The Deer Hunter (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'The Deer Hunter' is Michael Cimino's sprawling 3 hour war saga from 1978 that stars Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken & John Savage as 3 Slavic-American steel mill working buddies from Western Pennsylvania whose lives are upended after patriotically enlisting in the Vietnam War, brutally fighting in it, & suffering devastating after effects. This powerful film made a huge impression with audiences, critics & the Oscars. That said, when viewed through today's lens - and having seen so many other great Vietnam War films - this one doesn't feel as singular. At 183 min. in length, it can be laboriously paced, at times; and with self-indulgences from director Cimino. Still, as mentioned, powerful film and, with exceptional performances.
This movie unfolds in 3 distinct acts. The 1st establishes the main trio – Mike Vronsky (DeNiro), Nick Chevotarevich (Walken), & Steven Pushkov (Savage). They are simple steel mill workers in smoky Clairton, Pennsylvania. The year is 1967 and, the 3 friends have enlisted to serve their country. They view their upcoming 'trip' with excitement, rather than trepidation; having bought into the rah-rah manly recruiting lines. The movie 1st finds them at Steven's wedding & introduces several players who reappear in Act 3. They include Steven's pregnant bride, Angela (Rutanya Alda); Nick's girlfriend, Linda (Meryl Streep); & 3 other locals: Stan (ailing John Cazale, in his last performance), bartender John (George Dzunda) & Axel (Chuck Aspegren).
The 2nd much shorter act chronicles Mike, Nick & Steven over in 'Nam. After being captured by the Viet Cong, they are kept in horrific conditions in a bamboo prison; physically abused, & psychologically tortured. Seeing the sick "one shot-one kill" Russian roulette game as a means to escape, Mike goads Nick into playing the game and, although both are able to overpower their captors ... Nick's mind is put through the wringer. The 3 are then separated during their audacious river flight.
And the film's 3rd act focuses on their weary return home. Aware of how much he has changed, Mike avoids a celebratory party. Despite being outwardly the same, Mike's psyche is shattered. His previous passion, deer hunting, no longer gives him any pleasure -- he can't shoot the deer. When he learns that Steven survived {with both legs amputated}, he visits him in the hospital. And later, when he gets a hold of Nick, he finds that his friend no longer recognizes him or any aspect of his prior life. The story ends with a funeral, followed by an eerily solemn rendition of "God Bless America", in which you can see that they're all trying to hold onto the one thing that 'may' weather the storm: friendship & a sense of their tight-knit community.
4 major Vietnam War films were made through the 1970/80s and, while 'The Deer Hunter' was the 1st, it might be blasphemous to say that I prefer the electrifying 1, 2, 3 of Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket {for sure} & Platoon even more so. That is not to say that TDH doesn't have many moments of sheer brilliance, but I feel that the film is less-than-perfect due to its exorbitant length. Sure, it is integral to set us up with thorough characterizations, but those intros {during an interminable wedding sequence}, was a detriment to my overall admiration of the film. Things pick up during the mid-section; particularly the infamous Russian roulette game. To that, 'The Deer Hunter' would go on to win 5 Academy Awards for its producing, directing, acting, editing & sound. Also laudable was Hungarian Vilmos Zsigmond's stunning cinematography; he would go on to lens Cimino's ill-fated Heaven's Gate.
Some critics of the film point to Cimino's one-dimensional portrayal of the Viet Cong. Having said that, the narrative is presented from the perspective of the Americans and, the film is long enough as it is to then tack-on potential {though probably unlikely} humanity to the captor roles. That would all be beyond the already vast scope of the film. Part of that scope? How the 3rd act addresses the trauma associated with returning home after war. This film goes to show that no matter how physically fit you may appear, or how well-adjusted you 'seem' ... most of these guys will never, ever be the same again. Only Linda seems to comprehend this and, the fragile bond she develops with Mike is one of mutual comfort; romance was kept on the back burner.
Robert DeNiro is riveting as outwardly quiet/inwardly steely Mike, who searches for meaning in a post-war life. Christopher Walken sealed the deal to an Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor with that intense Russian roulette scene, and later becoming a haunted, hollow-eyed shell of the sweet, charming, fun man who he once was. John Savage is convincing as a good guy who also couldn't fully recover emotionally OR physically. Meryl Streep's subtle line deliveries & facial expressions give way to show significant psychological strain as the wife-at-home who doesn't know how to cope with it all; both in the guys' absence AND once they've come home as different people. Everyone in the cast gives haunting performances of great significance.
The Deer Hunter's openness about veterans' issues made this a very edgy film for its time. 1978's Coming Home starring Oscar winners Jon Voight & Jane Fonda would tackle similar themes. This movie is best at highlighting the amazing transformations of these three wounded male characters {Michael - emotionally; Steven - physically; Nick - psychologically}. They enlisted as happy-go-lucky American guys wanting to do the 'right thing', only to come home after war's atrocities to be thoroughly disillusioned about what has taken place & what to do next. Singing "God Bless America" at the end was a way for them to try to regain that American Dream that they once aspired to. Very good film; but the director's excessiveness dwarfs its greatness.
This movie unfolds in 3 distinct acts. The 1st establishes the main trio – Mike Vronsky (DeNiro), Nick Chevotarevich (Walken), & Steven Pushkov (Savage). They are simple steel mill workers in smoky Clairton, Pennsylvania. The year is 1967 and, the 3 friends have enlisted to serve their country. They view their upcoming 'trip' with excitement, rather than trepidation; having bought into the rah-rah manly recruiting lines. The movie 1st finds them at Steven's wedding & introduces several players who reappear in Act 3. They include Steven's pregnant bride, Angela (Rutanya Alda); Nick's girlfriend, Linda (Meryl Streep); & 3 other locals: Stan (ailing John Cazale, in his last performance), bartender John (George Dzunda) & Axel (Chuck Aspegren).
The 2nd much shorter act chronicles Mike, Nick & Steven over in 'Nam. After being captured by the Viet Cong, they are kept in horrific conditions in a bamboo prison; physically abused, & psychologically tortured. Seeing the sick "one shot-one kill" Russian roulette game as a means to escape, Mike goads Nick into playing the game and, although both are able to overpower their captors ... Nick's mind is put through the wringer. The 3 are then separated during their audacious river flight.
And the film's 3rd act focuses on their weary return home. Aware of how much he has changed, Mike avoids a celebratory party. Despite being outwardly the same, Mike's psyche is shattered. His previous passion, deer hunting, no longer gives him any pleasure -- he can't shoot the deer. When he learns that Steven survived {with both legs amputated}, he visits him in the hospital. And later, when he gets a hold of Nick, he finds that his friend no longer recognizes him or any aspect of his prior life. The story ends with a funeral, followed by an eerily solemn rendition of "God Bless America", in which you can see that they're all trying to hold onto the one thing that 'may' weather the storm: friendship & a sense of their tight-knit community.
4 major Vietnam War films were made through the 1970/80s and, while 'The Deer Hunter' was the 1st, it might be blasphemous to say that I prefer the electrifying 1, 2, 3 of Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket {for sure} & Platoon even more so. That is not to say that TDH doesn't have many moments of sheer brilliance, but I feel that the film is less-than-perfect due to its exorbitant length. Sure, it is integral to set us up with thorough characterizations, but those intros {during an interminable wedding sequence}, was a detriment to my overall admiration of the film. Things pick up during the mid-section; particularly the infamous Russian roulette game. To that, 'The Deer Hunter' would go on to win 5 Academy Awards for its producing, directing, acting, editing & sound. Also laudable was Hungarian Vilmos Zsigmond's stunning cinematography; he would go on to lens Cimino's ill-fated Heaven's Gate.
Some critics of the film point to Cimino's one-dimensional portrayal of the Viet Cong. Having said that, the narrative is presented from the perspective of the Americans and, the film is long enough as it is to then tack-on potential {though probably unlikely} humanity to the captor roles. That would all be beyond the already vast scope of the film. Part of that scope? How the 3rd act addresses the trauma associated with returning home after war. This film goes to show that no matter how physically fit you may appear, or how well-adjusted you 'seem' ... most of these guys will never, ever be the same again. Only Linda seems to comprehend this and, the fragile bond she develops with Mike is one of mutual comfort; romance was kept on the back burner.
Robert DeNiro is riveting as outwardly quiet/inwardly steely Mike, who searches for meaning in a post-war life. Christopher Walken sealed the deal to an Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor with that intense Russian roulette scene, and later becoming a haunted, hollow-eyed shell of the sweet, charming, fun man who he once was. John Savage is convincing as a good guy who also couldn't fully recover emotionally OR physically. Meryl Streep's subtle line deliveries & facial expressions give way to show significant psychological strain as the wife-at-home who doesn't know how to cope with it all; both in the guys' absence AND once they've come home as different people. Everyone in the cast gives haunting performances of great significance.
The Deer Hunter's openness about veterans' issues made this a very edgy film for its time. 1978's Coming Home starring Oscar winners Jon Voight & Jane Fonda would tackle similar themes. This movie is best at highlighting the amazing transformations of these three wounded male characters {Michael - emotionally; Steven - physically; Nick - psychologically}. They enlisted as happy-go-lucky American guys wanting to do the 'right thing', only to come home after war's atrocities to be thoroughly disillusioned about what has taken place & what to do next. Singing "God Bless America" at the end was a way for them to try to regain that American Dream that they once aspired to. Very good film; but the director's excessiveness dwarfs its greatness.