The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter

Director: Michael Cimino

Year: 1978

Starring: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale and Meryl Streep

     Like the earlier film Taxi Driver (a film also starring De Niro), The Deer Hunter is not about the actual war itself, but the effects it can have on the individual. The Deer Hunter goes deeper and shows how the effect on the individual can affect everything around them, including family and personal relationships. 

     The film starts by introducing the main characters, and their daily lives in the small town of Clariton, Pennsylvania. De Niro and friends work at the local mill, spend time at each other's houses, and of course, hunt deer. All is well as we see John Savage's character get married, and life looks good for these band of misfits. Things take a turn when De Niro, Walken and Savage must go and fight in Vietnam. It's an emotional departure for the characters, as with war, it's very uncertain who will come home, and who won't.

     The shocking part of this film, is while they actually show the characters in Vietnam, there is actually no combat. It cuts to the three characters, along with many other soldiers, being held captive by the Vietcong. They are forced to play Russian Roulette with each other until they are all dead. The main characters watch  in horror as soldiers are picked off one-by-one. Eventually, the characters escape (rather brutally) and it's implied they are found, and sent home. 

     De Niro's character Mike returns home, and purposely keeps a low profile. His experiences in the war have clearly affected him, and he doesn't want anybody celebrating even the fact he's home. he just wants to return to the way things were before, but it quickly becomes clear that it won't ever be the same. Walken's character Nick hasn't returned from Vietnam, and Savage's character Steven had both his legs amputated and is partially paralyzed. Despite the effects, Mike decides to hunt once again, but breaks down during, instead shooting his rifle into the air. 

     Eventually, Mike returns to Vietnam and finds Nick, who had been playing Russian Roulette for cash, and refuses to quit. It results in his demise, and is finally brought back home, where he has a proper funeral. Life has drastically changed for everyone, and it's left unclear what the future holds. 

     The Deer Hunter is another example of PTSD, and a good one at that. The only downside the film has, is the pace. It really takes it's time, and runs just over three hours. If you can appreciate lengthy character development and a story that unfolds little bits at a time, you'll enjoy the film. De Niro carries the film with a lot of emotion, and his reactions feel genuine. Christopher Walken is the real stand out, as he goes from playing a charismatic funny guy to a damaged man with nothing to lose (he would win an Academy Award for his performance). This film is also notable for being John Cazale's final film. He was dying of cancer and unfortunately never saw the completed film. 

     All in all, The Deer Hunter is a film worth watching to see how the war can be brought home, and it represents that the final battles aren't always fought on the battlefield, but right in your own backyard.