The Deer Hunter

Whether or not the scenes of Russian Roulette that the men are forced to play for the amusement of their captors was real is a moot point. The film makes it seem as if this practice was widespread. I don't know if that is true. But even if it is symbolic, it sure felt real. I found myself experiencing a quickened heartbeat as each man was forced to put the gun to his own head. And I was filled with a new appreciation of the deep psychological wounds of those who survived.

Everything in this film is taken to extreme. Robert DiNiro's character is just too good to be true. The sadism of the Vietnamese goes too far. The sordid result of Christopher Walken's trauma seems too twisted. And the extent of John Savage's fear and eventually injuries are heartbreaking. Even the meaning of the deer hunt itself is confusing. And it's not even clear whether this is an anti-war movie or one about patriotism and what it means to be an American. But it sure is about the bonds of friendship, the only thing left in the midst of the cruelty of the world. All put together, the result is a stirring and frightening film. No wonder it won an Academy Award for best picture. Highly recommended, but certainly not for the squeamish.


A Flawed Masterpiece   October 26, 2002
Gary F. Taylor (Biloxi, MS USA)
37 out of 42 found this review helpful

Cimino's THE DEER HUNTER is difficult to describe. The film opens with a long and complex sequence depicting events surrounding an elaborate wedding in the Polish-American community of a steel mill town--and then vaults several of that community's young men into a hellish vision of the Vietnam war, from which the survivors return so completely changed that they no longer fit into the community from which they originally came.

There are several critical issues with THE DEER HUNTER. When it was first released, audiences were very positive about the film--but they complained about the opening "home town" sequence, which they described as slow and over-long. The studio accordingly edited the sequence to half its original length--but when the edited version was shown, audiences were considerably less enthusiastic about the film in general and complained that it lacked impact, and the edited portion was restored. Audiences still complain about the opening sequence, seldom realizing that it provides the point of comparison that makes the remainder of the film so powerful--and in any case, this fact is something that can only be recognized by viewers in hindsight, a circumstance that does not help them weather the first portion of the movie when they actually see it. Many also complain that the plot is improbable. Once the three leads (Robert De Niro, John Savage, and Christopher Walken) reach Vietnam, they are unexpectedly reunited just in time to be captured and tortured together. In the film's most famous scene, the three are forced to play Russian roulette against each other--and although they escape, one is maimed (Savage) and the other (Walken) so emotionally traumatized that he vanishes into Vietnamese underworld, where he re-enacts the horror of his torture by playing Russian roulette as a gambling game.

But for all its glitchiness, THE DEER HUNTER is a remarkably intense, remarkably disturbing film--particularly when the discharged De Niro returns home only to find himself surrounded by old friends whose 'broads and beer' lives seem incredibly trivial in comparison to his own experience. He has changed; they have not; what has been lost cannot be recovered. But there can be a sort of redemption through an acceptance of the change that has been forced upon him--and by trying to bring others who have suffered to that same acceptance. Cimino's direction and overall vision is loose, to say the least, but he draws extraordinary performances from an extraordinary cast. De Niro gives what may be the most subtle performance of his entire career in this film. Christopher Walken's performance (he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar) is justly famous, and although often overlooked, John Savage is every bit his equal; Meryl Streep is also memorable in one of her earliest big-screen roles. And bitter as the film is, it still speaks of honor, integrity, hope, and bonds of friendship and community that can never be broken. Deeply flawed--but a masterpiece nonetheless.


A Classic but go easy on the Vietnamese   August 22, 1999
26 out of 52 found this review helpful

This is probably one of the few movies that successfully depicts the devastation of war off the battlefield. De Niro gives a superb performance as Michael. It's easy to believe in these characters not only because of the performances from De Niro, Streep, Walken et al but also because of the flaws in each character. De Niro is particularly good in this respect. He clearly hints at Michael's inner turmoil, possibly secretly glad that his friend has not returned which leaves him to concentrate on Streep, his absent friend's girlfriend. The De Niro/ Streep scenes are amongst the best in the movie and alone make the film worth watching many times.

My biggest criticism of Cimino is the depiction of the vietnamese as ugly, sadistic people. The enforced russian roulette scene although powerful is unnecessary and I am still puzzled as to why it was included. In fact the acting and the overall theme of the movie certainly indicate that this is a film which would have succeeded without any war scenes at all. What is Cimino trying to show here? Noble, decent American boys being sent to fight the evil, ugly vietnamese? In an otherwise intelligent movie this is a huge flaw. Anyone visits Vietnam will find a graceful, gentle people who unfortunately have suffered greatly at the hands of others.

Notwithstanding this criticism the movie was a huge achievement and certainly would have lead to a greater understanding of the traumatised vietnam veterans. It's such a shame that Rambo arrived on the scene a few years later.

De Niro v Stallone......sorry Sly, no competition.


Among the best   April 12, 2002
Adam Dukovich (Roseville, CA United States)
23 out of 29 found this review helpful

The Deer Hunter is definitely among the top three Vietnam films of all time, in my opinion... However, what makes all three great is that, in reality, none of them are about war...The Deer Hunter takes place mostly outside of Vietnam and doesn't dwell there for more than a third of the film. Rather, it is merely the focal point of the film. The movie is about friendship, courage, loyalty, and pathos. The movie features a wonderful ensemble of actors, including Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale, Meryl Streep, and George Dzundza, just to name a few. The story is set in a small steel town in Pennsylvania, and De Niro and company are Russian-Americans and close friends. De Niro's character, Michael, is the leader. He is spontaneous and fun-loving, but also strict and methodical. When screw-up Stan (Cazale) forgets his boots, De Niro doesn't want to give him his extra pair. Walken portrays Nick as an intensely loyal friend, willing to risk death at Russian Roulette to escape on a plan conceived by Michael. Savage plays Steve, the married man who ends up losing his legs due to an injury in the war. The film investigates the lives of these three men, forever changed by Vietnam: one emotionally scarred, one physically scarred, one lost in a foreign land. I got choked up when Michael went to Vietnam to save Nick, but ends up playing one final game of Russian Roulette. That particular scene is the most affecting. See it and you'll understand.
In short, this film is a monumental examination of friendship, loyalty, and courage. It won the Best Picture Oscar in 1978, and will forever be a potent look at grief and sadness and joy and love. A must.