Released in the middle of 1975, Nashville is perched midway between the twin national tragedies of the Vietnam War and the Watergate Scandal, and the optimism of the forthcoming American Bicentennial. The movie takes place over several days in Nashville, Tennessee, and just about everybody is either a country music star, or a struggling musician, or a devout fan. The movie is filled with original music, most of it composed by the actors themselves, some of it wildly satirical, some of it deeply touching, but none of it superfluous, and all of it contributing to the characterization and narrative. At times Nashville seems like a disorganized collage, as if its 24 equally credited (and equally paid) stars were simply dumped in their scenes and told to make the best of it. Yet, the more times I see this movie, the more I am impressed most of all by its dramatic structure, partially imposed (I'm sure) by the screenplay by Joan Tewkesbury, but also by Robert Altman's uncanny ability to draw Read More...