Review of The Deer Hunter (1978) by Michael T — 08 Feb 2012

A gripping tale about how the effects of war can completely transform a persons state of mind. Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken are absolutely terrific in this film, both actors do a complete 360. During the first half of this epic; De Niro appears to be the unstable character while Walken is the level headed man of reason, but that rapidly changes during their horrific experience during the war. The Russian Roulette scenes were some of the most intense scenes I have ever witnessed in cinema history. Both De Niro and Walken manage to display emotions of insanity and fear with such great balance.

Michael Cimino did a fantastic job capturing the horrendous conditions of the Vietnam War and although the film does not cover the basics of the war itself; Cimino manages to create unforgettable visuals. Whether it be soldiers drowning in a locked cage while there is a heavy down pour of rain or watching rats gnawing away at the captured men; these haunting scenes are what makes The Deer Hunter so powerful.

Meryl Streep is also excellent in the film and displayed great on-screen chemistry with De- Niro's character. Every scene both actors shared with one another was filled with great tension, it was like they were connected with one another before Walken's character came into the picture.

This film is an absolute state of the art classic that deserves many viewings. The performances are second to none and we get witness some of the most memorable scenes in film history.