Review of Nashville (1975) by Todd L — 28 Aug 2010

This slowly, finely crafted satire suffers from Altman's purposely unfocused storytelling. The overlapping layers could not function if the characters were any more poignant or interesting, yet the story is -- hey guess what -- not as poignant or interesting as it could be as a result. Okay, it's poignant that the characters are all superficial, but it would be more so if there was a worthwhile character who suffered from those they are surrounded by. The final scene is the only one that breaks the mold, and while it is superb, we aren't invested enough in the character that is harmed, or the one who benefits, or the ones who are otherwise directly affected.

Ultimately the point of the movie is to reveal the superficiality of the 1970s and perhaps the fly-over-ness of fly-over country. Is it fair? That's for you to say. Most interesting is the careful craftsmanship it took to re-create (or create for the first time) the many people and situations being dragged through the mud.