The Deer Hunter

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2005)

Even though there are no documented cases or reports of the deadly Russian Roulette game in the Vietnam War, director Michael Cimino included it in The Deer Hunter to symbolize the deliberate, random violence prevalent in war. Russian Roulette had the power to make anyone go crazy, and it was shown firsthand with a once normal man named Nicky. It affected the sanity of all the men forced to play Russian Roulette. Besides the psychological damage Russian Roulette gives the player, its rules symbolize the American patriotism in the Vietnam War. War, Russian Roulette, and even patriotism is arbitrary. Each time Nicky pressed the trigger he had a chance of either dying or psychological damage- neither one being a good option. This game reflects the American response to patriotism and soldiers involved in Vietnam, they were either mocked for not fighting for their country or labeled as "baby killers" after fighting overseas. Both Russian Roulette and fighting in the Vietnam War were lose-lose situations.