Review of Nashville (1975) by Matty S — 16 Aug 2013

I doubt that there are many who would argue against the opinion that Robert Altman was one of the key filmmakers of the 1970's. And, I think, one of the most important filmmakers of all time.

In my opinion, Nashville, is the perfect Robert Altman storm of creativity, ideas and filmmaking. It works on every level.

While very dated in the clothing and decor, this cinematic masterpiece from 1975 remains ever bit as relevant and controversial as it must have been upon its release.

The ideas involving the congestion of American culture, the confusion surrounding sexuality and what it means on an intimate level, the vile political machine, the ever-expanding cultural celebrity obsessions and the off-balance of human kindness to human cruelty has never been so sharply examined. And, these cultural challenges are examined in an epic but oddly passive way.

Nashville unspools like a messy collection of tiny stories. Altman's style of over-lapping dialog reaches its moment of absolute perfection. The quirkiness of the characters is never so over-the-top that one can't believe the actions.

Nashville is an absolute Cinematic Gut-Punch.

The anger, the jealousy, the dishonesty, the deceptions, the misuse of sex, the callousness and ultimate horrific violence are all too real. In fact, in many ways, Altman created a sort of Cultural Crystal Ball -- all kept within the framework of the 1970's Country & Western Business Era -- just as country began to slip itself into the FM Pop idiom, Robert Altman pushes us into the very last bit of innocence of the 20th Century.

Not to be missed.