Great stuff, VK! I agree, I watched the Cimino cut out of mere curiosity, an absolute slog as you described it and a mess. I saw YEAR OF THE DRAGON the day it came out in the theater and was disappointed in it. Last year I rewatched it to see if I felt differently… no, that film is a mess too.
I saw YEAR OF THE DRAGON in the theater too, and my sole memory is wondering why John Lone didn't become a huge star. And DRAGON's Mickey Rourke is in HEAVEN'S GATE as "Nick Ray."
Great write up. I feel pretty much as you do about the film--watching Once Upon a Time in the West, the grandeur always feels in service of some story point or emotion, whereas with Heavens Gate seems like they built an entire town and didn't know where to place the cameras or what story to tell.
I rewatched Thunderbolt and Lightfoot recently and really liked that one. But Heavens Gate is a mess.
Great stuff, VK! I agree, I watched the Cimino cut out of mere curiosity, an absolute slog as you described it and a mess. I saw YEAR OF THE DRAGON the day it came out in the theater and was disappointed in it. Last year I rewatched it to see if I felt differently… no, that film is a mess too.
I saw YEAR OF THE DRAGON in the theater too, and my sole memory is wondering why John Lone didn't become a huge star. And DRAGON's Mickey Rourke is in HEAVEN'S GATE as "Nick Ray."
John Lone is the only reason to watch that movie.
Great write up. I feel pretty much as you do about the film--watching Once Upon a Time in the West, the grandeur always feels in service of some story point or emotion, whereas with Heavens Gate seems like they built an entire town and didn't know where to place the cameras or what story to tell.
I rewatched Thunderbolt and Lightfoot recently and really liked that one. But Heavens Gate is a mess.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST is a great comparison. And THUNDERBOLT is terrific.
I remember reading a Vanity Fair article back in the day about this movie. Thank you, sir, for watching this movie so the rest of us don't have to!