The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 war drama film starring Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken and John Savage. The story for the film was written by the late Michael Cimino (who also produced and directed the film), Deric Washburn, Louis Garfinkle, and Quinn K. Redeker.

Plot
Pennsylvania steelworkers and longtime friends Michael "Mike" Vronsky (De Niro) and Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich (Walken) put their blue-collar life on hold, go through military training and prepare for combat in Vietnam.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Well written story about the Vietnam War and how it really affects people.
 * 2) The acting is well done.
 * 3) The fight scenes are well choreographed.
 * 4) Well composed music.
 * 5) Nick and Michael have excellent chemistry.
 * 6) The cinematography is beyond excellent and breathtaking.
 * 7) The pacing is very good.
 * 8) This film was Meryl Streep's first-ever Academy Award nomination; she would go on to be the most-nominated actress in history.
 * 9) The wedding scenes are nice to look at.
 * 10) A deer has to be taken with one shot. I try to tell people that, but they don't listen.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Michael Cimino's portrayal of the North Vietnamese was offensive and stereotypical.
 * 2) The Russian Roulette scene was offensive as well.
 * 3) The runtime is a bit too long at 183 minutes (3 hours and 3 minutes).
 * 4) The wedding scenes can go on for a bit too long.

Reception
The Deer Hunter received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences. It currently holds a 94% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average of 8.6 out of 10 and a critic consensus that reads " Its greatness is blunted by its length and one-sided point of view, but the film's weaknesses are overpowered by Michael Cimino's sympathetic direction and a series of heartbreaking performances from Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken." Film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both awarded the film a four out of four stars and both named it as the third best film in the 10 best films of the 1970s. Gene stated in his review "Is it as good as its advance word and nine Academy Award nominations suggest? Yes." Roger Ebert described it as "a heartbreakingly effective fictional machine that evokes the agony of the Vietnam time." Leonard Maltin also awarded the film a four stars and described it as "sensitive, painful, evocative work." The film was placed in the National Film Registry in 1996.

Awards and nominations
The Deer Hunter won five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Michael Cimino and Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken.