tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post3468386174390374962..comments2024-01-09T05:41:10.873-05:00Comments on The Blue Vial: Quintet (Robert Altman, 1979)Drew McIntoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-27995641731930996432016-11-17T20:56:32.174-05:002016-11-17T20:56:32.174-05:00This is a perfect film, still fresh and unique nea...This is a perfect film, still fresh and unique nearly forty years after it was made. Those who don't like it either don't understand it, or, more likely, are put off by its bleak hopelessness. The end result is exactly what Mr. Altman strove to achieve.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-74590878587215018162011-02-10T03:06:51.522-05:002011-02-10T03:06:51.522-05:00I recently recorded this as it was on FMC and seei...I recently recorded this as it was on FMC and seeing that it had Paul Newman in it I figured why not. Not even 15 minutes in and I just couldn't watch anymore... The whole hazy edges of the screen was just too much. I just couldn't get past it. Maybe it's just me in a future of HD imagry, but wow. I just don't like the feeling that I have cataracts while watching a flick.JLHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-11160517767943167492010-11-04T13:38:20.390-04:002010-11-04T13:38:20.390-04:00Just wanted to let you know, there's a rare GO...Just wanted to let you know, there's a rare GOSFORD PARK board game for sale on eBay at the moment. Just type in "Gosford Park game" under "search" and it should turn up.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15437593701082638055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-62603710775670090432010-06-22T23:51:39.631-04:002010-06-22T23:51:39.631-04:00Thanks for the comment, Adam, and thanks for linki...Thanks for the comment, Adam, and thanks for linking your piece. It was quite an interesting and insightful read, wonderfully written of course. We certainly differ in opinion on this one, though we at least both agree that the art direction is masterful and something special. As I said here though, even that was tough for me to enjoy entirely, as the visuals were consistently hampered by the vaseline gimmick that wore out its welcome with me pretty quickly.<br /><br />Your comparison between Quintet and Blade Runner certainly holds water, with their implementation of the MacGuffin and subversion of narrative expectations. And while I suppose some of the same criticisms could be leveled at both, I would simply argue that Blade Runner is a better movie; thematically richer and more striking, and while the parallels you draw between the two leads existential stoicism is true, with the Harrison performance there was - for me at least - a dark, haunting, emotional charge to the Deckard character that intrigued and drew me in as a viewer. Whereas I found the Newman performance to be just horrendously bland and boring, almost in a goofy, over-the-top manner, completely lacking in anything resonant.<br /><br />I will say though, your impassioned defense has me curious to give this one another shot down the road. I'm not sure my opinion will change at all, but I'm more than willing to go in open-minded and see if something clicks for me in a second viewing.Drew McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-23875876479520287522010-06-21T21:27:48.786-04:002010-06-21T21:27:48.786-04:00I always maintained that Quintet is some kind of m...I always maintained that <i>Quintet</i> is some kind of masterpiece. It's been increasingly hard for me to convince people of that, although one of the frustrating things is that there can never be a truly WIDE discussion on <i>Quintet</i> because a lot of Altman fans still haven't seen the film. <br /><br />Responding to what J.D. said, I don't think <i>Quintet</i> is rarely seen just because it's gotten a bad reputation--to me it's more like the ghastly box office results (there were rumors that theaters gave customers their money back) and the poor attempt to release the film to DVD have something to do with it. I had to rent it through an Altman box set, and I think a film as unique as <i>Quintet</i> deserves its own independent DVD release... maybe a Criterion release, like <i>3 Women</i> had. If nobody's willing to write a Criterion essay on it, then I'll happily step up to the plate!<br /><br />Honestly, I don't see why the same criticisms thrown at <i>Quintet</i> can't be thrown at another deconstructing science fiction film like, say, <i>Blade Runner</i>. I would argue that you can watch both films in the same way. Audiences went into both worrying about certain plot elements that weren't important. Both Newman's Essex and Ford's Rick Deckard ARE stoic, wandering lost souls. The actual Quintet game itself is a MacGuffin designed to set off the Darwinian thriller elements--the rules of the game don't make any sense, and that of course is the point. Same with the way the Replicants in <i>Blade Runner</i> are designed and what their motives are, or whether Deckard is human or not.<br /><br />I wrote a piece on <i>Quintet</i> last year that elaborates significantly more on a few of the points I've raised here:<br /><br />http://iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2009/10/quintet-1979.htmlAdam Zanziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524618281515322239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-38254233337247069152010-05-20T16:39:48.432-04:002010-05-20T16:39:48.432-04:00JPK - Even if I end up not doing a full blown writ...JPK - Even if I end up not doing a full blown write-up of <i>HealtH</i>, I'll be sure to drop you a line with y thoughts, and at least add my rating over on the "Recent Viewings" section on the main page. I of course agree with you that any Altman is work a watch, and his multi-layered stories often do benefit from multiple viewings.Drew McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-11405707016125939982010-05-20T13:00:46.057-04:002010-05-20T13:00:46.057-04:00Looking forward to reading what you make of HealtH...Looking forward to reading what you make of HealtH. I do think Altman's stuff is definitely always worth a look, and so much of it repays multiple viewings too.Jeff Pikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17148737647138431543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-32823371817533341092010-05-19T16:24:55.333-04:002010-05-19T16:24:55.333-04:00J.D. - Thanks. I do think this level of directoria...J.D. - Thanks. I do think this level of directorial freedom is a wonderful thing when talking about guys like Altman (it did bring masterpieces such as <i>3 Women</i>), but yeah in this case it just goes overboard and becomes way to indulgent and muddled. I wouldn't completely write it off as a huge Altman fan either; it is certainly a failed experiment, but probably worth watching once just because of how utterly bizarre it is.<br /><br />Ed - I definitely agree with you that the vaseline effect serves its function as far as contributing to the unsettling atmosphere. It just got old for me pretty quickly, and eventually got in the way of my enjoyment of some other intriguing elements in the film. I would agree that it's worth seeing for big Altman fans for its sheer peculiarity. It sounds like you liked this one a little more than I did, but it feels like we are basically in agreement with a lot of stuff here. <br /><br />JPK - Interesting to hear from someone who recently saw this also, and shares a similar view. Although it pains me to hear your opinion of <i>HealtH</i>, that was one I was going to watch soon! It'll be interesting to see whether we agree on that one too or not.<br /><br />"Aside from the points you mentioned, what struck me most was how little was seemed to be at stake, particularly considering all the dire post-apocalyptic trappings. Food, shelter, and clothing just didn't seem to be much of a concern for anyone"<br /><br />See, I actually thought this was an interesting aspect of the film that was explained kind of halfway, but never delved into. It's quite clear that nothing really mattered to these people other than playing Quintet, and when you find out that they play for no other reason than to go on living, it brings up all kinds of interesting questions that the film basically ignores (other than a few patches of dialogue between Rey and Newman).<br /><br />It goes back to what I said in the write-up, how I would have liked for the film to have spent a little more time mining the philosophies of these players, instead of focusing so much time on the damn confusing game itself. It would have been interesting to learn more about why these people were so concerned with survival within the context of the game, and seemingly could care less about life or death outside of it.Drew McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-53819981132976028232010-05-19T13:32:35.359-04:002010-05-19T13:32:35.359-04:00Nice analysis. I happened to watch this for the fi...Nice analysis. I happened to watch this for the first time just last week and found it fairly tedious. It didn't feel nearly as exhausted of ideas and energy as another Altman I also saw recently from the same time period, HealtH, but it's close. Aside from the points you mentioned, what struck me most was how little was seemed to be at stake, particularly considering all the dire post-apocalyptic trappings. Food, shelter, and clothing just didn't seem to be much of a concern for anyone, and here's a small point but one I couldn't stop noticing -- nobody was very obviously that cold. You couldn't even see their breath half the time when they were supposed to be outside. An interesting experiment, for sure, but deeply flawed I think.Jeff Pikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17148737647138431543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-15186204215736065912010-05-19T11:42:37.651-04:002010-05-19T11:42:37.651-04:00Well, there's no question that this is an oddb...Well, there's no question that this is an oddball outlier in Altman's oeuvre, and something of a failed experiment as well.<br /><br />But as such, it's pretty interesting anyway, in my opinion, and not nearly as bad as its dismal reputation suggests. I thought the vaseline gimmick did work very well to give the film an unsettling, dreamy, chilly atmosphere to match the icy surroundings and the archetypal blankness of the characters. It's a strange, surreal atmosphere, especially once the plot really kicks into gear and all these people start getting killed; there's a sense of nonsensical violence, committed for no real reason, in this absurd setting.<br /><br />I'd never say it's a great movie or anything, but as a weird and uncharacteristic experiment from a great director, it's certainly worth seeing, and its overall mood goes some way towards compensating for the flaws in the moment-to-moment storytelling and aesthetics.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361087063517934891.post-22080287760971466442010-05-19T10:03:04.748-04:002010-05-19T10:03:04.748-04:00Good review! I'm ashamed to say, as a huge Alt...Good review! I'm ashamed to say, as a huge Altman fan, I've never seen this film and now I know why. From what you say, QUINTET demonstrates the downside of experimentation that went on in the 1970s with guys like Altman sometimes getting too much freedom and just going off the deep end for whatever reason.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.com