Absolutely Superb!

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2002)

Absolutely fantastic movie! Although it's beginning to look and feel dated now, this has some of the most harrowing scenes I've ever seen. The early part of the movie; the lives of the men of Clairton, PA, the hunting trip, the wedding, may seem boring and tedious to some, actually develops the characters very well, and portrays the lives they come from.
--SPOILERS--
The scenes in Vietnam were just tremendous to me. DeNiro played his part, as the brave and sensible Michael, absolutely perfectly. John Savage was remarkable in his part as the tragic character, Steven. His scenes with DeNiro, as they are held underneath the hut in Vietnam, waiting their turn to play Russian Roulette, were searing. You felt the utter panic, and heartbreaking horror Savage's character must have felt, and you feel the soothing presence of DeNiro's Michael, as he hugs his friend, and whispers in his ear to calm him. You see the madness creeping into the silent Nicky's eyes, as he waits his turn to take part in the game above. I have always wondered why John Savage hasn't had more of an acting breakthrough. It seems as if the movies he has chosen to work in have ended up being real stinkers, and he has never really had the opportunity to display his considerable acting talents, (other than, perhaps, "The Onion Field"). The scenes of their captivity, being forced to play Russian Roulette against each other for the amusement of the Vietcong guards are stunning and mesmerizing. The scenes of their harrowing escape are thrilling, and a great relief from the tensions of the scenes before. These scenes contained some of the finest acting ever seen, from DeNiro, Savage and Christopher Walken. The scenes back home after the return of Michael and Steven, are sad and heartbreaking, as the town begins to realize the terrible price they have paid seeing these young men off to war. None of them returns the same. Steven is badly physically broken, Nicky is missing, and Michael is just a shadow of who he used to be. He understands all too well now what the hunt is really all about, and has no patience for the childishness of the friends who stayed behind in Clairton.
Much of the last part of the movie concerns the return to Vietnam of Michael, and his search for his boyhood friend, Nicky. I must admit, much of this part of the movie left me in a bit of disbelief. I just could not believe what had happened to Nicky, wandering in a drugged stupor with Vietnamese gangsters. Also, the very end is slightly contrived.
However, the first 3/4's of this movie are absolutely superb, and contain some of the finest acting seen in American film.