Heaven’s Gate: Director’s Cut
1980, R, 216 min.
Directed by Michael Cimino, Starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, Sam Waterston, Brad Dourif, Isabelle Huppert, Jeff Bridges, Willem Dafoe.

Cimino’s epic Western was unjustly maligned at the time of its initial release. Not seen theatrically in its original four-hour version since its 1980 premiere, the film has now been restored to its full length, and the 90 minutes that were cut out by the distributor have been reinserted. Crucified for its record-setting budget and reputation for being the ruination of United Artists, Heaven’s Gate has never received the critical attention it deserves.

This article appears in Iraqi Day of the Dead.

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