This may be irrelevant, but I'll add this.
I saw Michael Cimino's Vietnam epic twice at the theatre. I also remember the first time it was shown on TV was on a local channel, uncut and with no commercials. The filmmakers offered it to the major networks, but they wouldn't show it with all the violence, De Niro's pecker and heaven forbid, no ads. The Deer Hunter is tough for many because it's long, full of contradictions and seems clumsy structurally and thematically because it doesn't ever come out and say what it's really about. It's all about the feelings and emotions of the characters [and the director], but the actual "plot" makes it harder to connect to them and the movie. That, plus some people find it racist. It's bewildering and powerful at the same time. The Russian Roulette metaphor does threaten to derail the film, especially at the end, when the film's other major metaphor, "One Shot", is spoken by Nick to Michael as a form of recognition before he goes ahead and self-destructs. However, having this final Vietnam scene sandwiched in between Michael's second deer hunt where he refuses to shoot the deer and the quietly powerful finale ("God Bless America" - which I take as a tribute to "There's no place like home" rather than "Let us win wars") helps one to let it slide.The ending scene, combined with the music over the end credits, probably ties it together best for me. It's not gung ho but rather sad and sober.
I saw Michael Cimino's Vietnam epic twice at the theatre. I also remember the first time it was shown on TV was on a local channel, uncut and with no commercials. The filmmakers offered it to the major networks, but they wouldn't show it with all the violence, De Niro's pecker and heaven forbid, no ads. The Deer Hunter is tough for many because it's long, full of contradictions and seems clumsy structurally and thematically because it doesn't ever come out and say what it's really about. It's all about the feelings and emotions of the characters [and the director], but the actual "plot" makes it harder to connect to them and the movie. That, plus some people find it racist. It's bewildering and powerful at the same time. The Russian Roulette metaphor does threaten to derail the film, especially at the end, when the film's other major metaphor, "One Shot", is spoken by Nick to Michael as a form of recognition before he goes ahead and self-destructs. However, having this final Vietnam scene sandwiched in between Michael's second deer hunt where he refuses to shoot the deer and the quietly powerful finale ("God Bless America" - which I take as a tribute to "There's no place like home" rather than "Let us win wars") helps one to let it slide.The ending scene, combined with the music over the end credits, probably ties it together best for me. It's not gung ho but rather sad and sober.
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It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. - John Wooden
My IMDb page
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. - John Wooden
My IMDb page