(no subject)

[ellen_datlow]

Last night I watched Heaven's Gate the 1980 Michael Cimino movie disaster that broke the bank and United Artists as a film production company. It's ambitious, engaging, and way too long. It runs to 3 1/2 hours and should have been 2 hour 45 minutes at the most. The bulk of the story takes place in 1890 (with an introductory Harvard graduation set in 1870 that should have been cut to five minutes, rather than the 25-30 minutes). Cattle barons are angry at the influx of immigrants coming to their country in Wyoming. Sam Waterston is EVIL. Kris Kristofferson is Sheriff (he was the Harvard grad) who is basically a fence sitter upholding "law" but not very engaged in anything or anyone. Christopher Walken plays a mercenary hired by the barons to punish the immigrant cattle thieves (who, with their families are trying to make a go of farming and are starving to death). Isabelle Huppert is madam of the local brothel and lover of both Kristofferson and Walken. Jeff Bridges plays a friend of the Sheriff who keeps a bar and entertainment emporium (I think that's what it is) and is on the side of the immigrants.
John Hurt is a totally extraneous character who was a friend of Kristofferson's at Harvard and is now semi-part of the cattle baron scene. A total drunk, he adds nothing to the plot whatsoever.
There is a good movie buried in the 3 1/2 hours--I don't recall this kind of attention paid to the western immigrant experience in old westerns. It always was cattlemen vs homesteaders, but it never showed the mix of immigrants who made up the homesteaders. There are wonderful scenes of this very mixed batch of desperate families communicating in their diverse languages with each other.
I also like the triangle of Huppert, Kristofferson, and Walken. Nice interactions among the three of them.

Then I watched Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly, Brenda Blethyn, an adorable Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy, and Donald Sutherland. It was a lovely version.

Now, on to working on my taxes and reading and editing.

Comments

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Stephen Bach's Final Cut, his account of the making of Heaven's Gate? Amazing book.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Based on your review of "Heaven's Gate", I'll give it a try. I ignored the movie when it was first released in 1980, because critics trashed it. I have since learned to ignore critics.

"Pride and Prejudice" was delightful.

:) Jody

[amysisson.livejournal.com]

I had that version of Pride and Prejudice on last night as well. My oft-repeated movies rotate through Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow version), Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson version), and the afore-mentioned P&P. Oh, and Shakespeare in Love.

Oddly, I don't like to read Jane Austen.... But her novels make gorgeous movies, both visually and otherwise.

[ktempest.livejournal.com]

omg Ellen we have disagreed on many things, but your praise of the newest version of P&P is the final straw! How can I ever respect someone who enjoyed that movie? I am having chest pains just thinking about it!!!

/silliness

;)

[bev-vincent.livejournal.com]

My daughter is studying Jane Austen at university and insisted we watch this version of Pride and Prejudice. It was delightful. Donald Sutherland looked like he was having the time of his life. The long, continuous shot during the dance was choreographed perfectly.

The same creative team is behind Atonement, which we haven't seen yet but must soon.

hmm...

[themadblonde]

can't agree w/ you about the recent P&P (though for once I had fewer complaints about the acting than the production), but nice to hear a more balanced review of Heaven's Gate. Sam Waterston AND Kris Krostofferson? That's MY kind of scenery. ;-)