- If there were any justice in the world, my review of The Deer Hunter would be fifty pages long and director Michael Cimino would have to read it. Some parts of the review would be dull and plodding, such as when I dutifully listed the film's tremendous cast, which included Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Cazale, John Savage, and George Dzundza. Other parts of the review would contain colorful descriptions of the film's astounding scenery, which ranged from the charming dilapidation of a blue-collar working town to the austere beauty of the Appalachian wilderness to the choking corruption of a Saigon back alley. Still other portions of the review would be insightful, pointing out that the film perfectly portrays the character of the average American draftee and the tremendous disconnect between homefront sentiment and the horrible reality of war.
- But there would also be jarring paragraph breaks.
- And I would belabor points, particularly the one about all of the beautiful scenery. Seriously, it was phenomenal. Best part of the film. Overall, my review would play pretty fast and loose with the facts of the film, preferring instead to paint an exaggerated portrait that contained a rather incoherent message. Ultimately, the review's length would be off-putting and its contents jumbled and confusing.
- Fortunately for everyone involved, there is no justice in the world. Is that the message of The Deer Hunter? God Bless America.
- This was John Cazale's last film.
- Chuck Aspegren was a foreman at the steel mill before being cast in this film.
- I'm no statistics expert, but I have to point out that there should never be any professional Russian roulette players. Not for more a dozen or so tries, at least.
- As an aside, Studs Terkel HATED this film.
