MovieChat Forums > MASH (1970) Discussion > THIS IS WHY I HATE ROBERT ALTMAN

THIS IS WHY I HATE ROBERT ALTMAN


Why oh why do I keep falling for the same trick?

I'm going along - living my life - and I see something like ‘AFI 100’ or ‘Best Movies on topic XYZ’ - and one of Robert Altman's movies is in the pile.

And I think – “But I hate Robert Altman!” He's a terrible director with ONE shot in his bag of tricks (PUSH IN - PUSH IN - NOW PULL BACK!) No talent for changing an actor's range or help tell the story. Just Push in with the freakin' camera and then pull back.

Then I think - But how bad could it be? I've never watched MASH - perhaps I should.

So I did.

And this - is why I hate Robert Altman.

His movies are not narrative stories – and this one is no different. It's a loosely weaved bunch of slapstick skits where misogynistic guys sexually harass every female in sight, tell dick jokes and treat a young Korean boy as a slave. If they had only dropped the N word – the rainbow of racism and sexism would be complete.

I can think of 1000 ways to show the degradation of war and what it does to the human spirit – how humor is a tool for survival. By the end I wished a these a-holes would take a hint from the theme song!!!

And the movie’s all time most WTF moment - why did Hot Lips suddenly become a cheerleader at the end?

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If you dont think that Altman has a flair for narrative, I would refer you to his ensemble dramas "Nashville" and "Short Cuts". Both movies deftly weave in interweaving and interlocking characters and story arcs, to capture a certain time and place in America.

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[deleted]

This is the only Altman movie I like.

And how were they misogynistic?

Because they were attracted to women and enjoyed sex?

Would you rather they were gay?

Stop dissecting classic older films using today’s over sensitive woke sledgehammer.

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