Film's agenda gets in the way

Rating: 7/10 (23 December 2008)

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.
A film The Deer Hunter is often compared with is Coppola's Apocalypse Now. The latter is by far the superior film for several reasons. Leaving aside the obvious superiority in the story itself, Apocalypse Now, acts first as a film, with a purpose of entertainmentthe war's impact is secondary. In Coppola's film, the audience makes their own conclusions, and therefore they are more meaningful.
The Deer Hunter is a film with an agenda and no audience member enjoys being force-fed. Perhaps this is why so many people have grown to hate films like Fahrenheit 911, most Americans don't want to have one person's opinion forced into notoriety. This is not to say that the creators of The Deer Hunter were "forcing" a poor opinion, as it is one that is held by the majority of the population. The problem is that it is presented in such a way that detracts from what should be their primary goal: making a good movie.