Simply Perfect

Good movie but grossly overrated

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

This film is so Altmanesque that you might as well watch a Robert Altman film. The inherent problem with mimicking a genius's style is that you'll never be as good as he was. I get that Rudolph is Altman's "protege" and Altman was even a producer on this film, but for the life of me I can't fathom why Altman just didn't direct the film himself...maybe he was busy working on other projects, but if so why water down your artistic legacy with mediocrity. The most egregious problem with this film is the miscasting of Denver Pyle; he might have been good in smaller roles as a hayseed but he simply isn't believable as an executive, and lacks the depth to accurately portray a man who has become distant from his own son. Every line he delivers is flat; he must have known he was struggling in the role, he looks uncomfortable. On the other hand, most of the other actors are terrific: Lauren Hutton, Keith Carridine, Geraldine Chaplin, Harvey Keitel, and Sissy Spacek, all in interwoven Altmanesque stories. My main problem with the film is that it feels very claustrophobic; where Altman tells the big, grand story and dips into the characters every once in a while, Rudolph focuses on the relationships among these vapid people, complete with closeups intended to convey contemplation, wounded pride, happiness, or any other emotion these superficial characters experience. We never really get to know any of them, they appear as strangers at the start of the film and by the end they leave as strangers, which might have been the point that Rudolph was making, but the presentation of this idea isn't sophisticated enough to drive the point home. If it were any good, the music might have redeemed the film, but none of the songs are particularly catchy or memorable, though they are sophisticated. Before last night I had never heard of this film but I'm glad I watched it so I could reminisce about the 70s when cell phones were science fiction and wicker furniture and spider plants were everywhere.

I saw this movie late at night. I was sitting in front of the TV with headphones on because my girlfriend was already sleeping. Although I had to sit in a rather uncomfortable position in front of the TV and it was already 2.00 in the morning I was fascinated from the beginning and completely forgot about being tired and just wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of the film.I loved this movie, maybe because I have a fascination for California and LA myself. I don't have much else to say which hasn't been posted in the other comments but the I never have read so different opinions on any movie. There seem to be a great amount of people who love it (like me) and some who think its the worst film of all time. It reminds me of the way people talk about LA itself. They way this film polarizes makes it an outstanding piece of art, definitely worth seeing - like the city itself.As I said - one of my favourites - cant wait to see it again on TV.

Despite a fabulous cast led by Alan Rudolph regular Keith Carradine, this vacant, flat movie with virtually no plot is easy to classify as a lesser "Nashville" set on the West Coast. I mean, what are the major happenings, Denver Pyle makes Harvey Keitel a partner? Uh . . . that was about it, there's a party. So, why the heck do I like this so much? I've seen it maybe 30 times, even though it's unavailable on any media, at the moment, at least, and every time I watch it all the way through to the last shot of Carridine looking sideways at the camera. I saw it when it first came out, and it stayed in my mind for decades until it started to show up on the movie channels. I can't explain it, the music is nice (particularly "One Night Stands" and "Welcome to L.A."), but the conversation isn't particularly clever (compare "Choose Me" for example). I can't really defend the film, how could I? There's no message, no plot, no outstanding performances to champion . . . I don't know, I just enjoy watching it. Beats me.

Without question the worst movie I have ever seen. No plot, disjointed. The singing was terrible, the songs inane. Seeing a young Sissy Spacek was the only thing of interest. The costumes were ridiculous, what was it with that hat. A total train wreck.