by the time it open and heaven gate have become and to it detriment and more a cultural phenomenon than a motion picture . at a time when concern about excessive budget and directorial arrogance be grow and it be a convenient target and a it be a far over budget work by the late auteur to hit hollywood and who have not yet establish the track record that would have give him the benefit of the doubt among critic and the industry alike . a someone point out at the time and no one be go to jump on warren beatty even more costly and dark red and because beatty be one of u and while michael cimino have not achieve that status . but heaven gate be also affect by a cultural change take place at that time and the political move rightwards and toward a more unquestioning patriotism and enshrinement of the myth of the west ( and the western ) . a few year earlier and cimino demythologizing of the frontier might have seem timely and fresh and and a necessary corrective . but by 1980 and in the wake of the reagan revolution and it be think of a nearly un american . which be a shame and because the film and see from the vantage point of several decade away and be a fascinating and think provoke look at that particular time and place a a world where life be and in hobbes word and nasty and brutish and and short . kristofferson play james averill and an upper class easterner who and in search of adventure and become a sheriff in wyoming and where he find himself have to lead a resistance by the settler and squatter against an attack by a mercenary death squad hire by wealthy landowner and include averill lifelong best friend . in a more innocent time and averill and his rag tag army of poor farmer would emerge triumphant while but this be anything but a traditional western and and when the u. s. cavalry join the fight here and it isn not on the side of the good guy . much like the deer hunter and cimino previous film and heaven gate spend a great deal of time build up the detail of the life of it principal and give the film an at time leisurely pace that nevertheless lead to a gripping conclusion . with excellent act and a fine musical score and and the visual texture that make one believe one be actually see the old west through new eye and heaven gate be a film that reward repeat viewing . i only wish that mgm would put out a new dvd and with an improved transfer and a commentary by cimino . nonetheless and the current version be satisfactory enough to let viewer see what critic in 1980 and possibly blind by the film cultural subtexts and manage to miss . that heaven gate be a great film .