Serving character development proudly and truthfully

Rating: 9/10 (13 April 2008)

Some movies are really like wine - the older - the better, the more haunting and the more captivating.
That can be said about THE DEER HUNTER by Michael Cimino, a psychological film at various levels of analysis, an entertainment with marvelous performances and visuals and a piece of cinematic work that constitutes a true insight into the decadence of war and, foremost, its harmful influence. Let me look at these aspects in more details.
I have encountered few movies that really did so much for the thought provoking character development. THE DEER HUNTER is really a pioneer in this case. Of course, this development goes in pairs with long moments but is it possible to get to know someone, understand their decisions and actions without stopping for a while?
From the very beginning, we have an image of who the characters are, what their dreams are, what their relations are built upon. They visit bars, sing popular songs, drink beer, sometimes behave obscenely but know basic responsibilities by working hard in the factory and getting married. Among them is a true deer hunting buff: Michael (Robert DeNiro) who does not skip any opportunity to go to the mountains and shoot the deer. Steven (John Savage) gets married to Angela and what a wedding it is! Nick (Christopher Walken) also has a girlfriend, Linda (Meryl Streep), and plans a life with her, the rest, including Stan, Axel live rather light hearted lives. Yet, politics steps in and Mike, Nick and Steven leave for Vietnam. There, they see what life in hatred is. There, they realize what experiencing war really means. There, they start to miss terribly, miss their families, miss their dreams, miss their homeland Pennsylvania, miss America. Although some are lucky to come back, life's no longer the same. There is a lifelong impact of fighting on the psyche of young men. Killing the deer no longer seems to be so simple, using gun is no longer such fun... since can life, though filled with medals and courage, remain the same after the horror of war?
That character development and character change appear to reach such a genuine level that we, as viewers, are constantly surprised with the things the characters do. In real life, we are also surprised with people's actions because, as we know them, we usually do not expect them to do this or that. The same genuine reaction is when watching the film: it seems that we know them and, despite this fact, they appear to surprise us.
But except for this purely psychological aspect of the movie (and historical one in the background), the director flawlessly manages to supply the viewer with visual marvels. I will never forget the stunning moment of deer hunting: the mountains, blissful landscapes, subtle soundtrack do make a haunting effect. It is also important to mention the symbolic aspect of visuals. Among them, there is one technically brilliant moment when Nick is in hospital and we see a big American flag. In a while, the camera directs our attention towards background coffins. Naturally, everyone who notices this is led to a sort of reflection: can war mean anything else, anything more than just the destruction of life, the night of humanity? But nice and memorable moments also include wit. Don't skip the pack of friends visiting bars and mountains.
The performances are brilliant from all of the cast. Robert DeNiro does a terrific job as Mike. He is a sort of "macho" who is also ready for tears and prayer and whose character is mostly touched by the horrific sadness and despair. Christopher Walken portrays Nick, an exceptionally interesting character: absorbed by a trap of the Russian roulette that leads him to personal tragedy... Meryl Streep is beautiful and talented as Linda who looks for love. Her behavior seems to be unfair for Nick yet, it proves her quest for love. The character that always touches me is Steven portrayed by John Savage. His terrible fate in Vietnam brings him to life on wheelchair; yet, finally, he does not lose a smile and optimism.
Finally, despite the fact that really much has been said about the movie, I sort of categorized its viewers. It appears that a group of people have criticized it, other group have praised it, and very few viewers remained indifferent. It means that you are bound to evaluate it, you are more likely to be for or against it than stay neutral. One of the reasons for that radical view appears to be the powerful message of Cimino's movie. WHAT, in fact, ARE WAR AND KILLING? I personally consider THE DEER HUNTER one of the thought provoking pearls that says with power: NO MORE WAR... not keeping in mind the idea of war that the hippies spread in the 1960s but the idea of war preceded by lifelong reflections of many people who have seen what this horror means and what impact it has on life and psyche. A highly recommended movie!
Yes, let us sing in the final prayer of the movie with the survivors: God Bless America and lead this country out of darkness of terrorism into light of the mountains, lakes and prairies, into the light bringing a new dawn of peace.