Film Review: THE DEER HUNTER * * * *
The Deer Hunter (1978)
CAST: Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Cazale, John Savage
Director Michael Cimono
Though most Vietnam movies focus on the horrors of war and how they effect soldiers while in combat, The Deer Hunter looks at the after effect and how it scars the mind and strains relationships. Not only do we see the terrors of war as they happen, but we see the aftermath and how it rips at a close group of friends.
The Deer Hunter stars DeNiro as Mike, Christopher Walken as Nick and John Savage as Steven. Three buddys who work at a steel mill in Clairton Pennsylvania, along side two other buddys. Out of the five friends, Mike, Nick and Steve sign up to go the war in Vietnam.The first hour or so is all character development. We see the guys drinking in a bar and attending Steven's wedding before he goes to the war. Through all this there are poignant moments of dialogue exchange between main characters, namely Mike and Nick. One thing Cimino does really well here is establish to the audience without any doubts as to how close these men are. Especially Mike and Nick.
After seeing a nice scene of all the guys at the bar for the last time, we cut to the war footage. There is only about 35 or 40 minutes of Vietnam footage, but what we see is some of the most intense war scenes ever put on celluloid. The three friends endure some horrific tortures,(which I wont give away),that scars them permanently,especially Nick. Mike and Steven go back home not knowing whether or not Nick has made it. Steven(played just right by Savage) lost his legs in an accident over in Vietnam. He has been recieving lots of money from Saigon every month. Mike deduces that its been coming from Nick and he decides to go back to Saigon to bring his friend home.
Robert DeNiro is wonderful as the friend obsessed with finding his dear friend, and Walken is perfect as a soldier who let the horrors of war get to him. The movie is a testament to friendship, trust and loyalty. Not many movies make such a mark that stays forever, but this one does... with the subtlety of a nuclear blast.
