This one sat on the shelf for a couple of years despite being made by Robert Altman, and no wonder - it's barely watchable for non-fans of the director, and will probably disappoint those who are, as well. It's notable for having a predominantly female main cast, yet the only actor who gives some teeth to the satire is Donald Moffat (before the teeth are removed in the penultimate sequence).
I've wanted to see this lost Robert Altman film for years and finally found it serialized on YouTube (widescreen, even). It started off pretty well.
The minor reputation of HealtH among Robert Altman's films isn't really undeserved - it's immediately recognizable (stylistically and tonally) as his, but in this case that often seems largely as a function of self-absorbed affectations, seldom revealing anything very meaningful about the situation under examination, or about anything beyond it. The setting is a resort hotel, and the national convention of a health association, focusing on a race for its presidency between two unsuitable individuals (Lauren Bacall and Glenda Jackson); the mix includes a White House representative (Carol Burnett) and her ex-husband (James Garner) who now works on the Bacall character's campaign.
"We have lost interest in our Constitution and democratic ideals. None of this has made us happier, wealthier, healthier, safer or better custodians of this land.
If you are a fan of Altman's large ensemble casts, as evidenced in major films like M.A.
I was mesmereized by this movie when it played on 1983 summer TV, but haven't been able to see it again, even though I've been searching off and on (mostly off) for 20+ years. Apparently, no one else in the known universe has anything good to say about HEALTH.
In the classic sense of the four humors (which are not specific to the concept of funny or even entertainment), Altman's "H.E.
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.
Some of the acknowledged Altman "masterpieces" seem sadder to me now. Maybe it's me.
