I watched 'Heaven's Gate' last night, with a very reluctant Mrs English Dave........
It is a beautiful film to look at. Michael Cimino, and his cameraman, Vilmos Zsigmond, set out to make a work of art, I believe they succeeded.
It is a slow film, modern audiences are used to much more pace. Michael allowed nothing to get in the way of what he wanted to create, he ran rings round the executives at united Artists who tried to control him. I enjoyed it, and will watch it again at a later date......
This film is an example of an attempt to make art in a commercial medium. Movies have to make money. Film history is littered with artists destroyed by the film 'industry.' Two examples are Orson Welles and Erich Von Stroheim.
Michael and his film are being reassessed by modern critics and audiences. I think history will be kind to 'Heaven's Gate.'