MovieChat Forums > Brewster McCloud Discussion > Deaths Warranted?

Deaths Warranted?

posted 18 years ago by rlingenf
9 replies | jump to latest

Overall, I enjoyed this movie as I saw it for the first time on TCM. The one thing I didn't like however is that the murders of the people throughout the movie didn't seem necessary. I have heard the terms whimsical and magical used to describe Brewster and the movie, but I don't see that when it turns out he/Louise is behind these murders. Yes, the people were not very nice, and probably the Narc cop deserved it the most, but did they deserve to die? It definitely helps the plot move along to bring in the out of state detective, but he could have been a city detective just investigating the stealing of things Brewster was taking (Wright manuscript, camera).

[–] thenick 18 years ago

i think a good deal of the plot (murders, police, out-of-town badass cop, etc) was pretty much for the purpose of Altman framing the film as a goof on crime dramas/thrillers. and as for whether they deserved to die...does it matter? plenty of altman's films (hell, films from the 1970s in general) don't really concern themselves with any sort of moral code. the fact that Brewster/Louise killed those people is just how the story goes, so to speak. just because we aren't instructed to condemn their actions doesn't mean we're encouraged to approve them.

[–] floydpinque 18 years ago

rlingef--
This has always been one of my favorite movies. I not only saw it when it debuted--it was the next Altman project after M*A*S*H, but also because it had that Altman rebellious theme to it. In addition, I have also been in The Astrodome several times since, for baseball and this movie.

Thenick above got it all right.

The fact that you have only seen it on TCM is to miss the full experience of it all. I have it on tape, so can only ask if on TCM they showed a topless-Sally in the Fannin fountain in Houston? Your answer on that would let me know if anything was edited or not on what you saw.

Whimsy, whatever--it has those unique Altman touches and great camera closeups and wry/sardonic humor that make it so great---the murders are really incidental to it all!

RIDE ABRAHAM RIDE!

[–] rlingenf 18 years ago

Yes, TCM shows movies unedited, without commercials, so I got the full home experience. Thanks for your opinions on my query. I felt a little like Brewster had to die in his attempt to fly, since he had to kill to fulfill his dream, so it works out in the end, at least to me.

[–] floydpinque 18 years ago

rlingenf--
Thanks for the reply.
I almost would say that your info surprised me. I watch movies I already have on tape, on tv cable channels nowadays just to see what they censor, but I can see now from your reply that virtually 'anything-goes', aside from a few DeNiro/Pacino movies. Think Scarface and Goodfellas w/o the F word.
In any event, the license tag TEXAS BRD*SHT for Sally's AMC Gremlin was made up just for the movie, no US State would issue that plate.

SO RIDE ABRAHAM RIDE!

[–] rlingenf 18 years ago

Yes, I was also surprised that TCM showed movies uncut, as I just had the channel added to my basic cable lineup. I have been pleasantly surprised with all the great movies on the station, though most movies that get a TV-MA rating end up showing in the early morning hours, where Tivo takes over for me.

[–] freudified_n_funkified 17 years ago

TCM is God's gift to movie lovers - unedited and commercial free. They get away with murder and I'd even venture to say their widescreen print of BREWSTER is superior to a VHS release. Great flick.

[–] Krustallos 16 years ago

This is what's known as a black comedy, being troubled by the murders is really missing the point.

I used to want to change the world. Now I just want to leave the room with a little dignity.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] moodie-1 9 years ago

Very true. As regards rlingenf's post(s), Brewster has to be considered (almost) totally innocent of the murders. I say "almost" since it's possible that Brewster suspected Louise to be the killer and was hesitant about reporting her to the authorities. Obviously, Louise was so intent on protecting poor Brewster that whoever (whomever?) she saw as an even remotely likely threat to him soon got killed (and crapped on by her pet raven). The question is, was she a guardian angel (fallen angel?) sent to Earth to help him? Or maybe an ex-member of some strange, hidden avian race? Those long scars on her back would fit either explanation.

Also, Hope (Jennifer Salt's character) escaped with her life since Louise must have seen her as being too oblivious to what was going on to be any real danger to him. And since Brewster evicted Louise soon after he met Suzanne (Shelley Duvall's character) she didn't get the chance to kill her, either. She simply decided that her mission on Earth was now over (IOW, she failed) and left Brewster to carry on as best he could, with the subsequent understandably unfortunate consequences. (Wow! Four 25-cent words in a row! I'm on a roll!) 😎