Classic Friday : The Deer Hunter (1978) 7/10

Starring : Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep
Director : Michael Cimino
Running Time : 179 mins

Following a wedding celebration, a trio of factory workers go off to fight in the Vietnam War. Their experiences there in a prisoner of war camp result in some drastic changes in their personalities, most notably in Nick (Walken) who, so scarred by how his life has changed him, stays on in Vietnam where he takes part in some back alley games of Russian Roulette.

Despite a very slow opening sequence and some dubious historical facts, this isn’t a bad movie, with some good acting and some pivotal cinematic moments. It’s a little over hyped, mainly because of the time at which it was made, but over the years I really think it’s lost some of its edge. Still, it’s got some interesting ideas and some great stark contrasts between the wedding party and Vietnam.

You’ll like this if you liked : Apocalypse Now