I Worship This Movie.
4/4 stars

There are many things that The Deer Hunter does well. For instance, it does an unparalleled job of showing the emotional aspect of Vietnam. However, the director's agenda seems to get in the way of the film's overall outcome. It seems the point of the movie is being forced on us. And while it is a perfectly legitimate one, and one that needs to be made, it is often awkwardly implicated. For example, the very last scene—intended to be ironic and morose, it comes off as an almost laughable and completely unbelievable end to a story based on truth. It is no secret how the filmmakers feel about the war. From the graphic depictions of violence to the intense emotional transformations of the characters, it is clear from the first shot how we, the audience, are supposed to feel.

The college kids who opposed the war do not appear in this movie. The film focuses on a group of Americans who appear to have no political opinions and do not question why they are sent to Vietnam. They are uneducated, inarticulate and just trust their government. In mays ways this makes what happens to them all the more chilling. The film makes no attempt to explain what the war was about or why Americans died in Vietnam. Without the political context, the film leaves you with a very muddled view of this period in American history. The lack of a broader perspective leaves something of a hole at the center of the film.

The men are transformed significantly by the war and the changes are distressing and depressing. Watching this film is not a fun experience. The film calls for a talented cast that can display a range of emotions and all the actors are excellent. De Niro plays a stoic hero who believes in honor and duty and doesn't talk about his experiences. Walken is outstanding as Nick, and was never as good or as animated again. I had forgotten that Meryl Streep was once young and beautiful and it's fascinating watching her play a shy and vulnerable supermarket worker.

The movie shows that war is hell, but war has always been hell. You feel that the negativity and despair portrayed in the movie had a lot to do with the fact that the U.S. lost the war and was suffering a crises of confidence. The U.S. eventually recovered its swagger and by the 1990s was prepared to send troops into combat again.

Review by Wolfman