What an experience watching the opening credits and seeing name after famous name popping up. A shame the rest of this long-winded movie couldn't equal those giddy heights.
After about an hour or so of watching this supposed murder mystery, I realised that Robert Altman wasn't interested in making a mystery film at all. Instead, this is the classic "upstairs/downstairs" drama, exploring the interactions between upper class twits and their servants during the 1930s. Anyone who's seen DOWNTON ABBEY, REMAINS OF THE DAY or, indeed, UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS will know what they're getting into here.
I was entertained, but not overly so. The film did a good job of getting the different characters interacting, and the twists and humour when they come are good. But the use of a huge cast sacrifices any emotion, leaving this a very cold, technical exercise in filmmaking and something I wouldn't want to experience a second time.
After about an hour or so of watching this supposed murder mystery, I realised that Robert Altman wasn't interested in making a mystery film at all. Instead, this is the classic "upstairs/downstairs" drama, exploring the interactions between upper class twits and their servants during the 1930s. Anyone who's seen DOWNTON ABBEY, REMAINS OF THE DAY or, indeed, UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS will know what they're getting into here.
I was entertained, but not overly so. The film did a good job of getting the different characters interacting, and the twists and humour when they come are good. But the use of a huge cast sacrifices any emotion, leaving this a very cold, technical exercise in filmmaking and something I wouldn't want to experience a second time.