Gates of Heaven

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Mason M Though it has an interesting idea, giving a first-hand look into the every-men of America with the connection of a pet cemetery, Gates of Heaven fails providing much entertainment to the viewer. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/03/24 Full Review Jeff M The late critic Roger Ebert had this documentary on his list of the greatest films on all time and claimed to have watched it at least 30 times. It is undoubtedly one of the strangest and most unusual movies I have ever seen, as fascinating and entertaining for its collection of unforgettable interviews as it is for the basic outline and raison d'etre for the movie itself. Morris isn't after quick snippets and soundbytes here. He graciously lets his subjects seemingly talk to their hearts desire, allowing them to go off topic and ramble, which often results in the most telling and thought-provoking moments. And more than any other movie I can think of, this documentary helps me realize the importance that pets play in the lives of their owners. While I personally would not use the services of a pet cemetery, by the end of this movie I learned to understand and appreciate those who would. I can't wait to watch this one again - and at less than 90 minutes, it is a quick watch. It is totally unique, sometimes extremely funny in a very subtle way and, more than anything, an eye-opening look at people and their thoughts on life and the afterlife in general. I swear, sometimes the words of John and Jane Doe from Anywhere, USA can be more profound than those of the most learned philosophers. This is not your average, everyday documentary - and for that I'm eternally grateful. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/24 Full Review ArtystaPisarz "It's about a lot more than pet cemeteries" is what the great Roger Ebert wrote about it, and I could not possibly agree more. We often see documentary movies simply as a kind of visual history text-books or extended news covers of a particular topic – factual, objective journalism in which the form is not nearly as important as the content. And it is often true, it is often what documentaries tend to present themselves as, especially the "true crime" kind of pics. But documentaries, as Errol Morris proves witch such great taste, can be much more. A documentary is simply a movie composed of footage taken from real life, and as such it can be nearly anything, from postmodern comedy like the "Tiger King" to the cultural compateristics such as "Samsara". "Gates of Heaven" is, therefore, a philosophical meditation on the relation between a human and his pet. Its many meanings are derived not from purely theoretical considerations though, they come from the very praxis of the lives of those who need to meditate on such topics, as it is a part of their jobs. Some of them are deeply concerned, some only mildly; some are entire practical, some cynical, some pompous beyond belief. But they are real and this movie is a testament to their thoughts and their work. Morris made that testament and Herzog ate his shoe because of it. It has to mean something then, doesn't it? Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/02/22 Full Review Audience Member One of the best documentaries of all time. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member A simple film that proves you can make a documentary about just about anything, and even if Morris doesn't seem that eager to tell us any of this, he finds a strange beauty in the mundane, especially as he shows us how someone's dream curiously became someone else's family business. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member If this film doesn't open your eyes about the human condition, you're wasting your time on sites like this. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Gates of Heaven

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