AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 34


Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films.

Michael: A deer has to be taken with one shot. I try to tell people that but they don't listen.

The Deer Hunter (1978)
Original List Position: 79
Starring: Robert De Niro, John Cazale, Christopher Walker, and Meryl Streep
Director: Michael Cimino
About: This is a classic film that looks at the toll of the Vietnam War. It came in the near aftermath when all this was still fresh. But it's a story that still resonates today. It features some powerful performances from De Niro and Walken, and is the final film for Cazale. Streep is solid here, too. It's a long and thoughtful film but one that provides a lot of depth and emotion. It was only No. 79 on the original list but jumped up to No. 53 just a decade later. For me, it's even higher than that because I appreciate the power of the story and the production.

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