Tage Helmstadter’s review published on Letterboxd:
Not the dumpster fire it’s original reputation made it out to be but not the complete masterpiece more recent analysis would claim, either. For how epic in scale it is, the storyline and its stakes feel so relegated to the background for most of the film, oddly enough. But, despite that, I actually felt it had a flowing pace that didn’t overstay its welcome and was just gorgeous to look at in general. In fact, I wish I hadn’t split this up into two separate viewings today and had just sat through the entire runtime because it does have a forward momentum in spite of its lack of tightly structured plotting. Kristofferson and Huppert are good and it was fun to see Jeff Bridges and John Hurt in small supporting roles but Christopher Walken is the highlight for me. Such a striking presence even with his boyishly good looks that I wanted him to have more screen time. To think this is the film that pretty much ended the auteur era of the New Hollywood Wave is kinda perplexing. I know it went way over budget and had bad reviews but it’s not like it isn’t competently made. Now, it obviously wasn’t just HEAVEN’S GATE alone that ended the streak of unrestrained, ego-driven young white guys making movies outside the control of studios but it is unfair to lay the blame squarely at its feet. If anything, we need to bring that era back with two stipulations: more women/POC auteurs and budgets under $50 million. Is that too much to ask?
Watched on DVD rental from ASU’s Hayden Library
P.S. I graduate from ASU on Monday, May 3rd, so this is the last time I get to rent from their DVD library. It’s been a fun ride.