[DesertRhino]

“Deer Hunter was the most pretentious for sure”

Agreed. Too many movies get a free pass because they portray something ethnic from 200 miles around NYC. Godfather, Deer hunter, Taxi Driver, etc etc.
Their self love propaganda makes anything an instant hit if its set inside that magic 200 mile circle.
You just need a few greasy actors to say sarcastic tough guy things.

[Jim from C-Town]

I agree as well. What the Heck was Deer Hunter about anyway? It wasn’t about deer hunting, It wasn’t about Viet Nam, and it sure wasn’t making much sense.

[ctdonath2]

_The_Godfather_ and _The_Deer_Hunter_ both just don't work for me. The latter is indeed too pretentious, what with the heroprotagonist trying to shoot himself in the head repeatedly with a 1/6 chance that never materializes (and, IIRC, does not attribute survival to the only thing that could overcome such insane odds: a sentient higher power that cares). The former is similar but, well, more refined about it. Both, however, are just done with what I suppose are Italian sensibilities that I just fail to grasp, what with wallowing in the mundane as though something profound were happening therein - I suppose there is, yet...there isn't.