Superb war drama

Rating: 8/10 (14 November 2003)

Despite the fact that the first act of the film might've been trimmed to better effect, The Deer Hunter nonetheless remains one of the finest war dramas. High calibre acting, excellent location cinematography, and an intense sense of realism vis-a-vis the characters' interactions made for a memorable cinematic experience. Regarding authenticity, as for example that of the Russian Roulette torture scenes, of course it is usually better to adhere to documented facts, but artistic liberties are not a cardinal sin if the final product can me improved. These things have to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Still this film merits a very strong recommendation, 8/10.