And here is another surprise: the Vietnam War never took up so little time in a film about it! I won't be exaggerating if I say that I saw only half an hour of war scenes. For the film to work, they have to win the public's sympathy and not their hatred! After an hour of suffering and looking at the clock, the three boys finally go to Vietnam. Another problem I felt was seeing the main characters being so immature all the time. This part should be shorter, presenting the characters and their environment without bothering the audience too much with details that are irrelevant to the story (such as the details of the wedding and the party). The first hour cost me a lot: the film takes a long time to start and the introduction is overloaded with dialogues and scenes that could have been cut in the editing room. Much can be said about the story told in this film, directed by Michael Cimino in the only successful film of his short and obscure career. United by friendship, they end up separated by war. The film focuses on three young Russian-Americans from a rural Pennsylvania community who go to the Vietnam War: Michael is the strongest and most charismatic, Steven is getting married and Nick leaves a girlfriend behind, for whom Michael has a crush. In the end, I liked what I saw, but it doesn't look as good as a lot of people say it should be and what should be a film that won five Academy Awards (Best Film, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor) and was nominated for four another categories (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Original Screenplay) in 1979! The script is complex and you should pay attention as each character is introduced. I knew it was a prestigious film, considered by many to be one of the best films of the 1970s, and I knew the basics about the plot.
In the end, I liked what I saw, but it doesn't look as good as a I confess that I didn't really know what to expect from this film when I started watching it.
I confess that I didn't really know what to expect from this film when I started watching it. It's deservedly considered one of the finest American films of the 70's-a decade that was chock-full of great ones. What's YOURS? Many film lovers who despise Cimino's work instantly clam up when 'The Deer Hunter' is mentioned.and there's a reason for that. My favourite shot is the incredible 360-degree pan shot around Linda's bedroom when she realizes she's given up on Nick and is going to declare her love to Michael-extraordinary stuff. Just armed with the main five actors alone, at the zenith of their craft, a fine script (really the first interesting and well-deliberated Vietnam film to hit the big screen) and Vilmos Zsigmond behind the camera meant that this would prove something special. But to reach such heights and to have such ambition-as well as undeniable talent-is a victory in and of itself. Though over three hours long, it's astonishing, paced so achingly right and I can see why he rightfully earned the 'carte blanche' that would unfortunately lead to his downfall (as well as an entire studio's) as soon as he made his next film. Though over three hours long, it's astonishing, paced so achingly right and I can see why he rightfully earned the 'carte blanche' that would With director Cimino's recent death and his reputation in tatters since the debacle of 'Heaven's Gate', I decided to visit 'The Deer Hunter'. With director Cimino's recent death and his reputation in tatters since the debacle of 'Heaven's Gate', I decided to visit 'The Deer Hunter'.