Heaven's Gate (1980)

  Not about the cult.  This is a Western about the Johnson County War, a real thing that happened, although the movie itself is highly revisionist.  Content warning:  gang rape, war violence, animal abuse (chickens and horses)

Jim Averill (Kris Kristofferson) could have been content as the scion of East Coast Brahmins but he became a lawman in Wyoming because he believed in justice.  A belief turned cynical over time as the relentless poverty and hardship seem insurmountable.  The cattlemen are feuding with homesteaders over grazing and water rights, and the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, led by Averill's former classmate, Frank Canton (Sam Waterson), have hired 50 mercenaries to harass, threaten, and ultimately murder immigrant families to protect their commercial interests.  Averill does everything in his power to stem the rising tide of violence, going head-to-head with Canton as well as his hired gun, Nate Champion (Christopher Walken), with whom he is also a rival for the affections of local madam Ella (Isabelle Huppert, the only woman in the film with a name).

Okay.  This movie is legendary as a total flop that ruined Kristofferson's career, Michael Cimino's career, and almost bankrupted United Artists.  It is a very good movie dragged down by an insane director, a bloated run time, and a depressing ending.  Cimino went waaaaaay over budget, was constantly fighting with actors, crew, and the studio, and killed so many animals on set SAG-AFTRA required that the American Humane Society have a presence on every film made after.  All of that could have been forgiven if it had been a hit.  But it wasn't.

There are the bones of a great story here.  A story of classism, of responsibility, community, compromises, justice, and greed.  Ageless concepts.  Unfortunately, they are buried in a 3 hour 39 minute runtime.  (Apparently the theatrical release included an intermission, thank God, or there might have been riots.)  The performances of Kristofferson, Walken, Huppert, and Jeff Bridges are incredible.  It is tragic that this didn't get a better cut.  Fortunately, time has smoothed some of the edges enough to show that it deserves consideration as a great Western, but I don't think it will ever escape the shadow of its potential.  

It's currently streaming on the Criterion Channel and Amazon Prime.