The Deer Hunter

Rating: 7/10 (11 April 2007)

"The Deer Hunter" is a classic, its film artistry is stunning on the technical and the acting side. Screenwriter Deric Washburn knows how to create real characters and he knows how to introduce us to their inner life with tiny details. But still, the film doesn't really work for me. I appreciate the basic idea behind it. I think the decision to spend this big amount of time letting the audience get to know their characters is brilliant. So the first hour is the one that works masterly for me. But also the final hour, with the boys coming back from Vietnam (or not, as in Nick's case), is crafted well. So, what works in Michael Cimino's "The Deer Hunter" is the character drama that shows us the consequences of this war for the individuals and as a result of that for the group. What doesn't work is the middle part in Vietnam. The Russian Roulette is terrifying but doesn't fit into this context. And to show the Vietcong as inhuman beasts with no human feelings makes it even worse.