To say it was brutal would be an understatement. To say that this is an article about friendship is to emphasize the obvious. To say that this is an intense and realistic depiction of the Vietnam War is obvious, but it is what it is. It has to be said, because it is one of the best films ever made.
The Dear Hunter lifted Michael Cimino. Not only did he succeed by playing Russian roulette, but he got well-deserved recognition.
Much of its success can be attributed to its solid cast. Great work from the likes of John Cazale, Meryl Streep, George Dzuzzi and John Savage. Especially the two leads Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken.
De Niro manages to add another great performance to his long career. Walken began to shine here.
In my opinion, his most outstanding performance was in this film, for which the Academy awarded him a statuette. Aside from Cimino, Abel Ferrara is one of the few who has made the most of his gifts as an actor, having lately devoted himself to simpler or lower level comic roles, although he gave these roles a different style.
The film becomes a nightmare, a constant search for something that one day is lost, for what we once were and can never return.
