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The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter

1978
Drama, War
3h 3m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 70.13% from 6295 total ratings

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(6295)
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Rated 02 Jun 2008
94
93rd
Good look at how a war can change people and their relationships. The first act drags a bit, but the rest of the movie is very powerful and distrubing at times. Also interesting is the choice of "God Bless America" at the end of the movie. It suggests either dying or false patriotism from a mixed group of people (blue-collar workers and vets) that the American government claims to love, yet constantly turns their backs on.
Rated 22 Feb 2008
81
76th
The Deer Hunter is a very powerful film, and shows the bonds of frienship and the virtue of courage in a unique way. I really liked how the film is split up into three acts. The first act was dragged on for far too long, and the second and third acts were overall extremely well done. The Deer Hunter has one of the most intense scenes in any film - the russian roulette scene. There are a few of them, but the first one with Walken and De Niro was insane! Great acting, and cinematography. Awesome!
Rated 22 Jul 2008
10
97th
This film grows on you, I think the problem with this one is that it's overshadowed by its own "greatness", and people tend to look past the more important aspects of this film (the wedding sequence etc.). I, for one absolutely adored the first hour: so well acted and directed (DeNiro and Walken are unforgettable). The rest of the film is very powerful, endearing and sad. A couple of flaws but it's still one of my favorite character driven stories and films... and no, it's not overrated!
Rated 02 Jul 2012
88
91st
A powerful look at the changes a group of working class buds go through during the Vietnam Conflict. It suffers some serious pacing issues in the beginning, dragging far too long, but the characters manage to really drive it home in the second and third acts. Incredibly well acted with a brooding performance by De Niro and Walken's unforgettably haunting transformation studded with some very intense scenes. A difficult, yet rewarding, watch that will only get better with repeated viewings.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
53rd
A fine cast, attention to detail, harrowing moments, great feel for the milieu, and Cavatina. But the flaws are significant: a kind of absurdity that descends once the central motif takes over, the indefensible opposition between the humanity of every American and the inhumanity of every Asian (not just Vietnamese either), sketchy female characters, and the wholly unironic salute to the good ole US of A with which it ends. The opening really resembles that of DAYS OF HEAVEN. Re-watched 2021.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
95th
Excellent movie. It has easily one of the saddest endings I've ever seen. Some would say that as a negative, but I say if you actually feel for the characters by the end of the movie, then the makers have done their job.
Rated 02 Sep 2007
50
13th
No question, it's a good movie. The characters and actors are great, it's very emotional, it's not boring (even though the exposition is too long), but it's racist. All the vietnamese people in this movie are torturers, prostitutes oder gangsters. To reduce the Vietnam War to the scheme of evil Vietcong and poor American soldiers is impossible.
Rated 10 Jun 2009
98
98th
[May contain Spoiler] This Movie don't care about explosions & effects. Cimino concentrates himself about the aftermath of the war, for every person that got involved by this cruel War. Family,Friends,Soldiers. War is Hell, and the Devil will be in their heads until they die. When Michael came home he felt like a stranger in his own Town. And Nick prefered to die after he realized that everything he saw will stay in his mind indespenable.Maybe one of the best Anti War Films ever made.
Rated 14 Apr 2010
84
90th
It's somehow engaging and effective, despite its long running. Cimino tells the story of innocent americans who were dragged into war and could never be the same again. The male bonding is powerfully deconstructed through the russian roulete scenes, which presents Christopher Walken at his best.
Rated 19 Mar 2007
96
95th
The Deer Hunter is the greatest character driven war movie I've ever seen. It really has almost nothing to do with the actual war itself, but rather the excellent drive the main characters have and how these events completely reverse--or push--their lives. This may be a slightly flawed movie by today's standards but there are several scenes in particular that are, without a doubt, the most intense I have ever seen on film. Anyone who has seen the movie knows which scenes I'm referring to.
Rated 21 Jan 2009
79
72nd
There's no denying that there are some powerful and memorable images and scenes, but it's very inconsistent in terms of pacing and tone. The acting is strong, but the writing and characterization wasn't always convincing.
Rated 14 Apr 2009
97
99th
Fucking-A!
Rated 29 Apr 2010
100
96th
Yes, the wedding sequence is long. Yes, it's strange when they sing God Bless America in the final scene. True, none of the characters are very likable. I've been reading mini-reviews about this movie, and all of these points are being brought up as points against this film. However, none of these things necessarily result in an inferior movie. It`s just a list of things that are technically true. I don't think any of you have a damned clue what you're talking about. Use your heads.
Rated 24 Mar 2011
55
36th
Pretty much the 'Crash' of the 70s, huh? Maybe that's not fair. Maybe it's the 'The King's Speech' of the 70s - a film that tried so dang hard to win a Best Picture Oscar that it actually did! There are great scenes here and performances to match, but it's just such a mess. If you don't laugh out loud at the ending, it's time to reevaluate your ability to criticize cinema.
Rated 06 Mar 2012
85
88th
Mao!
Rated 10 Sep 2012
95
86th
One of the great American films. This is a story in wich the stupid male pride of America bows to stronger forces and more elastic philosophies. It is a picture in which a small survey of manhood revelates desperate, tragic, and inadequate characters; in which women hardly know how to make their presence felt. It is redneck America. It is one of the few American films that work like a novel. It is unsettling, yet it is mysterious. Far more than Apocalypse Now, this film smells of Conrad.
Rated 07 Apr 2016
94
95th
A profane game of chance and a sacred game of control dissolving and reinforcing the players' identities respectively. The slow pacing of the first act is necessary to spring-load the next two and really contains the soul of the movie.
Rated 08 Jul 2019
40
18th
I knew this film had a Russian Roulette scene. What I did not know was that film had Russian Roulette scenes. Plural. I wanted to play Russian Roulette rather than watch this film.
Rated 26 Apr 2020
93
94th
It all hinged on an 8% chance https://youtu.be/6svL10xXulQ?t=141
Rated 12 Dec 2006
71
29th
Such an incredibly mixed bag. The opening wedding scene is interminable and the whole thing is much more dated than other Vietnam movies. On the other hand it has some incredibly powerful moments and social commentary, and the performances are really wonderful.
Rated 03 Mar 2007
3
38th
Very strong Vietnam fare with great performances. It pales in comparison to Apocalypse Now, though it's a different beast; much more character-driven, and in this case, the performances are uniformly excellent; De Niro, Streep, Walken and Cazale give some of the greatest ensemble acting ever.
Rated 14 Mar 2007
7
67th
It's a bit lethargic, and focuses too much time on laying a foundation for unecessary character development. However, while it could use a lot of editing ( the pre-nam part, specifically ) the next two chapters in this three chapter epic are haunting, and feature incredible acting ( Christopher Walken is fantastic ). The russian roulette sequences still give me chills...
Rated 20 Apr 2007
5
80th
Everyone says the first hour needs to be cut but I'd rather the rest [especially post-war] be the bit to get the ax.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
96
98th
A very good screenplay that rises to greatness in the capable hands of De Niro and a young Christopher Walken, in the finest performance of his career.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
81st
Glacial pacing at times, which might take a few viewings to appreciate, but this is a character drama film full of great performances where the added run time allows the actors to portray their roles to the fullest. Only worth watching in a relaxed and contemplative mindset, which might not come around too often, but hugely rewarding in that moment - emotionally draining but providing true catharsis in the best traditions of drama. The ending, when it arrives, is a powerhouse like few others.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
50th
The pre-war part is too long, in my opinion. They didn't need to spend that much time establishing what sort of life the characters were living. The rest of the movie didn't quite blow me away either, but parts are definitely very good.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
7th
Disturbing at some parts, incredibly boring everywhere else. The three parts feel like entirely different movies.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
94th
A high score just for the famous Russian Roulette scene alone. The slow pace can be argued, but this remains, because of its simplicity and killer acting, one of the best war movies ever made.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
71
37th
Once-lauded epic that is now rightfully being re-evaluated. This film is the definition of "uneven", where every brilliant moment is counterbalanced by boring filler.
Rated 15 Aug 2007
92
94th
Christopher Walken and Robert DeNiro deserve every bit of recognition and fame they received from this classic. Watching these characters change... quite the impact.
Rated 22 Aug 2007
93
97th
Excellent
Rated 21 Feb 2008
98
99th
I've never had a movie hit me like this one did. What a moving story
Rated 14 Jun 2008
94
99th
Great
Rated 28 Jun 2008
97
98th
VERY POWERFUL AND GREAT MOVIE and I was filmed in a local Pittsburgh town.
Rated 04 Mar 2009
20
44th
Cimino's Vietnam War story centers around an "ours not to reason why" trio of mindlessly patriotic Middle Americans from a small Pennsylvania steel town. Three hours long, in the tradition of bigness established by the Second World War stories of Norman Mailer, James Jones, Herman Wouk, and Irwin Shaw, the movie has an enfeebling lack of dramatic focus, of overall form, of individually interesting scenes, of social context, and of point of view.
Rated 19 May 2009
60
49th
God damn it was long. Cut the first 50 minutes and nothing changes from the film. A part of the film that really bother me was when they were captured in Vietnam, they gave no clues on how exactly they were captured, little things like that bother me..
Rated 01 Aug 2009
80
84th
Laced with brilliance, full of super performances, and really very powerful and suspenseful. But there are issues, primarily with pacing. "The Deer Hunter" drags its heels terribly at times. With repeat viewings it improves though.
Rated 18 Dec 2009
89
80th
Impressive in many ways, but overlong. Also, the Russian roulette scenes are ridiculous. Still, DeNiro, Cazale, Walken and Streep all deliver extraordinary performances, and the atmosphere of a small eastern industrial town in the 60's is excellent.
Rated 11 Feb 2010
75
71st
Good acting from a fine cast but it's a bit overrated because of a few visceral scenes that have become a part of film lore. The morals and personal introspection is also rather shallow in hindsight.
Rated 05 Apr 2010
89
89th
88.750
Rated 22 Sep 2010
91
98th
Some powerful scenes are weighed down by a bit of fluff but it still sticks with me even a decade or more after originally viewing it. Walken is great.
Rated 14 Oct 2010
60
40th
Many people said that this needs a second watch. I guess it does. It's 3 hours long but looks like it needs an hour more, too many time jumps and all that. Performances are so superb that you keep watching but the story fell apart for me, emotions were all left tangled, early cuts in emotional scenes etc.. Dunno.. It is a good movie but has some serious problems.
Rated 18 May 2011
75
63rd
Ding mao!
Rated 29 Jul 2011
75
72nd
"The Deer Hunter" is neither the tightest nor the most partial film I've seen, but it's still a pretty solid motion picture. It's strong in its storytelling but feeble in its propaganda. Its unfair depiction of the Vietnamese as well as the laborious length bring it down. That said, it is very good for what it is -an engrossing, touching, well-made, effectively manipulative and splendidly acted (De Niro, Walken and Streep are all remarkable) war melodrama.
Rated 17 Sep 2011
88
88th
Perfect beginning, perfect end. Surely deserves every letter of "classic" word.
Rated 03 Jan 2012
80
70th
It has it's ups and downs - I thought the film's portrayal of the Vietnamese mostly as evil maniacs was an unfortunate decision. And there are a lot of pointless scenes, this didn't need to be 3 hours long. However, the depth of the American characters, anchored by some great performances, and some of the most intense scenes I've ever seen in a war movie really made up for the bad parts in my opinion.
Rated 03 Jul 2012
4
74th
Its gritty authenticity, sensitivity, and downbeat tone are in stark contrast to the usual tendency to depict war as sensational and operatic. The notorious Russian roulette sequences are a brilliant central metaphor around which the entire film is built, encapsulating the immense pressure these characters are under. It is needlessly long, and unfortunately doesn't rise above the one-sided cliche of a vile and inhumane enemy, but this is a film greater than the sum of its sometimes flawed parts.
Rated 13 Jul 2013
53
52nd
Not the patriotic ode to the USA and its military that some seem to take it for. However, its message is a bit too confused to work as a real criticism, either. The internal logic of the film seems to suggest that its Vietnam is just a symbol of war in general, and that the 3 American soldiers represent its casualties. Yet it also relies on the viewer having certain specific assumptions, such as Vietnam as a failed (US) policy, and seems happy to avoid any real challenge of nationalist mythos.
Rated 14 Feb 2014
65
54th
Good direction and acting, but it's yet another story about those poor Americans who killed themselves some Vietnamese and now they're so miserable. Also this whole russian roulette plot seems like from some B-movie. I have a hard time deicidng about the score.
Rated 17 Mar 2014
90
80th
Where Apocalypse Now showed the destruction of the human psyche and Full Metal Jacket the mass produced dehumanization of becoming a soldier, here's a Vietnam film simply about people, and how their lives are before, during and after their war experience. It's a bit overly long, yeah, but the acting is incredible and really brings out the human core of the story so it never seems like it's just wasting time.
Rated 28 Apr 2014
80
65th
I really hope that singing "God bless America" at the end was sarcastic
Rated 27 Jan 2015
85
88th
There is no difference between shooting a deer and killing thousands of people. Small or large, the economy of expenditure and war is based on enormous amounts of sacrifice and irrationality. If "Full Metal Jacket" is a pre-war film and "Apocalypse Now" is a war film, then this seems to be a post-war film because it mostly focuses on the after effects of the war
Rated 16 Mar 2015
80
90th
An engaging twist on the genre, an anti-war movie in which the depiction of war only takes the tiniest bit of screentime. The focus is definitely on the impact war has on people, and how that is in no way limited to the place where it is fought.
Rated 22 Jun 2016
4
55th
so much inner life to this movie, so much sincere emotion to the performances, i can forgive the laughably overdone pair of metaphors at its centre.
Rated 25 Jul 2016
9
89th
Make no mistake: 'The Deer Hunter' is not about Vietnam, and it makes to claim to recreate the war with historical accuracy. Instead, it uses the war and a brilliantly powerful symbol to show how three different men respond to pressure induced by a senselessly grim world. While it may occasionally drag in doing so, the picture as a whole makes it worthwhile.
Rated 15 Apr 2017
90
91st
It's like anything that went wrong in Heaven's Gate, went right in this film
Rated 30 Jan 2018
46
46th
I don't get the love for this film; its pacing is painfully plodding and mundane scenes go on forever. The character arc is one-note and it's pretty clear that being a movie about Russian roulette they had to do a lot of shit to pad out the run time. Its depiction of PTSD comes off as tepid and absurd while very obviously not having any idea what the Vietnam War was actually like. There's occasionally some sparks of genius but the movie is a boring, overly long mess.
Rated 18 Jun 2018
80
91st
aside from cimino's questionable pacing, there's very little to fault in this film. the first act is indeed overstretched, definetely overstays its welcome. but the stuff that breaths life into this film is the uncanny story and the amazing performance of the leads. walken establishes himself as a top caliber actor, while de niro cements his status as a master.
Rated 23 Oct 2021
45
37th
??? Şaka mı yapıyosunuz aqqq sokarım verdiğiniz puanlara. Yıllardır duyduğum "vietnamlıları cani, abdlileri iyi gösteriyorlar" konulu filme rastlamadığımdan, bu cümlenin aşırı anti kapitalizmden sanrı görme olduğunu düşünürdüm. Değilmiş. Ya şu filme yüksek veren insanların bahsettiğim cümleyi kurduğuna o kadar eminim ki. Ayrıca kurgu da kocaman bir bokkk gibi. Recep ivedikle filan kapışır. Verdiğim bu yüksek puan "savaş karşıtı" yanına ve görüntüye
Rated 15 Dec 2006
80
80th
It's good, like everyone says. The top three characters put on superb performances, I was astounded. A newfound respect for De Niro and Streep, and additional praise for Walken. Still, if you're not one for war movies, this won't be your bag, baby.
Rated 02 Jan 2007
61
34th
My ★★★ review of The Deer Hunter on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/5igBdZ
Rated 03 Jan 2007
10
2nd
Hated it then for political reasons, have no desire to see it again. Unaccountably successful with the critics and at the Oscars. Cimino has relapsed into well-deserved obscurity.
Rated 16 Jan 2007
80
96th
how good s de niro u can see it in that movie he s the best actor alive and that russian rullet scene god it was wonderfu.l
Rated 18 Jan 2007
45
19th
One of the most overrated movies ever.
Rated 22 Jan 2007
80
43rd
Nothing in the film raises it above average. Too much time is spent on exposition, and the rest of the film just moves along sluggishly. For such tense sequences, the tension is never caused because of attachment to characters, but just pure discomfort at what might actually happen.
Rated 17 Feb 2007
100
93rd
While this is really Walken and Deniros movie the rest of the cast shine thru under Ciminos direction about the loss of innocence due too the atrocity of war. Although I know the word feels tossed around too much ,this movie is haunting.
Rated 19 Feb 2007
80
95th
A brilliant story with a great cast.However during the scenes in vietnam it gets a bit vague as to how they were captured its actually like a huge scene from the film was cut out or lost.
Rated 02 Mar 2007
90
81st
Ridiculously deep and intense. The Deer Hunter grabs such a strong hold of you you feel like the guns are pointed straight at your own head.
Rated 08 May 2007
86
72nd
An great anti-war film despite the slow first act. The russian roulette scene is one of the most intense i have ever had to sit through.
Rated 28 Jun 2007
76
31st
One of the few classics to lose its appeal over time...
Rated 03 Jul 2007
85
91st
Four buddies from the same town go off to fight in Vietnam, but the experience and aftermath are nothing like they had expected. Some wonky pacing, especially in the first half...but Christopher Walken playing insane is just so damn good.
Rated 08 Jul 2007
88
83rd
A very touching movie, with great performances. I can't help but think though, as many have, why some scenes were not shortened or cut altogether, because the running time is a tad too long. Hey, I love long, deliberately paced movies, but the wedding scene, good god!
Rated 08 Jul 2007
87
90th
At first, I overrated this film. I loved the story and the action, but it does drag at times. It's a must-see, but I don't think it belongs in my top tier.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
76
62nd
A great movie, when taken on its own (very long, and not especially accurate) terms. It's great to be reminded of what Christopher Walken was before he opted to become a parody of himself.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
84th
Really depressing, but extremely well done.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
65th
Great performances, and a great film for most of its length. However the schmaltzy music ruins the third act of the movie, and the last scene is one of the worst, most inappropriate pieces of cinema I've ever seen. Maybe its just because I'm not American
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
76th
War or not, some guys are fucked up.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
97th
One of the best movies ever. Christopher Walken is amazing
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
70th
A deeply involving look at Nam through the eyes of small town Everymen.
Rated 23 Aug 2007
100
84th
wow, i can't forget this one
Rated 16 Sep 2007
85
94th
Heartbreaking drama, though it is a tad too long.
Rated 22 Sep 2007
8
82nd
The first time I saw this movie I wrote it off as overrated and not very good. I saw it again and then another time and I now understand it's brilliance. It's incredibly intense and difficult to watch throughout. This movie also hinges on De Niro and his performance. Without him this film is a big pile of nothing - amazing performance from him. The first roullete scene he goes through every emotion possible in like 10 seconds, it's incredible. One shot, Nick.
Rated 13 Oct 2007
85
95th
i see this every time its on tv. great story. great movie.
Rated 17 Oct 2007
80
45th
Great piece about life after war. Raw and jagged.
Rated 03 Nov 2007
75
31st
A great editing job could'nt even make this movie what many consider one of the greatest film ever. Great acting? Yes. Great intense, memorable scenes? A couple. The rest is complete pap.
Rated 13 Nov 2007
77
20th
This probably shoulda been edited down to a couple awesome Russian Roulette scenes.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
75
81st
kinda slow, but very interesting.
Rated 02 Jan 2008
83
78th
On a recent viewing, I discovered I didn't think it was as much of a masterpiece as I remember in college.
Rated 12 Jan 2008
80
91st
Intense stuff. Walken's always worth watching.
Rated 22 Jan 2008
55
67th
The first hour with the wedding as the climax is brilliant. The Vietnam parts are not so good, or even ridiculous at times. The premise as a film about friendship still works though.
Rated 23 Jan 2008
94
95th
I thought it was a movie about deer hunting... I was wrong yet shocked on how great a film this was for its age.
Rated 01 Mar 2008
89
82nd
# 225
Rated 13 Mar 2008
84
75th
If Apocalypse Now illustrates the horror of the Vietnam war, then The Deer Hunter illustrates its sadness. The last half hour is depressing as hell. The choice to showcase the long wedding sequence before the men go to war was a perfect way to contrast it with the life they lead after the war. And the sudden, jolting way we are thrown into the actual action is also an effective touch. This is one of the all time great anti war movies, but not one I'll want to watch very frequently.
Rated 20 Mar 2008
82
63rd
Has some amazing scenes, but it drags, for sure.
Rated 25 Mar 2008
87
80th
Must see!
Rated 15 May 2008
85
72nd
Oh god, that Russian roulette scene . . . .
Rated 19 May 2008
68
30th
Retardedly boring, that whole wedding scene is terrible--the kicker is that scene is unbearably long too. the Russian roulette scene is awesome and, well, the last half hour is the only part that's watchable.
Rated 29 May 2008
71
49th
Not sure what to say about this one. It was good but guess it was good in 70/80s. I think it has aged badly and while being clever it just seems to look old (in a bad way) now days. For a nam film, there isn't much nam there. Still good film and worth a watch just so you can have an opinion on it.
Rated 08 Jun 2008
1
20th
Watchable for the Russian roulette seen.
Rated 20 Jun 2008
75
75th
Almost all of the points are for the scenes in 'Nam. I didn't really care for the first part of the movie, in fact the wedding scenes were extremely boring.

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