Review of McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) by Josh M — 20 Jul 2009

My second viewing of this, and even if the film wasn't strong enough to merit a second viewing, the big screen really makes this one, allowing you to lose yourself in Altman's world. Of course, the film is strong enough to merit that second viewing; full of vibrant characters, a fascinating and complex view of the realities of the old West, and that stunning finale, it's probably the best Altman film I've seen, and generally a flawless piece of work.

Watching it today, I realized how much Deadwood owes to this, not just for its view of the West through the working class, but in its willingness to acknowledge the Chinese workers, its focus on the coming of corporations and how they changed the West, and the way violence is dealt with in an unglamorous, brutal way.

There's so much to take in from McCabe, but to try to dissect it is to rob it of its charms. Altman's films usually rise and fall based on their dialogue more than their "direction," but the combination of the dreamlike visuals and the haunting Cohen music (or, in the finale, the jarring lack of any noise) creates an effect unlike almost any other Western I've ever seen.

It's a fantastic film, one whose world and characters linger long after the film itself has ended.