Well, I was basically right on with my Oscar winner predictions. Sean Penn won for Milk, Kate Winslet won for The Reader, Heath Ledger won for The Dark Knight, and Slumdog Millionaire
got Best Picture. Now, I'm going to review The Deer Hunter-- the 1978 Best Picture winner-- in today's post.
Michael Cimino's Vietnam-era before-and-after portrait of blue-collar life in America's Rustbelt (Clairton, Pennsylvania, to be exact) first and foremost boasts an all-star cast. The Deer Hunter (1978, Universal) is about three good ole boy steel workers of Russian descent: Michael (the leader of the pack, played by Robert DeNiro), Nick (the intellectual, portrayed by Christopher Walken, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role), and Steven (the sensitive mama's boy, who is played by the tragically underrated John Savage). (BTW, the characters' nationality intrigued me, since I am of Russian extraction.) In 1968, Michael, Nick, and Steven are getting ready to join the army and serve God and their country in Vietnam. In the meantime, they party, drink, carouse, and of course, deer hunt. At a little over three hours, the movie is a tad long, but the length is necessary for the storyline. This film can be divided into five distinct sections.
In the first section, the buddies are preparing for Stevie's shot-gun wedding to knocked-up Angela (Rutanya Alda). Also, a love triangle is developing among Michael, Nick, and Nick's girlfriend Linda (the one and only Meryl Streep). Viewers are treated to a proper Russian Orthodox ceremony that is followed by a rollicking, booze-soaked reception. After the wedding, the guys (sans Stevie) indulge in one last hunting trip before going off to war.
In the second vignette, set in 1970, our three hunters-turned-soldiers are at war. At the end of the battle sequence, each guy's true character is revealed.
The third act is the big 1973 homecoming, but only one of our "heroes" returns. He struggles to readjust to civilian life. As for the other two, their lives have two very different outcomes. (Sorry, no spoilers here.) There is also a second, post-war hunting sequence.
The fourth act occurs back in 'Nam, and we find out what happens to one of the other two guys.
Finally, we learn what happens to everybody following the Fall of Saigon (1975). I will say this much: Someone doesn't make it, another is physically damaged beyond repair, and someone else looks alright but is psychologically scarred.
Overall, this film should be viewed purely in the context of time and place. Many viewers are turned off by a supposed political agenda (e.g. liberals think it's pro-war; conservatives think it's anti-war), but there is none-- although director Cimino is known for his extremely right-wing beliefs. As for symbolism, there's simply not enough space in the blogosphere to delve into that. (To read some of the negative and positive viewer commentary about this film, check out its message board at IMDb.com.) This is one of the AFI's (American Film Institute) Top 250 Movies of All Time, and DeNiro's Michael is considered one of the most memorable characters in cinematic history. I consider a certain scene between DeNiro and Savage to be among my all-time favorites. It's a real tearjerker, folks!
1 comment:
This isn't a review, it's a summary of the movie! There is a difference you know. .
On the upside, I'm just sitting here thinking of how I'll spend the money that your good friend Obama will be sending my way from the stimulus package. Wow, $15 per paycheck! That's so great! I'll be able to fight world hunger, pay off my mortgage, put my kids through school, and buy a new GM vehicle! Yes, this is a package that will most certainly kick start our economy!! I mean, really, who doesn't think we need a mono-rail to Vegas?? Woohoo, life is good in the Ashleyfarce!
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