Monday, September 28, 2009
ENSEMBLE
Today's Alan Bates movie was Robert Altman's
This is not strictly an Alan Bates movie. It has a huge cast of first rate actors working together more or less equally in a hunting weekend estate whodunnit.
What is fun is to see Bates, late career, running the house as the butler Jennings. And run it he does.
Since this is an Altman movie there is constant action on all fronts. Perhaps 20 actors at one time in a room or out of the room. Half ladies and gents and half the downstairs help.
It is interesting to watch Bates stand in a room and take the whole scene. In one sequence he simply stands to the side during an evening's entertainment and in every scene he stands in background you see him. A move of the hand. A smile (which he is not to have, actually) and so on.
I enjoyed the entire film. It was a NYTimes Best 1176 film. I saw it before. I will see it again.
A 5 out of Netflix5.
And thus endeth the Alan Bates festival. On to the Richard Linklater Film Fest and Slacker. After a brief documentary. Coming attractions.
