The heart of darkness.

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2001)

Having seen The Deer Hunter on the big screen in 1978, I watched it again today on video and was pleasantly surprised that the enormous power the movie generated in 1978 is still very much in evidence today. A dynamic anti-war film, TDH has numerous layers of meaning, allegory very much to the fore. It was an incredible performance by both De Niro and Walken, ably complemented by the other leading artists, particularly John Cazale. I do feel though that the movie was a little too long and would agree that the wedding scene was overplayed, but then again from a group of Russian-Americans at a Russian-American wedding to a trio of Russian-American soldiers being forced to participate in a fatal game of Russian Roulette perhaps requires a lengthy introduction to characterization so that the full horror of their prediction can be appreciated. Indeed, there is a lot to compare and contrast in TDH and the imagery flows thick and fast. Everybody is touched or corrupted by war and human life is cheap, both to the VC soldiers playing Russian Roulette with their prisoners and the Southern Vietnamese playing Russian Roulette with unfortunates so desperate for money that they are prepared to sacrifice their lives in the pursuit of a quick dollar. Still, I do have my criticisms of the movie. Nick does not know who Michael is when he returns to Vietnam to take him home yet he must know who Steven is since he has been sending Steven money home regularly to his ward in the Veterans hospital. How come he would know Steven but not Nick who was, after all, his best friend?. And how come a drug-riddled Nick has been so lucky at this cruel game of Russian roulette?. The luck of a man living in the heart of darkness perhaps?. In any event, this film is a masterpiece of movie-making and worthy of all the critical acclaim bestowed on it.