Review of M*A*S*H (1970) by Blake P — 03 Jan 2013

Though known by most people to be the basis of the extreme popularity, long-running sitcom "MASH", this film version, director Robert Altman's film debut, is a turning point for both the filmmaker and the TV series, and in the end, the film, "MASH" (mostly) succeeds.

Chronicling the lives of a (moronic) group of a duo of surgeons, "Trapper" John (Elliot Gould), and "Hawkeye" (Donald Sutherland), and the film does a relatively good job of capturing the character flaws that most likely resemble real people.

The characterizations are very good, and its actors seem to be in touch with their characters, but in the end, something is missing from "MASH". It may be filled with funny bits, and the social commentary, showing the demise of the morals that took place in the '30's-'60's, more often than not works, but Altman's direction feels a bit aimless, and the screenplay doesn't seem to have a direction in where it's going.

From the conversations between the surgeons, the soldiers, the surgeons with the soldiers, and vice versa, to the climatic (and pretty funny) football game, each scene doesn't really seem to know when to end, and even though all of the actors to a good job (I really liked Sally Kellerman, who plays the only truly serious character in the film), by the end of the film they aren't likable, and you remember being annoyed by them, not entertained.

And Atlman's direction, which is in the path of succumbing to his trademarks (the "cross-talk", interweaving story-lines, etc.) is obviously blooming, and it's interesting to see the great director become great.

But in the end, "MASH" doesn't have the charm of the TV series, or Altman's later films, and that's its breaking point.