The Deer Hunter

[andy]

Was on TV last night, I haven’t watched in about 15 years I suppose. forgotten how good it was so thought I would tell you all

Not much dialog, work of genius, my favorite of all time again, thought also by far Robert De Nero, John Savage, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep all had their finest moment in one film, completely moving.

[mad_mac]

One of the greatest films ever! Love the way they juxtapose life in rural Pennsylvania and the small working towns, to then suddenly being in the middle of the Vietnam war. Amazing performances allround

[loz]

Before I start I should maybe issue a pictorial warning that may prevent the wiser ones reading on.

This is me

This is what I am about to do

and this is what I am about to do it onto

errr... OK I don't have a picture of a soap box.

First off I should say that The Deerhunter is one of my favourite films from the perspective of sitting down and feasting in great film making, great acting and a bloody fine story.

However (and this is where I climb to the moral high ground, look down and go 'Bugger me I never thought it would look like this. Someone help me down please.') I do have the same problem with The Deerhunter that I have with a lot of big budget, high profile war set films including Apocalypse Now, The Killing Fields and Rambo (especially part II). All these films, and many more like it, take a propagandist view that puts the invading army on top of hero mountain whilst portraying the invaded as epitomising the most evil side of humanity.

For me the Russian roulette scene in The Deerhunter is quite remarkable in that I think it is equally gripping as it is shameful. Michael Comino (the director) claimed it was authentic but in all his research into Vietnam he never once came across a story of Russian Roulette being played. In fact the original depiction in key scenes which documented recollections by GIs who had been in Vietnam were removed from the final cut as the financial backers of the film basically did not think it would put bums on seats. Cimino then invented the whole Russian Roulette scene and turned it into a key theme of the film.

Cimino also claimed that a lot of the film's most dramatic scenes were based on fact - he called them 'meaningful horror'. That leaves me cold when you realise the Russian Roulette scene was entirely fictitious, designed to put bums on seat, and portrays the common fighting Viet Cong / North Vietnamese as blood thirsty and beyond any sense of morality or caring emotion. This is the same director who told the New York Times that he was called up not long after the Tet offensive as a medic with the Green Berets. He did admit to not seeing action but claimed it was because he has a job which was classified - the Defence Department records don't substantiate his claim - they have him recorded as an Army reserve before draftees went to Vietnam - by 1968, the year of the Tet offensive, he was chasing down a life in advertising.

I do recognise the fact that the film was made only 3 years after the end of the Vietnam War and at that stage wounds are still very raw, there is still ample patriotism to feed off and the viewers at home were still more than willing to buy into a warped view of the 'gooks'. However I am now pleased that, many years later, people are beginning to deconstruct these ideas and false portrayals (just as The Killing Fields cut scenes which showed Vietnamese soldiers caring for Cambodians who suffered at the hands of Pol Pot).

[jezza]

So what are you saying then?

[mad_mac]

Couple of good looking Lobsters there Loz...must've been out pretty deep as they've started to colour themselves more orange....Either that or hey are small Crayfish. Where were you fishing, and why?

I agree with you though that these kind of films are very one sided, but I was merely stating that it was a good film and I enjoyed the way it showed how everyday kids fomr America were taken off tho a far away country to fight an invisible enemy, and then sent back home to just get on with life!

Scott

[geezer]

LOZ..........YOU HAD HAIR!!

[loz]

..Either that or hey are small Crayfish. Where were you fishing, and why?

Scott

I guess that pretty much confirms that I do look like Hugh fearnley Whittingsall (not sure about the spelling) as that is who is in the picture!

[mad_mac]

Ahhhhh I see. Wondered what had got you out onto the high seas from your desk job?

[BlueBeard]

I guess that pretty much confirms that I do look like Hugh fearnley Whittingsall (not sure about the spelling) as that is who is in the picture!

You certainly do - the first time I saw him on telly I did a double take :o

[coco]

Great film.