Heavens Gate (1980) Criterion 1080p BluRay HEVC EAC3-SARTRE + Extras

A notorious artistic and financial failure, Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate was blamed for critically wounding the movie Western and definitively ushering out the 1970s Hollywood New Wave of young, brash, independent filmmakers. Taking a revisionist, post-Vietnam view of American imperialism, Cimino used the historical Johnson County War incident in Wyoming to create an impressionistic tapestry of Western conflict between poor immigrant settlers and rich cattle barons led by Canton (Sam Waterston) and his hired gun Nate Champion (Christopher Walken). Attempting to mediate is idealistic Harvard graduate and county marshal Averill (Kris Kristofferson), who is both Nate's friend and his romantic rival for the affections of Ella Watson (Isabelle Huppert). However, war erupts, at great cost to all involved. Flush from his success with the Oscar-winning The Deer Hunter (1978), Cimino demanded creative control, and his insistence on shooting on location and building historically accurate sets and props multiplied the film's original budget to a then-astronomical $36 million. When United Artists premiered the original 219-minute version (sight unseen), they discovered that Cimino had produced an elliptical epic, compounding the box-office difficulties of making a Western without any major stars. Critics howled about Cimino's incomprehensible self-indulgence, and United Artists pulled the film after several days. Re-released five months later, 70 minutes shorter, Heaven's Gate bombed again, and MGM bought out the financially crippled United Artists. The ailing Western genre virtually vanished during the 1980s, Cimino's career never recovered, and Hollywood studios had had enough of bankrolling financially risky ventures by "auteur" directors. Heaven's Gate's reputation recovered somewhat after its video release, as it garnered praise from some viewers for such visually remarkable sequences as the Harvard dance and the final battle, as well as for David Mansfield's haunting score. Steven Bach's book Final Cut provides a full production history.

Sample Clip (Download file for actual quality)

https://drive.google.com/open?id=189bz_vXAWocMwn9m0R8I7saAl3Pfe0sX



Extras

• Restoration Demonstration - A short restoration demonstration with selected clips and information about the restoration and reconstruction of Heaven's Gate. Music only. (3 min, 720p).

• Cimino and Carelli - This is easily the best feature on the disc. Here, director Michael Cimino and producer Joann Carelli discuss how Heaven's Gate came to exist and its production history. The director also discusses some of the film's unique qualities, its framing, the locations where certain sequences were shot, his approach to filmmaking, and Criterion's new restoration and reconstruction of the film. The audio conversation was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2012. In English, not subtitled. (31 min, 720p).

• Kris Kristofferson - The actor discusses his contribution to Heaven's Gate, his feelings about the film and its message, and his admiration for director Michael Cimino. The video interview was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2012. In English, not subtitled (10 min, 720p).

• David Mansfield - Musician David Mansfield, who plays the young violinist in Heaven's Gate, discusses his contribution to the film and his interaction with director Michael Cimino during the production process. David Mansfield also composed the film's original soundtrack. The video interview was conducted exclussively for Criterion in 2012. In English, not subtitled (10 min, 720p).

• Michael Stevenson - In this video interview, second assistant director Michael Stevenson (David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago) talks about his collaboration with Michael Cimino on Heaven's Gate and discusses the director's work ethic. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2012. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 720p).

• Teaser - Original teaser for Heaven's Gate. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 720p).

• TV Spot - Original TV Spot for Heaven's Gate. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 720p).