Antiwar film about working class men who come of age in Vietnam War.

Rating: Null/10 (4 July 2004)

This is an antiwar film about working class young men who come of age in the worst way -- at war, specifically the Vietnam War. The Deer hunter refers to one of the men who is the pivot of the film. A beautiful film that must be seen more than once. And seriously on point today. There is a wedding scene that defines the culture of these people. There is also a beautiful church scene (the wedding) that transcends their working class status and confers great dignity on them. This is certainly more than a "war" film and does not in any sense glorify the war or warriors.
The deer hunter refers to the pivotal character, Robert DiNiro, a hunter who returns from war and cannot kill deer. Early on in film he speaks of "one shot." - clean kill, code of the hunter. There is nothing clean about any war as this film hammers into us. And the scenes highlighting the horror of war -- the Russian Roulette scenes -- echo the "one shot" theme and the futility of honor in war. It is friendship that is honored here, and really love. The last scene of the characters singing God Bless America is sad, not stirring.