Bizarre goings-on...

This 'lesser' Altman film is a dreamy meander through a vague, almost slow-mo narrative. Despite sparce dialogue and loose plot, I found it hard to stop watching (although I did question what was going on once or twice). Strong but typically understated performances by Sissy Spacek and Shelley Duvall gently drive the underlying story of three misfit women in a hick-town health spa, who seem to alternate identities throughout the film. Some fabulous landscape photography only adds to the disembodied atmosphere. Afterwards i read that Altman conceptualised the film following a dream, which made a good deal of sense. Watch with a big glass of Californian red wine to hand.