Review of The Deer Hunter (1978) by Peterb — 20 Jun 2013

Ironic, well thought out portrayal of how the working class become cannon fodder in times of conflict. A refreshing change from the usual Hollywood propaganda, this film makes a good point about the inanity of war in as much that the main characters are Russian descendants that end up fighting for American interests in Vietnam during the Cold War.

The tone is sarcastic, and mood is sombre with a theme tune by Stanley Myers that does it justice. Good acting from Meryl Streep along with the main cast. It is a pity that the film does not propose any solutions but it stands well as a criticism of war, American patriotism and empire-building at the expense of the others.