Leisurely but fascinating

preppy-3

Drama about three Depression era crooks--Bowie (David Carradine), Chicamaw (John Schuck) and T-Dub (Bert Remsen). Two have just escaped from prison. They get together and rob banks. Bowie meets Keechie (Shelley Duvall) and starts to fall in love with her. But can he be with her and give up crime?

I can't say this was entertaining and it is slow and leisurely paced but I found it just fascinating. I'd have to say this film was naturalistic--everything seemed real and true to life. The cinematography was absolutely stunning in this one--the lush green backgrounds were absolutely breath-taking. The period cars they got were also great in this--big beautiful automobiles in bright vivid colors. The towns they shot in were small rural towns in Mississippi that looked like they were still in the 1930s. It's incredible that director Robert Altman was able to find towns like that in 1974 and he used them to great effect. Also there's no music--only recordings of actual radio shows from that era. They work perfectly and compliment the action on the screen. Everything is done on a laid back, easy-going level. Even the one bank robbery they show is done in a quiet easy manner! All the direction is great...but that goes without saying for an Altman film.

The acting is great. Carradine and Duvall are fascinating--so young and full of life. They play off each other well and their conversations were just incredible. Schuck was downright terrifying as the unstable Chicamaw. Remsen was just OK as T-Dub. Also Louise Fletcher in her first role was just great. Altman discovered her for this movie--she was (at the time) married to someone in the crew.

This is not for everyone--but then most Altman films aren't. This is for those who prefer quiet intelligent movies. My only complaint--we see characters constantly drinking Coca-Cola. This was true to the era but it started to seem like product placement (it wasn't). Not Altman's best (I still think "Nashville" was better) but well worth catching. A 9.

score 9/10

preppy-3 13 August 2007

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1711207/