Streamers

Robert Altman spends most of his time as a director in the 80s adapting acclaimed theater plays into film. With his 1983 play adaptation, Streamers, I never felt grasped by the plot, humor, or the messaging. To top it off, I found it harder than usual scouting connecting points with any of the characters. The feeling of being trapped in one setting, unable to leave, really bothered me here. Yet, it’s hard to fully complain about. Altman accurately links the audience to the characters by a collective feeling of being stuck, which would have been really enjoyable if I was engaged by the film. 

Probably my least favorite Altman throughout this chronological watchthrough. 

50/100

Robert Altman spends most of his time as a director in the 80s adapting acclaimed theater plays into film. With his 1983 play adaptation, Streamers, I never felt grasped by the plot, humor, or the messaging. To top it off, I found it harder than usual scouting connecting points with any of the characters. The feeling of being trapped in one setting, unable to leave, really bothered me here. Yet, it’s hard to fully complain about. Altman accurately links the audience to the characters by a collective feeling of being stuck, which would have been really enjoyable if I was engaged by the film. 

Probably my least favorite Altman throughout this chronological watchthrough. 

50/100

A script that is constantly turning up the heat but never reaches a true boiling point. As provocative as the writing seems to believe itself to be with its frank discussions of race and homosexuality and extended sequences of loud vulgarities, there's just not much to the center of everything. What does this say about war and prejudice that other plays and films don't already do and with more focus? Altman assembles a good crew of performers here but everything feels so limited. I'm normally not someone who complains about stage to film adaptations feeling "stagey" but the claustrophobia of it all actually drew away from the story's impact by the end. Mitchell Lichtenstein is a highlight here but otherwise I couldn't say I found a ton of value in this, unfortunately.

A script that is constantly turning up the heat but never reaches a true boiling point. As provocative as the writing seems to believe itself to be with its frank discussions of race and homosexuality and extended sequences of loud vulgarities, there's just not much to the center of everything. What does this say about war and prejudice that other plays and films don't already do and with more focus? Altman assembles a good crew of performers here but everything feels so limited. I'm normally not someone who complains about stage to film adaptations feeling "stagey" but the claustrophobia of it all actually drew away from the story's impact by the end. Mitchell Lichtenstein is a highlight here but otherwise I couldn't say I found a ton of value in this, unfortunately.