Review of 3 Women (1977) by Alvin Y — 02 Aug 2011

3 Women, Great Movies.

When I think of a movie, or any other movie, about women, I think of many things: like about a cliched romance, or about sex. This movie is not about a love story or a relationship to each other characters, instead, it's a fascinating tale of 3 women (as the title says) on their images and look inside and outside of the world they're into. And since Robert Altman directed this film, you expected lot of all star casting here, but rather not, which only focuses on these 3 women, on how they are similar and represent to each other.

Altman's masterpieces like "Nashville", "The Player", "Short Cuts", and "MASH", are some of the best films ever made, but this movie is what I called an underrated gem and yet to be included on Altman's great films list. Why is it great? Well, I think this is a movie that doesn't have a chick flick feeling, it only has a simple story in which we need to care more about these characters, and at the end, we know that something is still going on but I'll explain later why this film doesn't really have a standard ending.

Millie, Pinky, and Willie, are the main female leads in this movie. Millie is a easy get to go woman who goes with the new wardrobes and much likely the positive of the 3. Pinky is a childish person who befriends Millie and became roommates. And Willie, is that person who is the owner of the hotel that these two are staying in. Well, why they are the chosen women? At times, we see an almost unexplained scene that gets us think maybe they are unto something. Millie and Pinky have a very close friendship until a time where they get to argue all the time. Pinky then becomes the reversal of Millie and vice versa, she now is a bitchy woman. And Willie, I don't know, she is I think the combination of Millie and Pinky, but rather a little older to them. These 3 women, would connect at the end, but Altman knows how to put this tale into a one whole movie. And it is said to be that this film is inspired on Altman's real dreams once, so is it a coincidental moment where Altman sees 3 women?

Now, I'm saying a while ago about why the ending is an ambiguous one. I think Altman believes that the film's ending is more of what would have happen next to these 3 women. The ending scene is on a house where these 3 are chatting and the last shot that we have seen is a closing tracking shot on a tree, that maybe means someone represents that tree, it may be one of the women or one of the men.

Anyways, everything in this film is so brilliant. From the direction, acting, and cinematography are all amazing. I cannot think of any other movie than this for its bravura and purity in filmmaking. I say, "3 Women", is one of the best films of the 70's. Think of women as goddess and maybe they're into it!