The Long Goodbye
Director: Robert Altman
Year Released: 1973
Rating: 4.0
Postmodern 'revamp' of Chandler's detective novel that's mighty similar in feel to Altman's acclaimed McCabe & Mrs. Miller - both reconsider their source material in modern times, removing all the romantic aspects (and the slick handling of the material in the 40's and 50's), adding a jaded edge for the less idealistic 'new' audience. Aside from some uncomfortable misogyny (women are there to be naked, beaten or killed), it's a brilliant film, ending on a sad, slightly pessimistic note that friends use friends for their own ends, Los Angeles (or maybe America itself) is emotionally bankrupt and no good deed truly goes unpunished. Altman thinks that Marlowe's cat has the right idea.
