| NASHVILLE |
 1975
- USA
Director: Robert Altman - Reviewed by Linda
Altman, I think, is a bit of an acquired taste. I really liked his film Short Cuts (which I can now see is very Nashville-esque), but I pretty much had no response to The Player (not to mention hating Pret-A-Porter). He is definitely an actor's director, if only because he just has so darn many people in all of his films (casting call: "Hey! Anyone wanna be in a movie? You all do? Well, alright, c'mon!"). The loose premise of Nashville is that it follows a few days in the lives of 24 characters (that's what the back of the box said... I didn't bother counting), culminating in a political rally for a fictional independent presidential candidate. Among the people whose lives overlap (or don't) are a handful of country singers of varying talents, some people whose paths cross in a hospital, a BBC reporter, the candidate's publicity manager (who is trying to rustle up some entertainers for the rally), and, well, people who know these people. There are even odd appearances by Elliott Gould and Julie Christie, playing themselves. Standouts include Ronee Blakely, playing a beloved singer named Barbara Jean who is recovering from time in the hospital for a burn accident. She basically unravels throughout the film, as she tries to make her comeback. Also memorable is Shelley Duvall, who is freaky-looking in general, but here she plays a freaky chick who manages to appear in enough scenes to flirt with just about every male character in the film. And then there is 70s-hunky Keith Carradine, playing a folk-rock singer who beds most of the women in the film, but has an odd soft spot for Lily Tomlin, a married woman he met in a recording studio. His song "I'm Easy" apparently won an Oscar for the film (and when you see how he uses the song as a seduction, you'll know why... ). Oh, and I can't forget Sueleen Gay (Gwen Welles), the worst country singer ever, who is of course completely clueless about her lack of talent. Nashville is definitely worth seeing. It's an all-American slice-of-life that manages not to judge its myriad of characters, but just presents them (and their situations) as is. But the film is really really long, clocking in at just under three hours (and it feels like it). Don't try this one if you are feeling sleepy, or wanting a concrete plot. It's a good flick for one of those don't-want-to-leave-the-house Sunday afternoons. |
|
Home
| Currently Playing | For
Rent | Video Obsession ©2000 Moviepie e-mail us |
In
my Nashville-O-Rama film fest (in honor of my recent trip to the city), I had
to, of course, start with the Robert Altman classic of the same name (without
the "O-Rama", that is).