Difficult to stay focused but still a very good film

Rating: 8/10 (28 February 2008)

I had heard a lot about this movie, mainly negative things though. We even had a presentation in English class on the negative effects of cinema violence on society and they showed piece of this film to prove their point. After that, I just HAD to see this movie. I'm easily fooled that way, like when I heard Taxi Driver was an inspiration for Hinckley's assault on Reagan I went and rented it. Anyway, this film started off in a Godfather-type of style, wedding, characters showing their true colors and whatnot. Then it started to become its own film and from then on was excellent. I admit I lost track of the plot a few times in the movie (mainly because I have ADD), but I liked it over all. The story was very original and very bold. Michael Cimino had to have guts to direct such a controversial film as this. Everything was very realistic. Especially the extra-controversial Russian-roulette scenes. I heard at least 70 deaths were attributed to this film but I do not think that they were INSPIRED by the film. The movie wasn't meant to be INSPIRING just....well...raw. The story was great though. The characters were very good as well: Michael Vronsky (Robert DeNiro), Stanley/Stosh (John Cazale), Steven (John Savage), Nick Chevotarevich (Christopher Walken), Linda (Meryl Streep), Axel (Chuck Aspegren), and John (George Dzundza). I was sad to learn John Cazale died after making this film, he was very good here, as Sal in Dog Day Afternoon, and of course as Fredo Corleone in The Godfather Part I&II. However I must give him credit, he pushed himself to finish this film. This movie is a true classic and will make you think after you watch it. There are a lot of twists and turns but everything comes together in the end. 8/10.