The Deer Hunter

An epic three-hour tale of lives forever changed by the Vietnam War THE DEER HUNTER follows the transformation of a tight group of friends from a working-class town taking its place alongside such classics as ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT in telling a story of war and disillusionment. On the eve of going to war Michael (Robert De Niro) Nick (Christopher Walken) and Steven (John Savage) gather for Steven s wedding. Leaving Steven to his wedding night Mike Nick and pals Axel (Chuck Aspergren) Stan (John Cazale) and John (George Dzundza) depart for the mountains and one last hunting trip. The hunting trip is a funny poignant scene that firmly establishes the characters as they set off for Vietnam immediately after the trip. The scenes in Vietnam especially the Russian roulette game are among the most brutal war scenes on film. The characters' eventual return to the States is emotional and gut-wrenching. Michael Cimino's award-winning film is a powerful look at friendship and love in the midst of war.This epic look at the Vietnam War and its effects told through the lives of a tight knit group of friends from a Pennsylvania town was Michael Cimino's second film and established him in the pantheon of American directors. Complex and emotionally raw performances from Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep earned each an Academy Award nomination and Christopher Walken's portrayal of Nick who survives capture but is unable to escape its trauma is a tour de force that earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. With a keen eye for nuance and a carefully structured script Cimino interweaves the rituals great and small that make up the lives of his characters creating a poignant sense of what remained constant and what was forever changed by their experience of the war.System Requirements:Running Time: 184 MinutesFormat: DVD HD Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 025193131027 Manufacturer No: 61031310