Deer Hunter (1978)

"...a mesmerizing epic about shattered innocence and lost faith... an absorbing and manipulative piece which overpowers the viewer.  MovieThing.com

Editor's Note This epic look at the Vietnam War and its effects told through the lives of a tight knit group of friends from a Pennsylvania town was Michael Cimino's second film and established him in the pantheon of American directors. Complex and emotionally raw performances from Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep earned each an Academy Award nomination, and Christopher Walken's portrayal of Nick, who survives capture but is unable to escape its trauma, is a tour de force that earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. With a keen eye for nuance and a carefully structured script, Cimino interweaves the rituals great and small that make up the lives of his characters, creating a poignant sense of what remained constant and what was forever changed by their experience of the war.

	Christopher Walken
	John Savage
	Meryl Streep
	Robert De Niro
	Michael Cimino - Director
	Michael Cimino, et. al. - Story By
	Michael Cimino, et. al. - Producer
	Peter Zinner - Editor
	Stanley Myers - Original Music By
	Vilmos Zsigmond - Cinematographer

An epic three-hour tale of lives forever changed by the Vietnam War, THE DEER HUNTER follows the transformation of a tight group of friends from a working-class town, taking its place alongside such classics as ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT in telling a story of war and disillusionment. On the eve of going to war, Michael (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken), and Steven (John Savage) gather for Steven's wedding. Leaving Steven to his wedding night, Mike, Nick, and pals Axel (Chuck Aspergren), Stan (John Cazale), and John (George Dzundza) depart for the mountains and one last hunting trip. The hunting trip is a funny, poignant scene that firmly establishes the characters as they set off for Vietnam immediately after the trip. The scenes in Vietnam, especially the Russian roulette game, are among the most brutal war scenes on film. The characters' eventual return to the States is emotional and gut-wrenching. Michael Cimino's award-winning film is a powerful look at friendship and love in the midst of war.

"One shot is what it's all about; a deer has to be taken with one shot."----Michael (Robert De Niro)

Variety
"...The film remains intense, powerful and fascinating for more than three hours....The acting, throughout, is outstanding. Walken's performance is a marvel..." 11/29/1978

New York Times
"...A big, awkward, crazily ambitious, sometimes breathtaking motion picture that comes as close to being a popular epic as any movie about this country since THE GODFATHER....[Streep] gives a smashing film performance..." 12/15/1978 p.C5

New York Times
Included in the New York Times's "10 BEST FILMS OF 1978" 12/31/1978 p.II:1

Total Film
"Hell is war in Michael Cimino's decade-defining classic..." 12/01/2003 p.116

Ultimate DVD
5 stars out of 5 -- "[A]n unforgettable study of friendship, pre-, during and post Vietnam." 12/01/2006 p.209

Uncut
5 stars out of 5 -- "Cimino's is a political film that makes its points through the trials of its characters..." 01/01/2007 p.147

Sight and Sound
"Cimino's sprawling Vietnam drama is an intimate epic, favouring the personal over the political....This is an ensemble cast par excellence." 02/01/2007 p.81

Apollo Leisure Guide 10 of 10
The most heart wrenching film yet made on the effect of the Vietnam War on the fabric of American life. Three friends are permanently disfigured by the war, and appear helpless to explain their pain. A challenging, great film.

Leonard Maltin's Movie And Video Guide 10 of 10
Stunning film about young Pennsylvania steelworkers, their lives before, during, and after wartime duty in Vietnam. Long but not overlong, this sensitive, painful, evocative work packs an emotional wallop. - Leonard Maltin