Review of The Deer Hunter (1978) by Adam M — 05 Jul 2011

I'll say right now that this is the best Vietnam movie I've ever seen. I was skeptical at first; the slow and lazy build-up seemed boring and tedious, but by the time the credits rolled, I realized, with a lump in my throat, that I had seen one of the most amazing films.

What did I like about it? The slow pace, in the end, proved to be extremely beneficial to the movie's power. Christopher Walken, John Savage, Robert De Niro, and Meryl Streep were particularly sensational in their roles. And the Russian roullette was the most emotionally intense thing I believe I've ever seen on film. I appreciate the way this Vietnam film manages to be anti-War, but not anti-American. All around, it's a keeper and a great classic that will continue to be powerful throughout the ages.