Practically invites hyperbolic criticism -

@Contract -

1) I'm glad there are others that "get" Cimino. The man as an artist on a scale akin to Michaelangelo or DaVinci, not other filmmakers. He flew too close to the sun, is all. It's a shame, really, because he's had more than enough opportunities since "Dragon" to prove his worth, but I think whatever he had is gone. I did watch that doc "Unmaking" or whatever it was on "Heaven's Gate" - it was very interesting and surprisingly sympathetic to Cimino and the film.

2) Seeing "Desperate Hours" with the idea of the house-as-metaphor might be interesting, but I really was hoping for more than I got with it. The Rourke/Cimino combination I was very excited about seeing, but was astonished at just how awful the film really was. I'm glad that Rourke continues to acknowledge Cimino in interviews, awards festivals, etc.

3) Yes, Ariane was completely masculine - I don't know what the deal was. We'll never know. I can only say that I think Cimino fell victim to fetishistic identification with his female actresses in a way that Lynch and Hitchcock managed to avoid. And that's a shame, considering just how well he handled Streep in "Deer Hunter" and Huppert in the powerfully effective rape scene in "Heaven's Gate".

4) I get more what you're saying here. And this goes with #3 - since Cimino has traditionally handled female roles so well, it's surprising how he started slipping here - he's almost contemptuous. By "The Sicilian", he'd clearly gone out into left field. I know the man has had, let's say, some *interesting* physical surgical choices manifest in his life in the last 15 years and I wonder if he was subconciously taking out his fetishes by writing and directing these utterly inane, cartoon females through these films up until "Desperate Hours". And again, I will agree re: the action scenes - any director this side of Hong Kong should stand up and take notice - the man's on a par with John Woo's best from the 80's.

5) re: The Sicilian. Yeah, I may be trying to hard with that one. I'm just such a fan of Cimino that I don't mind keeping a copy on hand. If someone finally was able to team up with the man and issue a director's cut, cleaned-up edition of the film there may yet be more to be discovered in it....the copy I have now is I guess the "extended" version but it's not 2.35:1 - more examples of the laziness of Hollywood. Guess with Cimino they can't imagine anyone outside of France being interested in the guy's work.

Re: Puzo. THANK YOU. I thought I was the only one who though "The Godfather" was a rather stupid novel. Amazing film, but 1/3 of the novel seemed to be about gynecological surgery.

Re: "Desperate Hours" middle section - hey, do you have a link to that interview? I love reading anything in regards to Cimino's work being chopped up. Would love to know what kind of broader vision he had. Certainly that "Red River Valley" stuff seems to be lacking whatever larger context he had in mind, despite its aesthetic beauty.

Re: "Sunchaser" - I kinda felt we were doomed right during the credits, when that rock and roll soundtrack and sort of neon-fast-cursive credit sequence appeared over the fast-moving car. Perhaps I'm too quick to judge, but I myself was hoping for something a little less campy and reminiscent of an old master who allows himself to be humble with a project. I *may* give it a go one of these days, but I don't know....I did appreciate Woody Harrelson's commitment to the role, but I was just throwing my hands up at the thing. I'll have to watch it again with the idea that maybe both main characters know, subvertly, that there is no such lake and it's a truth they're hiding from themselves the entire time. I just read that the film was entered into competition in Cannes '96, so I guess that's proof that there are plenty still interested in whatever he may bring to the table. But check out the other little bit on the imdb trivia page for that film!

6) I'd like to see the guy crack out one last film. Just one more big-time epic. We need more producers like DiLaurentiis who had the guts to give artists a chance to redeem themselves. I guess we have what we have, but one.....more.....film would satisfy me completely and give me all I could expect to see from Cimino. Have you ever read his novel "Big Jane"? That might be all we have left from him, unless someone were to give him the money to produce it. If anyone's going to do it, it's the French. Say what you will about that country, they've been there for some of our artists like Cimino and Lynch when no one else would. I'm not even sure if "Big Jane" is available in the US?

Yes, good talk. I could talk about Cimino forever but I've not before found anyone who has any interest. Thanks! :)

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