The Deer Hunter Heaven Gate And The Price Of Vision

In the vast landscape of American cinema, there are certain films that leave an indelible mark on the audience's collective memory. Two such films, "The Deer Hunter" and "Heaven's Gate," stand as prime examples of visionary filmmaking and the heavy price that can come with it. Through their distinctive styles and narratives, both movies challenged conventions and pushed boundaries, forever changing the landscape of cinema.

The Deer Hunter: A Gritty Exploration of War's Psychological Impact

Released in 1978, "The Deer Hunter," directed by Michael Cimino, tells the story of a group of steelworkers from Pennsylvania who are sent to fight in the Vietnam War. This powerful film skillfully examines the psychological toll of war on the human psyche, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and the immense trauma experienced by soldiers.

The performances in "The Deer Hunter" are nothing short of stunning, with Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep delivering unforgettable portrayals of individuals forever changed by the horrors of war. The film's gritty realism and poignant storytelling earned it critical acclaim and five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Cimino: The Deer Hunter, Heaven's Gate, and the Price of a Vision

by Charles Elton (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	10381 KB
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Print length	:	352 pages
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Heaven's Gate: A Cinematic Visionary's Downfall

Released in 1980, "Heaven's Gate," directed by Michael Cimino, was an audacious attempt to bring an epic Western story to the screen. However, despite the grand vision and meticulous craftsmanship behind the film, it was met with disastrous consequences.

Costing the studio an estimated $44 million, "Heaven's Gate" was plagued by numerous production issues, including extensive delays and a ballooning budget. Additionally, the film's initial reception from critics was overwhelmingly negative, leading to its commercial failure at the box office.

The Price of Vision: The Fall from Grace

"Heaven's Gate" and its director, Michael Cimino, serve as a cautionary tale for the price of creative vision. The film's commercial failure not only affected Cimino's career but also had a significant impact on the film industry as a whole. The debacle contributed to the rise of studio control over filmmakers, leading to a more risk-averse approach to movie production.

Despite its troubled release, "Heaven's Gate" has since been reevaluated and has garnered a cult following, with many recognizing its artistic merit. The film's lush cinematography, meticulous attention to detail, and captivating performances prove that sometimes, true visionaries are ahead of their time.

The Legacy of "The Deer Hunter" and "Heaven's Gate"

Both "The Deer Hunter" and "Heaven's Gate" continue to be relevant and influential in the world of cinema. They remind us of the power of filmmaking to explore complex themes and challenge societal norms. These films serve as reminders that the pursuit of visionary storytelling can come at a great cost but can also leave an enduring impact on audiences and the industry as a whole.

"The Deer Hunter" and "Heaven's Gate" represent two distinct examples of ambitious filmmaking and the unpredictable outcomes that can accompany them. While "The Deer Hunter" became a classic, captivating audiences with its emotionally charged storytelling, "Heaven's Gate" faced a different fate, becoming an infamous cautionary tale.

These films demonstrate the importance of artistic vision in cinema while also highlighting the challenges that filmmakers can encounter when pursuing their dreams. Their stories serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between creating something truly exceptional and succumbing to the pressures of commercial success.

Cimino: The Deer Hunter, Heaven's Gate, and the Price of a Vision

by Charles Elton (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	10381 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	352 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

The first biography of critically acclaimed then critically derided filmmaker Michael Cimino—and a reevaluation of the infamous film that destroyed his career

The director Michael Cimino (1939–2016) is famous for two films: the intense, powerful, and enduring Vietnam movie The Deer Hunter, which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 1979 and also won Cimino Best Director, and Heaven’s Gate, the most notorious bomb of all time. Originally budgeted at $11 million, Cimino’s sprawling western went off the rails in Montana. The picture grew longer and longer, and the budget ballooned to over $40 million. When it was finally released, Heaven’s Gate failed so completely with reviewers and at the box office that it put legendary studio United Artists out of business and marked the end of Hollywood's auteur era.

Or so the conventional wisdom goes. Charles Elton delves deeply into the making and aftermath of the movie and presents a surprisingly different view to that of Steven Bach, one of the executives responsible for Heaven’s Gate, who wrote a scathing book about the film and solidified the widely held view that Cimino wounded the movie industry beyond repair. Elton’s Cimino is a richly detailed biography that offers a revisionist history of a lightning rod filmmaker. Based on extensive interviews with Cimino’s peers and collaborators and enemies and friends, most of whom have never spoken before, it unravels the enigmas and falsehoods, many perpetrated by the director himself, which surround his life, and sheds new light on his extraordinary career. This is a story of the making of art, the business of Hollywood, and the costs of ambition, both financial and personal.