The Deer Hunter (1978)

Introduction
"The Deer Hunter" is an American legendary war drama launched in 1978, directed by Michael Cimino. The movie offers an extensive point of view on the Vietnam War's effect on the American working class. The primary characters are three steelworkers and their friends, portrayed by stars consisting of Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage.

Plot
The film is divided into 3 acts: pre-war life, Vietnam War, and post-war life. In the very first act, we are introduced to Michael (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken), and Steven (John Savage). They are steelworkers in a Pennsylvanian town leading a blue-collar life, combined with enjoying searching deer in the surrounding mountains. A wedding event for Steven, one of the trio, supplies an opportunity to depict the lively community life, shortly prior to they all leave for the Vietnam War.

In the War
The 2nd act catapults the audiences into the chaotic and harsh reality of the Vietnam War. The scenes shift suddenly to a Vietnamese prisoner camp where all 3 friends are captured and required to play Russian roulette for the captor's home entertainment. These traumatic experiences help illustrate the cruelty and dehumanization characterized by the Vietnam conflict, etching a stark contrast with their peaceful life back house.

Post-War Life
Moving to the third act, the movie painfully depicts the procedure of the trio's return home, each profoundly scarred and formed differently by their experiences. Steven is disabled and bound to a wheelchair. Nick remains back in Saigon, emotionally harmed, playing Russian live roulette for cash. Michael returns home only to discover that his cherished, Nick's sweetheart, Linda (Meryl Streep), is an altered female who's been waiting anxiously for Nick's return. Michael saves Steven from a squalid veteran's medical facility, and he goes back to Vietnam to discover Nick but discovers him deep in the Saigon gaming scene with no memory of his buddies or his house. Tragically, Nick passes away in a last game of Russian roulette.

Conclusion
The Deer Hunter concludes on a somber note, with the buddies gathering after Nick's funeral singing "God Bless America", an uncertain scene reflecting both their camaraderie and deep scars their experiences have left them. The Deer Hunter emerged as one of the most mentally exhausting and contentious cinematic reflections of the Vietnam War era.

Notable Accolades
The movie got crucial honor upon its release and protected 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Michael Cimino, Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. Regardless of the debate surrounding its depiction of the Vietnamese and the extreme Russian live roulette scenes, the film is applauded for effectively capturing the effect of the war on the mind and life of American servicemen post-war.

Total Analysis
Using a blend of brilliant efficiencies, specifically from Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, and ruthless depiction of war and its effects, "The Deer Hunter" stands as a cinematic masterpiece of the late '70s. More than a war film, it explores the mental trauma soldiers withstand and the drastic modifications wars inflict upon individuals and neighborhoods.

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