Review of The Deer Hunter (1978) by Simon D — 19 Apr 2014

You know that odd film that you get shouted at by everyone for never seeing? Well tonight, I was shouted at and my punishment was to watch The Deer Hunter, I say punishment, what I really mean to say is pleasure because this film is just intense, brooding with charisma and unrelentless from the word go.

Mike, Nick, Stan and Steve are among a bunch of steel workers in america during the height of the vietnam war. After Steve is married, himself, Savage, Mike, De Niro and Nick, Walken, are sent through to fight against the vietnamese.

The trio are taken prisoner and are forced into a horrendously tense form of torture you will all be aware of as russian rullette. The 3 manages to escape... Just. And we follow them in their tracks from that point onwards, some successfull others not so much.

Firstly this film is a grand piece of work, using long shots to allow entire scenes to run out, the cast as an ensemble just work perfectly, each character has a specific personality, each actor plays subtle looks and exchanges but its never glossed over with broad strokes, just enough exposition to give you a sense of relation and feeling towards this group of friends.

The acting as I said is close to perfection, with streep, de niro and walken putting in career high performances, while the supporting cast prop them up in all their glory. Its a long film and at times it does feel like a lot of scenes could have been cut in order to get to the knitty gritty, but part of its charm is allowing the film to mature over time and have it continue to build, it never bores.

I did have a small issue with the transisions between america and vietnam however. your just thrust right in, for all the time in the world that the director takes with building up scenes in america once its in vietnam its quick, snappy and throws your off your guard.

Not a massive fault but jarring enough to be noticable. At the end of the day however this film is a master class of talent and one that I cannot believe has taken me this long to see. Strongly recommended upon all people.