Details
Movie Description
Robert Altman's brilliant, sprawling masterpiece paints a detailed portrait of the people and music industry of Nashville, Tennessee. Made in 1975, one year before the celebration of the American Bicentennial, the film can also be viewed as a metaphor for the state of American politics and culture of the time. Altman's roaming camera follows a group of disparate individuals as the city prepares for an upcoming political rally for "Replacement" party candidate Hal Philip Walker. They include a ditzy Californian who's visiting her dying aunt and downtrodden uncle, a philandering rock star and his bandmates, a country singer on the verge of a nervous breakdown, a tone-deaf waitress with dreams of superstardom, a mother with two deaf children, and a British journalist who is out to capture the "true" Nashville. The characters intersect at the beginning of the film after a highway accident, and again at the end when an act of violence tarnishes the political rally. Altman's improvisational approach lends itself perfectly to the film's subject matter, which allows the actors to freely develop their personas. Another bold decision was to incorporate songs written by the actors themselves (Keith Carradine's "I'm Easy" won an Oscar for Best Song). This unorthodox style adds a satirical humor and brave honesty to NASHVILLE, making it one of American cinema's crowning achievements.
Synopsis
NASHVILLE is an intricate, polyphonous story of 24 tangentially-linked characters whose actions weave in and out of the Nashville, Tennessee music and political scene in anticipation of an upcoming rally for "Replacement" party Presidential hopeful Hal Philip Walker. For some, like broken-down rodeo sweetheart Barbara Jean, sleazy folk-singing lothario Tom Frank, and star-aspiring waitress Sueleen Gay, Nashville represents their shot at stardom. For others, like Opal the BBC telejournalist, this scenario is a curious microcosm of American society. Altman's dystopic vision opens with a traffic jam where the characters literally collide, and ends with one of his near-patented abrupt instances of inexplicable violence.
Film Notes
Theatrical Release: June 11, 1975.
The film was rereleased in New York City November 6, 1992.
NASHVILLE was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1992.
NASHVILLE's budget was an estimated $2 million.
The film was shot in 45 days, which is a relatively short schedule for feature film production.
Comedienne Lily Tomlin, who was to later collaborate with Robert Altman in SHORT CUTS, made her film debut in NASHVILLE.
Composer-singer Ronee Blakley made her film debut when she replaced actor Susan Anspach (Barbara Jean); Anspach had to pull out at the last minute.
Industry Reviews
"...It is a tender poem to the wounded and the sad....What's amazing is not how many characters there are in NASHVILLE but how many major characters..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (08/06/2000)
"...Altman's masterpiece looks splendid, and, as provocative entertainment, the movie hasn't lost a beat..."
USA Today - Mike Clark (08/18/2000)
"...Altman's classic strings together a succession of mournful tunes..."
Total Film (07/01/2003)
"...As resonant, and relevant, as it ever was..."
Entertainment Weekly - Entertainment Weekly Staff (01/11/2002)
"Directing an ensemble of actors is Robert Altman's specialty, and NASHVILLE is his most profoundly influential work."
Premiere - Premiere Staff (12/01/2003)
"NASHVILLE stands as one of America's greatest films about itself....The cast is simply wonderful..."
Mojo - Mojo Staff (12/01/2004)
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