Review of The Long Goodbye (1973) by Rob S — 12 May 2012
I'm repeatedly baffled by the reviews I read for altman movies and the movies as I see them. He's a great visionary for sure, but as a director I can't stand him. Yet, for whatever reason, I keep watching his movies, glutton for punishment that I am.
Elliot Gould makes a really interesting and unexpected Marlowe. The story, reset in 70s hollywood, works quite well. But Altman ruins his own movie. In the first 20 minutes, Altman refuses to keep the camera still, awkwardly attempting to create meaning with his shots.
Whenever Marlowe talks to himself, it's horribly dubbed at about twice the volume it should be. There are a few brilliant dramatic exchanges, particularly between the writer and his wife and between Marlowe and the gangsters.
There are times when the whole thing feels like a blend of Woody Allen and Tarantino, but in the end, Im left with a feeling of inconsistency, of a script wonderfully reimagined and ruined by the same man.
Too bad.
This review of The Long Goodbye (1973) was written by Rob S on 12 May 2012.
The Long Goodbye has generally received very positive reviews.
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