This Robert Altman film has not seen much light of the day since its very brief release in 1980, followed by a short commercial release two years later. Coming out originally during the era of the Carter/Reagan presidential election, this deals with the election of the president of a National Health Organization, focusing on various health issues of all sorts and the campaign right before election day at the health festival. The candidates for president are 83 year old virgin Lauren Bacall and the outspoken Glenda Jackson secrets are revealed in a stunning twist of events. In the center of this perplexing black comedy is Carol Burnett as the health adviser to the current United States president who secretly supports Jackson and is astonished by the secrets she learns.
This ensemble cast also includes James Garner, Donald Moffat, Henry Gibson and Charmaine Woodard, with Moffat and Gibson (in drag!) standing out in showy roles, and Woodard proving once again how underrated a performer she is. Of the three leading ladies, it is Jackson who stands out, with Bacall's character not really all that well developed and Burnett basically playing a variation of Eunice (albeit a lucky Eunice in a highly influential position) without mama stepping on her every dream. Jackson, commanding and strong, gets the best writing, the rest of the script weak and aggravating.
Quirky, even by director Robert Altman standards, this has many good ideas but fails to deliver. I have seen films about various types of elections before, and this is as far from "The Best Man" as you can get. Dick Cavett, as himself, does get to deliver an interesting performance, covering the event and revealing subtle ruthlessness in getting the story. The comedy surrounding Burnett is forced, seemingly influenced by her experience in skit comedy. The funniest moments come from the ironies in the story. However, most of the time, it's really just rather talkin and ultimately dangerously dull.
This ensemble cast also includes James Garner, Donald Moffat, Henry Gibson and Charmaine Woodard, with Moffat and Gibson (in drag!) standing out in showy roles, and Woodard proving once again how underrated a performer she is. Of the three leading ladies, it is Jackson who stands out, with Bacall's character not really all that well developed and Burnett basically playing a variation of Eunice (albeit a lucky Eunice in a highly influential position) without mama stepping on her every dream. Jackson, commanding and strong, gets the best writing, the rest of the script weak and aggravating.
Quirky, even by director Robert Altman standards, this has many good ideas but fails to deliver. I have seen films about various types of elections before, and this is as far from "The Best Man" as you can get. Dick Cavett, as himself, does get to deliver an interesting performance, covering the event and revealing subtle ruthlessness in getting the story. The comedy surrounding Burnett is forced, seemingly influenced by her experience in skit comedy. The funniest moments come from the ironies in the story. However, most of the time, it's really just rather talkin and ultimately dangerously dull.