This is a film about the Vietnam war, made in a time when that war was still fresh in everybody’s memory. Directed by Michael Cimino and starring heavyweights Rober de Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, Meryl Streep and John Cazale, it is a story about three friends from a small Russian community that are drafted to join the army.
This film has some tremendous acting, by every member of its cast, and contains some scenes that are still referenced today. Who never heard of the scene where De Niro and Walken are forced to play Russian Roulette against each other.
Just because of the sheer performance of everyone involved (even the extra’s during the wedding ceremony considered it an actual wedding instead of acting), be it cast or crew, this film can be considered one of the greatest Vietnam movies ever made, next to Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, and is the best in its kind in telling how war changes people, and how differently people are changed by war.
Still notorious because of its portrayal of Russian roulette as a torture technique by the North Vietnamese, and a “sport” that can be bet on, and showing it with great accuracy and bluntness, I would not recommend this film to people with a weak stomach or to them that are easily distressed, but I can absolutely recommend it to everyone else. This film is an absolute masterpiece.
This film is also known for being the final part that John Cazale played before his death, which was weeks before they finished shooting. Knowing that he was dying, the shooting schedule was changed so all of Cazale’s scenes could be shot first. The production company tried to fire Cazale, but when director Cimino and Cazale’s then-girlfriend Meryl Streep threatened to walk out, he was allowed to remain and play his final part. Cazale is considered one of the finest actors ever, having only played in six films (five during his lifetime, and the Godfather III from archive footage), but having the sole honor of having all his pictures nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award (of which 3 were won).
