Review of The Deer Hunter (1978) by Jimmy D — 29 Sep 2010
This movie must have been extremely controversial in its day. Actually, I can imagine it stirring up some controversy even today. De Niro is mind-blowing, as usual. As is Meryl Streep. This film was shot right around where my dad grew up, right around when he was graduating high school.
And the crazy thing is that they work in some kind of mill, and my dad went into the mill shortly after graduating high school. And the town he grew up in really hasn't changed much since then. So, in a sense, I felt like I could relate with this movie a little bit more; almost like the characters in the movie were people who inhabited a place I've been.
In short, the movie is a three hour statement about America's involvment in Vietnam. The Russian Roulette that takes place when De Niro and Walken are captured is a metaphor for how the war was essentially suicide for us (or rather our youth).
It ends years after when it began and nothing is the same. Old friends are gone, handicapped, or mentally broken. God bless America.
This review of The Deer Hunter (1978) was written by Jimmy D on 29 Sep 2010.
The Deer Hunter has generally received very positive reviews.
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