The Deer Hunter
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Movie Reviews of The Deer Hunter
Movie Review: The Scars Of War
Summary: 5 Stars
The Deer Hunter was one of the first movies directly about the Vietnam War. The film focuses on five guys from nowheresville Pennsylvania with three of them heading off to Vietnam. Before they go, one of them gets married and the group goes on a deer hunting trip. They start off as the hunters, but in the end they become the hunted. The film shows that not only does war leave physical wounds, but mental ones that cut deeper. In one of the most disturbing scenes ever filmed, the three men are prisoners of war and are forced to play the deadly game of Russian Roulette. After they escape, they are split up. One of them becomes an amputee, another heads home seemingly unscathed and the third stays behind and plays Russian Roulette for high stakes. Michael Cimino guides us through the ravaging effects of war on not only the men who experience it, but the people who stay behind at home. Christopher Walken is superb as Nick the one who stays behind in Vietnam. He starts off a confident young man who then is slowly broken down by what has happened to him. He deservedly won the 1978 Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role. Robert De Niro is sublime and understated as Michael the defacto leader of the group. Meryl Streep, in her first big role, plays the girl Nick leaves behind with alternating strength and fragility. The film won the 1978 Best Picture Oscar and remains one of the most disturbing and tragic films in history.Movie Review: Lessons Forgotten
Summary: 5 Stars
The first lesson that "Deer Hunter" teaches us from Vietnam is that the veneer of civilization is much thinner than we imagine, more a tenuous translucent surface of a bubble than even a layer, easily disrupted, easily burst. The Russian Roulette games that occupy the middle of the film are metaphoric for morality disintegrated. It was a graphic illustration of how cheap the value of life became as seen through American eyes in those days. More importantly, Deer Hunter addresses the question of coming home after one's civilized veneer has been stripped away. Christopher Walken's character never does. Though he physically survives the war, his soul dies; there was no coming home for him. John Savage's character comes home, but leaves his soul behind along with his legs. Only DeNiro's character manages to find some inner peace back home. In the pivotal scene where he takes away John Cazale's pistol and plays the game on Cazale, we see the frustration of many Vietnam vets over the ignorance of those who stayed behind, with our pollyannish naivete, but also a reaffirmation for the simple value of life. DeNiro at peace lets the deer go. Unfortunately, the ignorance of those who did not learn the lessons of Deer Hunter have doomed many to repeat the experience. The chickenhawks who evaded Vietnam are still waving their pistols drunkenly about, but their ammunition is much more deadly.Movie Review: Profound and Meaningful
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fascinating movie that portrays in a realistically way how a war can dramatically change the lives and fates of people who were part of it.
The story is divided into three acts. At first we have the opportunity to meet the people who live in a small town and who will be part of the unfolding events. The construction of the characters is done in a slow and gradual way. Then we follow these people working, playing and messing around with each other and, of course, confronting the problems inherent to any human being.
Thus, when the second act begins, the horror of war is shown in an even more uncomfortable and impactful way.
Finally, with a tragic and merciless outcome, we realize that even after the war some things will never be the same.
The photography is stunning, the acting is palpable and compelling, the soundtrack is memorable and unforgettable. Shocking and well structured, this masterpiece almost make us forget that this is a movie while we're watching it. In my opinion, this is the best film from the irregular and megalomaniacal director Michael Cimino, and the best performance of Christopher Walken.
This is a work of art that transcends the whole idea of movie-making to become something much more profound and meaningful.
Movie Review: An American masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
I dont think I've ever seen a film that is more tapped into the American spirit of the time than this film. The film spreads out before the viewer, you can almost smell the soot in the industrial town. The world here lives and breathes. Its masterfully crafted and its beautifully subtle. From the innocence and kinship of small town life to the mania and simmering anger being locked into factory work causes. Its all shown masterfully.
Of course the thing the film explains most vividly is the mental and spiritual damage war inflicts on both the individual and the community. Through the main analogy that runs through the film, it shows how people can get trapped in a cycle of anger and hatred. Reliving old situations over and over and over. This film brings this internal struggle that many soldiers go through into stark reality. It helps the casual viewer understand people who have gone through severe trauma, and how they get trapped in their own minds.
The film is just as relevant today as it was in the 70's. This should be required watching for anyone who is pro-war.
One of the great American films, that despite its intense content, never loses its humanity or love of life.
Movie Review: What is the Point?!?!?!?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my favorite film. It clearly doesn't cheer me up to watch it, but it has all the makings of a fantastic film. After reading another review asking what the point is, I felt I had to add my thoughts (for whatever they are worth). Asking what is the point of the movie is like asking what the point of life is. A film that takes a serious look at the impact of both joyous and traumatic events on a group of people's lives and how they react to them and ultimately deal with them is the point. Sometimes you don't get the happy, clean ending. The acting is superb. I think the most interesting aspect of the film is Michael (De Niro). He is clearly a character in conflict from start to finish. He is apparently distraught over his feelings for Linda (Streep)and his guilt over having these feelings for his best friend's girl from the beginning. This conflict and guilt is only heightened when he has to deal with Nick (Walken)being left behind as he gets to return to Linda. Great story. Highly recommended. Unfortunately, the DVD is average. Where is the 20th anniversary edition? I'm hoping for a 25th with a commentary or 2 and other extras.