my favorite altman film - PK does her bit to save it from the Rona Barret & Rex Reed's of the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6iZMC05cwE
her review :
https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/2020/11/29/mccabe-mrs-miller-pauline-kael/
Thanks, I enjoyed her review.
But don't be so hard on the Rona Barretts and Rex Reeds of the world because the film -- although well made, artistic, realistic and unique -- deals with very unsavory things, like a house of ill repute in the Old West and grim slayings. It's the furthest thing from a fun, upbeat, wholesome experience and so it's no wonder that some people don't like it or have mixed feelings about it. I personally value it, but I understand why others don't. For instance, I put it on for my wife & I to watch and she walked away in half an hour!
that's all true, but i feel no need to make a safe space for those who make a safe space for the banal professionally, and knock down the more adventurous, the less conventional.
PK's basic critique of criticism still holds true.
...keeping in mind that a conventional film can be greatly entertaining while an adventurous atypical one can be dull as dishwater, not to mention pretentious; it all comes down to filmmakers' resources, skill and execution. Since we're talking about Westerns, "North to Alaska" is a good example of the former while Altman's dreadful "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson" is a good example of the latter.
sharei think you missed the point. i'm talking about quality, not mere novelty. but anyway, there's not much else to say.
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