Deer Hunter, The

EMAIL PRINTUniversal Pictures

8.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 7 critic reviews
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Based on 14 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama | War

Written by: Deric Washburn
Michael Cimino (story)
Deric Washburn
Louis Garfinkle (story), Quinn K. Redeker (story)

Directed by: Michael Cimino

Release Date:
Theatrical: December 8, 1978
DVD: September 6, 2005

Running Time: 183 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R

Starring Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, George Dzundza, Chuck Aspegren, and Shirley Stoler

The Deer Hunter tracks a group of steelworker pals from a Pennsylvania blast furnace to the cool hunting grounds of the Alleghenies to the lethal cauldron of Vietnam. Robert De Niro gives an outstanding performance as Michael, the natural leader of the group. The Deer Hunter is a searing drama of friendship and courage - and what happens to these qualities under hardship. (Universal)

Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Tribune Gene Siskel

What distinguishes The Deer Hunter most is its many rich characters and the size of its vision. This is a big film, dealing with big issues, made on a grand scale. Much of it, including some casting decisions, suggest inspiration by "The Godfather." [9 Mar 1979]

The New York Times Vincent Canby

A big, awkward, crazily ambitious, sometimes breathtaking motion picture that comes as close to being a popular epic as any movie about this country since "The Godfather."

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TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

Brutally memorable, The Deer Hunter is an emotionally draining production that draws a vivid portrait of its characters and their milieu--and succeeds in showing the devastating effect of the war on their lives, as well as their brave attempts at renewal. Unfortunately, the film falters when it comes to the larger questions of America's involvement in Vietnam.

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Variety Staff (Not Credited)

Among the considerable achievements of Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter is the fact that the film remains intense, powerful and fascinating for more than three hours.

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Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

Overlong, but with moments of greatness.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

While the results are far from unprofessional--the cast is uniformly good, including a characteristically slapped-around Meryl Streep...The male self-pity is so overwhelming that you'll probably stagger out of this mumbling something about Tolstoy (as many critics did when the film first came out in 1978) if you aren't as nauseated as I was.

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The New Yorker Pauline Kael

A romantic adolescent boy’s view of friendship.

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Blake J. gave it a7:
Ask me: "Blake, does this movie stand the test of time?" And I will be forced to honestly say, "No, in my opinion it does not." The Deer Hunter is a serious movie, filled with serious ideas, and serious actors. In his most endearing performance ever on scree, Christopher Walken molds Nicky into precisely the desensitized warriror Cimino must have wanted, or at least dream about. The entire supporting cast adds to the movie's sparkle and gleam of greatness. But, it is in it's lack of cohesion, and it's, ultimately, slow pacing. There is a scene that will make your heart explode, but you wont make it to that scene if you have a short attention span.

Dave gave it a10:
The best, period. But, only if you are capable of appreciatiing and understanding such quality.

JJ Law gave it an8:
Gritty, Vietnam-era movie about the relationship between close friends and how time and war affect their relationships. Excellent cast including Christopher Walken's best performance and Robert DeNiro.

Jonathan gave it a10:
My favourite movie of all time. GREAT!!!!!

Dave C. gave it a4:
Plodding, laborious and pretentious. It supposedly gave Heaven's Gate a high standard to live up to and while I would never rate the Deer Hunter as low as that five hours of agony, I fail to see what this film did to convince producers that Cimino could be trusted with $40 million. It does however deserve four points for a typically superb performance from De Niro.

D. T. gave it a9:
This is to Vietnam what "Best Years of Our Lives" was for World War II. An excellent telling of war affecting a small town. Lives are changed for those who go as well for those who stay behind. Acting is at the peak of it's period - along with Dog Day Afternoon, the best of the 70's.

UCLA gave it a9:
Great movie. Not Deniro's best but still one of his great movies.