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Title: Altman fumbles.
Review: Altman is, of course, the maker of M.A.S.H., Nashville, Short Cuts, The Long Goodbye, Brewster McCloud and McCabe and Mrs. Miller, some of the best films of their time.This is not work of that caliber.The story can't attain a sense of momentum. We never get to know the people very well. There seems to be no main event, but lots of small, fussy side proceedings. In fact, we 'hang out' for far too long, right at a bunch of strangers' elbows, soaking up rich atmosphere and opaque jollity as though it will all begin to matter soon. There is a bit of fire right at the end. Emotions flash, and we glimpse a new facet of one character for the first time. Then the film ends. We have sat through over 2 hours of what feels like a setting of the stage, a laying of the groundwork for a story. Then the closing credits roll. If you are at all like me, you will be asking what on EARTH was that all about. A major disappointment from a director who has done amazing things. Cannot recommend.
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