Stephen Farber

“For the most part, however, the film is made with great subtlety. There’s surprisingly little dialogue; Cimino conveys everything visually, in glances between people. He depends on his actors for much of this detail, and they don’t disappoint him. It’s thrilling to see ensemble playing of this quality in an American film.

“As the woman loved by both Nick and Michael, Meryl Streep does wonders in fleshing out what might have been a stock, sketchy role. When she shrieks in delight on catching the bridal bouquet, or hesitantly offers to go to bed with Michael, we are seeing familiar scenes re-imagined with trenchant insight and luminous humanity. Christopher Walken has perhaps the most difficult role, for he has to go through the most dramatic changes….

“At the end there’s a reconciliation of sorts. The survivors are back home, and on a gray morning, they gather together at their favorite haunt; hesitantly and spontaneously, they begin to sing “God Bless America.” It’s a daring finale that might have been laughed off the screen. But it works, partly because of Meryl Streep’s performance, and partly because Cimino allows us to keep our distance. He observes the singing sympathetically, without urging us to join in.

“We are moved by the characters’ struggle to reaffirm their values, but the song can’t possibly temper the horrifying vision of war and devastation that the film has etched. Although this may not have been the director’s intention, the Vietnam scenes overwhelm the movie. We come away remembering the images of destruction and feeling that nothing can ever wash away the blood….”

Stephen Farber
New West, December 18, 1978