Review of McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) by Jennifer A — 28 Mar 2008

I've long admired the late Robert Altman's approach to filmmaking. A maverick and a pioneer, Altman made films on his own terms. Some were brilliant, others no more than curious misfires, but good (usually) or bad, Altman left a definite imprint on his films.

[b]3 Women (1977) - 7.9/10[/b].

Director - Robert Altman.

Starring - Sissy Spacek, Shelley Duvall, Janice Rule, Robert Fortier.

Surreal, eerie and often bizarre, "3 Women" focuses on the lives of three women in a small western town. Pinky (Sissy Spacek) is the youngest. She travels to the town searching for a new life, taking a job as an attendant at a spa which caters to the elderly and infirm. There she befriends co-worker Millie (Shelley Duvall) a talkative and strange woman who has a rather high opinion of herself. The two become roommates and Pinky becomes obsessed with Millie, eventually trying to emulate her. The realationship begins to collapse once Pinky discovers Millie with an older man Edgar (Robert Fortier), the cowboy husband of eccentric local artist Willie (Janice Rule) who is the last woman in the trio.

The film, inspired by Altman's dreams, is loosely structured and full of imagery and innuendo. Since it's not dependent on plot devices, you must buy into the characters of Pinky and Millie, and their unusual relationship. The conclusion is odd, but fitting for the film. Sissy Spacek is an amazing actress, and she definitely makes the most out of her character here. Altman also manages to get a career best performance from Shelley Duvall. Millie is a grating character, and Duvall plays her perfectly. Altman has never been considered a mainstream filmmaker, but even taken that into consideration "3 Women" is one of his least accessible and oddest films. It's also one of his most interesting.

[b]McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) - 7.9/10[/b].

Director - Robert Altman.

Starring - Julie Christie, Warren Beatty, Rene Auberjonois, Keith Carradine, Shelley Duvall, William Devane, John Schuck.

More of an anti-Western than a Western, Robert Altman's "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" used the west as the setting for what was very much an indictment of early 1970's politics and institutions. John McCabe (Warren Beatty) is a capitalist (or opportunist) hoping to turn gambling winnings into a profitable business venture, a brothel/casino. His partner is Mrs. Miller (Julie Christie) who isn't too fond of McCabe, but sees the potential of his business. As the town prospers, so does McCabe and Mrs. Miller, but eventually they want McCabe gone leading to a violent confrontation.

The Western genre was at it's peak during the late 60's and early 70's, with some of the most artistic and beloved films being released during this time. Robert Altman's film didn't mimic any of them. Haunting and deliberate, this film pretty much set the tone for Altman's output in the 70's. Features an excellent performance from Julie Christie.