3 Women is one of those forgotten films that stands up perfectly today. This Robert Altman-directed and Shelley Duvall / Sissy Spacek –starred title showcases a bizarre friendship between the two leads that rapidly changes into something much more sinister. The dream-like feel to the film breask free to the narrative style employed in the vast majority of films; there seems to be a much heavier focus on the moods and behaviors of the cast rather than an overarching story that links them together.
3 Women has a number of distinct featurettes that will increase the value of this Blu-Ray considerably. The gallery that links together a number of promotional pictures and in-production shots showcases the business side of the film, while the original trailers present provide viewers with a semblance of what Robert Altman and eir bosses thought viewers in 1977 would like to see. The Criterion Blu-Ray of 3 Women is simply impressive, with a sharpness present to the video that is imperceptibly close to the original reels that made their way to movie theatres throughout the United States. Finally, there is a commentary with Altman eirself that looks to provide some additional context to the film. I believe that this commentary makes 3 Women into a completely different film; by understanding Altman’s choices throughout with input from Altman eirself, I felt myself a more active participant.
3 Women is a film that will get the publicity it deserves from Criterion’s Blu-Ray release; if you would like to purchase a rare bit of late-seventies cinema, go to your local well stocked video store or online retailer and see what sort of deal you can get – this is a solid flick.
Rating: 8.0/10
3 Women (Blu-Ray) / 2011 Criterion / 124 Minutes / http://www.criterion.com / http://www.criterion.com/films/712-3-women
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
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