It is. Really good drama of home and a war far away that basically screws up 3 friends, for good, from a small mining town.
Michael Cimino makes such a damn good movie, and then basically killed his career when using his carte blanche from DEER HUNTER, he makes HEAVEN'S GATE, which destroyed United Artists. A pity.
Still, Cimino also made the pretty good YEAR OF THE DRAGON with Mickey Rourke(go review that Mick)
