Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Cimino
Cast: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep
Language: English
Runtime: 182 min.
In the long line of movies based on wars, The Deer Hunter is another allegory of the psychological and life changing effects of war. A movie that could've been a rather powerful one is betrayed mostly by the usual culprit - running time.
It revolves around three friends Mike (Robert De Niro), Steven (John Savage) and Nick (Christopher Walken) who leave for Vietnam from their quiet little American town. For them, their town is the entire world. They work in the local steel factory and after work shift they drink, bicker with each other, sing along with radio and do everything that characterizes an uncomplicated town life. One night they attend Steven's wedding ceremony and party; the next morning they leave for a deer hunting trip; the next day they leave for Vietnam to serve their country. The three are captured by the Vietnamese and held as POW under a mid-river hut where Russian Roulette will change their lives forever.
The movie is noteworthy for its oblique treatment of its subject. Throughout the movie not a single word is spoken of the futility or cruelty of war; the scenes do all the speaking. The very elaborate first act literally places the audience among the townspeople. The work at steel factory, wedding party, Mike's feelings towards Linda (Meryl Streep), teasing Axel (Chuck Aspegren) by moving the car just when he's about to open the car door, Mike's refusal to lend Stan (John Cazale) his hunting shoes and many other small details firmly establishes the typical town life of the three friends. These seemingly trivial details are the ones that contrast the nature of their life in Vietnam so powerfully. And their life in Vietnam, the second act bashes us with: when Steven says they don't belong to the war field, we can't agree more with him, for we know exactly what their life back at home was.
The strong foundation laid by the first two acts is not developed into a solid whole by the third act. The actions of Mike and Steven are understandable but the motivation behind Nick's strange behaviour is not explained well and we're left to grope in the dark for psychological explanations.
Acting is consistently good. Christopher Walken makes Nick memorable while crying at the hospital in Saigon and in the climax (won Oscar for best supporting actor). Robert De Niro is excellent as the tough guy who is unperturbed by the brutality and madness going on around him in the death camp and singlehandedly keeps up the morale of his comrades. In the same sequences, John Savage too does well as a man driven crazy by fear and stress. Meryl Streep and John Cazale fill in their roles adequately.
Cinematography and production design perfectly build the overall mood of the film. While the fog permeated stillness of mountains, the unfrequented road to the mountain, calm streets and the skyline at sunset, mellow us with the serenity of the town, the congested military hospital in Saigon, thousands of refugees leaving their towns and the muddy river, thrust us into the harsh reality of Vietnam.
But all the positive qualities put together cannot counterbalance a big negative factor - its length. Three hours is too much time for what is dealt with in the movie. By cutting short lengthy sequences that are less expository, the director could have easily given a tauter product. Leisurely pace and a weak third act prevent this good drama from being great.
Director: Michael Cimino
Cast: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep
Language: English
Runtime: 182 min.
In the long line of movies based on wars, The Deer Hunter is another allegory of the psychological and life changing effects of war. A movie that could've been a rather powerful one is betrayed mostly by the usual culprit - running time.
It revolves around three friends Mike (Robert De Niro), Steven (John Savage) and Nick (Christopher Walken) who leave for Vietnam from their quiet little American town. For them, their town is the entire world. They work in the local steel factory and after work shift they drink, bicker with each other, sing along with radio and do everything that characterizes an uncomplicated town life. One night they attend Steven's wedding ceremony and party; the next morning they leave for a deer hunting trip; the next day they leave for Vietnam to serve their country. The three are captured by the Vietnamese and held as POW under a mid-river hut where Russian Roulette will change their lives forever.
The movie is noteworthy for its oblique treatment of its subject. Throughout the movie not a single word is spoken of the futility or cruelty of war; the scenes do all the speaking. The very elaborate first act literally places the audience among the townspeople. The work at steel factory, wedding party, Mike's feelings towards Linda (Meryl Streep), teasing Axel (Chuck Aspegren) by moving the car just when he's about to open the car door, Mike's refusal to lend Stan (John Cazale) his hunting shoes and many other small details firmly establishes the typical town life of the three friends. These seemingly trivial details are the ones that contrast the nature of their life in Vietnam so powerfully. And their life in Vietnam, the second act bashes us with: when Steven says they don't belong to the war field, we can't agree more with him, for we know exactly what their life back at home was.
The strong foundation laid by the first two acts is not developed into a solid whole by the third act. The actions of Mike and Steven are understandable but the motivation behind Nick's strange behaviour is not explained well and we're left to grope in the dark for psychological explanations.
Acting is consistently good. Christopher Walken makes Nick memorable while crying at the hospital in Saigon and in the climax (won Oscar for best supporting actor). Robert De Niro is excellent as the tough guy who is unperturbed by the brutality and madness going on around him in the death camp and singlehandedly keeps up the morale of his comrades. In the same sequences, John Savage too does well as a man driven crazy by fear and stress. Meryl Streep and John Cazale fill in their roles adequately.
Cinematography and production design perfectly build the overall mood of the film. While the fog permeated stillness of mountains, the unfrequented road to the mountain, calm streets and the skyline at sunset, mellow us with the serenity of the town, the congested military hospital in Saigon, thousands of refugees leaving their towns and the muddy river, thrust us into the harsh reality of Vietnam.
But all the positive qualities put together cannot counterbalance a big negative factor - its length. Three hours is too much time for what is dealt with in the movie. By cutting short lengthy sequences that are less expository, the director could have easily given a tauter product. Leisurely pace and a weak third act prevent this good drama from being great.
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