" and paved the way for real crap to dominate in the 80's like the Don Simpson movies.

[Urvy1A]

Those movies were successful and made on time, unlike Cimino's disaster of a film.

[Colt2571]

but they're still shit

[TheGatorfan93]

Heavens gate was made an example of,but it was justified...it was horrible.If there was an agenda to stop runaway productions,then why laud apocalypse now?Because AN is compelling,and cimino's was an easy target.The only people who think this film is a masterpiece,just wanna stand out.But you will notice,they never give you a reason why,except certain set pieces,and the music.Sorry,that doesn't make a film a masterpiece.

[FrankClanton]

Heaven's Gate was shit.

[carefreeforever]

@FrankClanton It wasnt shit, it was utter garbage, ive seen b movies that are better

[mike1964180]

The question was ridiculous. There's a book about the making of Titanic when the press were after Cameron and expecting the film to tank, and the point was made that the 200million spent was ALWAYS going to be spent on movies. The big deal was you only get ONE roll of the dice, instead of say 2 Eddie Murphy films and a stallone film. U get one shot. The press for Titanic was just as bad in the lead-up and in fact it was great internet buzz after a test screening that turned everything around.

[GriNGoLocoTe]

@mike1964180. I don't get it, since I think Titanic sucks balls.

[laserman]

"... In Europe, where it is still considered an accomplished work of art."

That can't be true, or else Ciminio would have found work in Europe like Gilliam and Allen did after their respective strings of flops.

[THEFRANKLINFILM]

Bridges the Whoremaster!

[frantic1971]

A fascinating documentary. I am old enough to remember when this film came out, and all the negative stuff about it.

Thanks for posting!

[vonkruge]

The story here is what is wrong with Hollywood and something that can't be changed. A film has to make a profit those profits are used to make movies that small numbers of people will see. There can be blockbusters and art movies together. It also proves that budget doesn't make a good movie

[KazuoKiriyama666]

And it also shows that if you give everything to one guy and boost his ego up to ridiculous levels, and allow free reign and total control over a movie, then you're an idiot who shouldn't run a company. UA had their heads in the clouds and Cimino was taking advantage.

[Stukov16]

I can't believe people complain about this movie when the US government spends astronomical amounts of money in weaponry; amounts way, way crazier than any Heaven's Gate...

Maybe it's just me, but I prefer a financial artistic flop rather than sending young Americans to Iraq, a war that completely escapes their concerns...

Give Cimino all the money he wants. Filmmaking doesn't kill people. Governments spend much more on destruction than any ego-driven film, which is actually a masterpiece.

[HeadlessEye]

"Give Cimino all the money he wants."

Why don't you start? Take your life's savings and put it toward's Cimino's next production. He isn't killing anyone right? Easy to talk when it isn't your money.

[thegirl44]

@HeadlessEye

I wouldn't trust Cimino with my lunch money. He would waste it all on penny candy and glitter stickers.

[Stukov16]

@HeadlessEye Oh yeah, because the Studios are poor... Movies are the third source of income in the US, so I think they'll be fine without some precious dollars.

[thegirl44]

@Stukov16

I've read some idiotic, irrelevant, self serving strawman bullshit on this site before, but your comment takes the cake.

[dzanier]

I'll grant that it's ridiculous to have the non-creative people making the decisons but you can't have a director doing all that he wants with a studio's money and not being at all responsive to their complaints or inquiries. Cimino probably thought he'd encounter less resistance because of his recent success at that time. Producers hire directors and give them money to spend money to make a movie. But that money is not unlimited and if they expect a profit that's just the way it is.

[Ramble1212]

cool he lives in a whorehouse!!!

[voidingindigo]

I think that "Heaven's Gate" is mainly for the kind of audience that would go for Malick and Tarkovsky rather than a typical Hollywood crowd. It's good for its cinematography and its attention to details and also for its overall mood. You might also find some feeling, poetry or sophistication in it. However, the problem is that it mostly doesn't let you into the minds of the characters, that a couple of scenes are just lame, and that it's definitely not fun.

[Ramble1212]

what a load of pure human shit .

[SinAutor]

that interviewer with the mad hair, what he says about families earning money is neither here nor there. whats he tryin to say, that cimino is at fault for all the poor people in the world??

[voidingindigo]

Yeah, you could say the same thing about any big budget movie. And what's more, any money that gets spent on a movie goes toward cast and crew and materials, so it did go into feeding some families.

[HiredGunz]

yeah it was an idiotic loaded question

[dzanier]

Gene Shalit was a fucking idiot for asking that question. It has nothing to do with the making of movies

[halbie71]

For sure Gene Shalit is a dumbshit!!!!

[connaught2008]

@dzanier i hear ya, hes a fckin clown

[NeoTRP]

I think he asked a good question. america spends FAR too much money on films.

[scorsese86]

Lol, Jeff Bridges lives in the whorehouse. God, what a, erm, dude!

[almanacofsleep]

@gabryniasz, try watching some good movies!

[feyd8194]

there is something to be said for ambition.

[infestedfrank]

The movie just seemed too coordinated and overall fake. Movies need room for improvision to bring other minds and touches to make things real. Realism can never be created by a script, only an outline.

[larches]

When Heaven's Gate was released it could be seen as functioning as a cautionary allegory of where the country was headed, I.e. towards the establishment of a new robber barons guided gilded age, which was not a cultural flag that the more traditional movie-goers here wanted to be bothered with at that time, and which the then new regime would have been glad to see criticized and buried. I wonder if a copy of the original 5+ hour version is available?

[GlitterMike]

That's an interesting observation, since the film's release coincided with Reagan's electoral victory.

[larches]

An interesting documentary. Heaven's Gate is a film of earth-shaking brilliance. What are it's flaws as a film? Seriously? I've seen the film 5 times and can't find them.

[almanacofsleep]

There are much better films told in much less time, its too micro managed and is very boring.

[equifilibricum]

The Deer Hunter is one of the best movies ever made. It's brilliant on so many levels. It will be impossible to make a judgment on Heaven's Gate until it is seen in it's 5 plus hour version. Some of the clips shown in this doc were magnificent cinematically--so how was the story? At any rate it had to be better than the damn-awful Titanic and that cost 3 times as much.

[kubrickfan21]

awful film,meandering waste of a movie.Incoherent plot,dialouge,characters and even visuals.

[GriNGoLocoTe]

@equifilibricum. Yeah man! Those scenes of the town with all the dust and smoke billowing are incredible. I want to see this movie now! I'm pretty sure it's not as bad as people have said it was.

[armendoza]

If Mary Pickford, Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D. W. Griffith were alive they would kick the heck out of Cimino for violating the first rule when making movies: You have to deliver something that people truly want to pay money to see

My impression is that Cimino got into a very bad ego trip and created a mediocre movie as bloated and oversized as his ego.

[Vitzilantis]

Have you seen Heaven's Gate?

[09nob]

sometimes films are made that the public didn't know they wanted to see until they saw them, sometimes these films are popular sometimes not, by your rational half of the great films of the seventies should never of been made.

[achoiusa]

@armendoza Come on now, DW Griffith was famous for perfectionism and movie way over budget also.

[RyanStileswliia]

@armendoza

Agreed! He just wanted to make a marxist movie showing that America is this awful racist country where the rich powerful and wealthy abuse the poor.

[ymir1621]

@RyanStileswliia  Isn't it?

[RyanStileswliia]

I agree with @armendoza

I think the main problem with this movie was the script. The writing just felt so lifeless and forced. Cimino was the only person with the idea for this movie; he never showed it to anyone else and only he knew how he wanted to direct it, so no wonder there was complete confusion and chaos with the extras on the set.

Heaven's Gate is a flawed classic in my opinion.

[flmlvr]

@armendoza Though I don't disagree that Cimino's ego was NOT in check, there was probably another reason that nobody here that I've seen address yet: Cimino for years tried to get this particular script produced. The frustration of him trying to produce the script had everything to do with him going out of control when he had a chance to realize his dream. He was out to prove he deserved that oscar, and dammit, he was going to make a masterpiece. Of course that why it bombed......

[petuniamighty]

the press are not responsible for this hollywood does npt care about hollywood that is why all the amazing landmarks are destroyed. no objection from hollywood. so trying to make him a creative genius. he was insane ,you can still make a directos movie and watch over the production

[CriticalDamage91]

Good doc, definitely interested in watching it now, don't hate me

[bigbadburner]

your a fool, worst movie ever. The roller skating scene? honestly

[DoubleTalkingJive]

First of all, it's "you're", not "your". Secondly, blow me. It's visual masterpiece; a milestone of excellence in cinema. Just overlong and lagging in story at times.

[dsbnh]

Haha. Pedantic corrections. The first thing someone with nothing better to say does in the hopes that his argument will look like putting someone in their place. The film is a mess and "visual masterpiece" is only appropriate when there is something beneath the visuals.

[TedGoranson69]

No. 2001 is a visual masterpiece. 8 1/2 is a visual masterpiece. Days of Heaven is a visual masterpiece. This was a good looking movie that is the equivalent of a sorority initiation that the sheer amount of suffering and lack of narrative, intellectual, or emotional substance leaves a number of viewers feeling like they must have sat through it for a reason. Not everything that fucks over the man is smart or good.

[armendoza]

"Just overlong and lagging in story at times. "

So, what you are basically saying is that the movie is boring and confusing like heck, but the photography is brillant.

Oh Well, for me that doesn't qualify as a good movie. Just a sucky movie with decent visuals.

[bigbadburner]

I liked this documentary, but Heaven's Gate is one of the worst movies ever made. It also is the reason why they put no animals were harmed in making this film because apparently they were doing some fucked up things to horses on this shoot.

[Gaur1983]

I count 1000 American families not 100. :)

[Gaur1983]

1400 to be exact....

[DoubleTalkingJive]

Fuck the crtitics. Cimino's a genius. I'll put "Deer Hunter", "Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, "Heaven's Gate", and "Year of the Dragon" next to any four movies by any director ever.

[bigbadburner]

heaven's gate was horrible, just terrible. your a fool if you think it was as good as any movie out there you big dousche bag

[DoubleTalkingJive]

It may be a "horrible, just terrible" movie but nowhere near as horrible and terrible as your spelling, fuck-head.

[kensuke0]

What the hell are you? The spelling gestapo?

[julesmorton]

Deer Hunter was all propaganda, it is a fact that russian roulette wasn't used as torture in vietnam, and having that in the back of my mind i thought it was all unbelievable rubbish.

Heavens Gate was more pretentious bollocks and hours upon hours of bordem by a man who thought he was Francis Ford Coppola, or Orson Welles, and was backed by weak men, who couldn't handle money to save their souls.

[FireItUpProductions]

He looks like Mike Myer's version of Steve Rubell in '54'

The Deer Hunter is one of the best films ever made. Heavens Gate was brilliant also. Can't wait to see Cimino's new work (the Sicilian lacked that's for sure)

[timtak1]

The Sicilian was pretty awful, I thought. I had read the novel and was dissappointed by the film.

I am also rather embarrassed to say that I was not all that impressed by the Dear hunter.

[samoanbob]

Cimino looks like John Lovitz.

[jakestephans]

Can't wait to see Cimino's next film 'Man's Fate'. I believe it's going to be amazing.

FUCK FILM CRITICS! It was shitty journalism that hurt this film, not shitty filmmaking. GO CIMINO GO!

[jakestephans]

pretty good doc. thanks for uploading. It's hard not to kind of feel bad for Cimino. It's not like he wasn't working the hard on the film. It's brutal how the film critics responded to 'Heaven's Gate'. Like what Vilmos Zsigmond says at the beginning of the documentary... it's hard to point out flaws in the film. It's a masterpiece that needs to be rediscovered and probably will. There needs to be a special edition DVD release.

[edbermac]

Great documentary! Anyone think that Cimino sounds a lot like Christopher Walken?

[cagwa]

This was great, as was the FInal Cut book. The bottom line is the movie was a visual feast but a bland story is a bland story no matter how much you pour into it. Still, much better than most movies, at least as a demo reel for the Director of Photography.

[ducky3156]

Thanks for posting this video. I can understand Cimino's need to preserve his 'vision,' but his lack of concern for other people's money, reputations and livelihoods was startling!

[dustinblythe]

I am an unabashed fan of "Heaven's Gate". While it is flawed, I can clearly see that the reviews were unnecessarily meanspirited and inaccurate. The movie is breathtakingly beautiful and leaves you wanting more. There is a clip elsewhere on YouTube with a narration track from an Italian dvd. I would like to see a multidisc set for "Heaven's Gate" here in the U.S. with extras, a longer cut, commentary and more. Certainly lesser films have gotten better treatment.

[DOYLERULES69X]

No Idea this movie even existed. Does make me want to check it out, and see the movie on the movies terms. Fuck Critics. Either I like a movie or I don't but I don't really give a shit what someone else thinks.

[saintsubversive]

A great documentary, thanks again for posting!

[delysid22]

Thanks for posting this

[cherrera7]

Fascinating stuff. Too bad that Cimino never really recovered after Heaven's Gate. I'd certainly buy a ticket to whatever his next project is, but who knows when or if that's ever going to happen. Anyway, thanks a lot for posting the entire doc, gZa76!

[fifbeat]

Werd up. Really enjoyed it. Nothing like a genius losing his mind! =)