Episode #095

The Deer Hunter

(1978)

Russian Roulette. Historical inaccuracies aside, it’s director Michael Cimino’s central metaphor for the Vietnam War. It’s also the pillar around which he builds this epic tale of three normal, blue-collar guys from Pittsburg who live for drinking, women, and hunting deer. ‘Nam will change each of them, tragically, forever. Easily one of the most disturbing war films ever made, and certainly the most obsessed with Russian Roulette…how does it hold up?