3 Women (1977) - Movie Review

[@TrangPakbaby]

Shelleys character is the epitome of delusional, she has no idea how she comes across to others. I found it interesting that although Pinky is seen as the pathetic character, she adopts Millie's persona better than Millie does and people are drawn to her while the same persona falls flat on Millie and no one wants her around

[@ernestinemaloy8680]

Trangpak2 ikr she tells pinky I'm famous for my dinner parties and the people she invited stop by long enough to tell pinky to let millie know they can't make the dinner party after all..at least they gave notice instead of straight out standing her up....holy shit talk about delusional....and that stuff about Tom always asking her out...he never says word one to her just fake coughs...delusional indeed...millies a joke...a bad joke...unbelievable...absolutely adore this movie have it on dvd...love it...can you find out who played tom in this movie ? I can't seem to find any info at all.. Frustrating to say the least...

[@-Roos97-]

@@ernestinemaloy8680 I felt really bad for Millie...Of course she isn't very nice to Pinkie but still, it's sad that she thinks that these people like her while they actually make fun of her. And the fact that she is seemingly unaware does break my heart a little.

[@esock2001]

@@-Roos97-I think she’s aware but denying it, aka delusional. Interesting to note that Millie begins to blame Pinky for her social failures. What did she blame before?

[@EntertainmentKorner]

@@esock2001 Likely her old roomate, which is probably why she left.

[@GtotheAP]

Millie is most likely Autistic, not delusional.

[@CircuitRider]

I like how you really tap into the mood and tone and feeling of the movie instead of just literal plot details. It really is something else. Maybe the film that’s affected me most on a primal kind of level, the most dreamlike film there is as well. It definitely seems to be partly about the anxiety of fitting in or being loved and wanted by others.

[@yasservayani7269]

I was smiling throughout the whole movie as I watched it this afternoon... it has a quality that just sucks me in and makes me glow from inside lol. Shelly Duvall is extremely underrated. Watched it a 3rd time and it was even more rewarding.

[@MarinaAndTheDevil]

This movie is absolutely underrated

[@theninthheart4736]

You’re joking right?

[@ronbock8291]

Shelley Duvall’s, and Sissy Spacek’s greatest roles, and that’s saying something.

[@mikecore22]

Love this movie and love this review! I’m so happy that you mentioned the line, ‘you don’t do anything that you’re supposed to do’ as being important! I’ve always thought of Millie as someone who lived her life verbatim according to a woman’s 70’s magazine (cosmo certainly comes to mind). That all of her life experiences are just in the context of how a magazine tells her how to feel on any given subject. There’s something very tragic about this character that for some reason breaks my heart to a certain degree every time I watch this film. I feel like part of it is because Duvall is so real and inhabits that role so convincingly it feels like Duvall is in fact playing herself in the film. I also love the openended-ness of the last scene of the film leaving the viewer to really bring their own interpretation and theory as to what the ending means. Let’s not even go into that haunting soundtrack... just perfect. I also love Altman, but this film feels like a completely different animal from much of his other work. Thanks so much for your thoughts on this special film!! Cheers...

[@CircuitRider]

The film is a masterpiece. Altman’s most powerful film for me. Nice review.

[@toxoplasmic]

Be sure to check out Altman’s 1972 “Images”. Precedes 3 Women by a few years and revolves around the neurotic disintegration of the female protagonist. Arrow video just released a real nice blu ray edition.

[@rjg7112]

For me it's an example of a movie I could have enjoyed watching at the time, if I wasn't elementary school age when it was originally released. The perfect alternative to the modern big budget special effects extravaganzas that were born in the same year with the release of the first "Star Wars" movie. Beautiful film that would difficult to summarize in less than a few pages of writing. The painter who created the pool mural, Bhodi Wind, was killed a few years later after being struck by a car in London.

[@jannekarneus]

I love the 70s so much. This film is truly special and a very artistic experience (especially that ending!) with many symbolic images and concepts.

[@Jolar70]

You posted this a couple of years ago, and I haven't seen it in more than that time span, but I always really loved it. I'm also just in my 50's now (and saw it way back in the 90's, long after it was made) but I just watched 3 KZbin reviews (yours included) by young people and I was so impressed by your observations! Yours was easily the most in-depth; "deep focus" indeed! It was just great to hear what you thought, because it's not an easy film, but it's SO worth it! And there are multiple contexts within it, underneath all these compelling performances. Shelley was not a trained actor, that was Altman pushing her beyond what she did in Brewster McCloud, and she SLAYS it! Because gender was such a part of your review, I want to let you know that the other two young reviewers were male. And the only reason I mention this, is because I deeply hope that all three of you will be able to find partners that will actually sit down and watch this shit with you! That might be the hardest sell of your relationship! "3 Women" or "Captain Marvel". Good luck to all of you, and thanks for giving me hope!

[@theninthheart4736]

.....😳😳😳 wtf

[@Jolar70]

@@theninthheart4736 I was joking. I tortured my girlfriends with some pretty difficult movies: "OK, we could watch this popular movie, but I'd rather like to show you "Husbands" by John Cassavetes", etc. I was making fun of myself. It's a big ask.

[@anthonywheeler2082]

I could listen to you talk about movies all day:)

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Anthony Wheeler I could listen to Maggie talk about anything all day

[@discodirk48]

This used to always appear on late night tell a vision when I was growing up and was always so fascinated by it and the soundtrack. Definitely in my top 5 favorite movies.

[@blackcoffee8435]

I also think the heavily processed food that is so prevalent in Millie's world is emblematic of the incredibly processed aspiration she has. Everything comes from magazines. Or recipes on the backs of mccall's. Her whole world is formed for her by media. Hence an incredibly processed intake

[@TheChazzyC]

Yes!!! Glad to see someone brought this up

[@blackcoffee8435]

@@TheChazzyC if this film were set in modern times she would no doubt have every conceivable form of social media and getting her stride from influencers Pinterest and regurgitating talking points she learned on Tumblr and instagram. It would be even worse

[@esock2001]

Yes Millie is so concerned about being what a woman is supposed to be that she neglects her own personality, therefore Pinky takes Millie’s personality and is successful with it.

[@colaguy29229]

I've seen 3 Women several times, and I'm always intrigued...I always remember how Millie always gets her dress caught in the car door of life.

[@classicvideogoodies]

Another of Robert Altman's unusual portraits of women is his 1969 film "That Cold Day in the Park," which is much lesser known but also worthy checking out. It also has an eerie setup as in "Images" and "3 Women": a lonely woman invites a young man into her home, but he doesn't talk.

[@65g4]

Saw that you reviewed this two years ago. Finally watched the film today and it was totally hypnotic. Something really off putting about the film but i wanted to dig deeper. Im trying to watch more Altman films ive only seen 7 and i want to see more.

[@GiorgiNemsitsveridze]

If you love movies it's impossible not to love 3 Women ^_^

[@gregoryblaska1586]

Altman's cinematic meditation on The Feminine appeals to the subconscious. I've seen it nearly 50 times since 1977 and it never gets old. And, with each additional viewing, it's always a different film. Thanks for sharing your positive reactions with us.

[@MajorMechazawa]

4:00 That was me when I watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for the first time. I still need to see Altman's films, as well as more of Kinji Fukasaku's work (I love the ferocity of his films).

[@thehouseofcm]

Robert Altman is the most underrated director.

[@domwalker6526]

He's Def one of em

[@thehouseofcm]

@@domwalker6526 👍

[@simiancinema2022]

Brilliant. An interesting thing about 3 Women...I'm not sure what it says about the movie, but the strongest criticism to date on 3 Women is on KZbin, not in traditional film-criticism forums....Just brilliant work!

[@happierabroad]

keep in mind that water is a main theme in this film. it's in the rehab center at the beginning where the girls work, and in the swimming pool that pinky jumps into. water is an esoteric symbol of birth and rebirth and cleansing. there's some esoteric meaning here.

[@esock2001]

I definitely picked up on an esoteric aura during my watch.

[@xenduvall]

yupppp thats why i love it sm. theres multitudes inside it.

[@Draxtor]

An old interview with PKD brought me here ... damn now I really have to watch this movie but I also have so many books to read this weekend arghhhh :)

[@nichijin]

Just saw it at the New Beverly (first viewing after twenty years). Your review is spot on!

[@Sowmonkey27]

Nobody in the game doin it like you 💯 good review. Keep up with the rando art house!

[@jimchoree6481]

So refreshing to find a movie channel which stays away from superheroes and cinematic universes. Very nice review. Keep up the good work :)

[@theninthheart4736]

.....wtf..:what are you even talking about about lmfao

[@bencarlson4300]

I honestly struggled to watch this movie because it is so awkward and the 2 lead characters are so sad and pathetic. But it’s compelling, it’s ethereal, at times it’s bordering on horror. The comparison to Bergman’s Persona and Lynch’s Mulholland Dr. are extremely apt and that would make an excellent triple feature. For me, though, the movie had this feeling of an underlying cynicism of human nature and the perverse standards that society holds women to. That felt like Kubrick to me, but Kubrick movies are so cold and calculated and this definitely wasn’t (mostly because of the humor and Altman’s direction). I think the closest comparison to how I felt watching 3 Women is Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher because both films have lead characters that have some ambiguous emotional/psychological problems that can’t be easily explained. Haneke directs as though he simultaneously disdains and has sympathy for the human race, and that rang true for me in 3 Women where there were no characters that were fully likeable or dislikeable. The film also has a feeling of inevitability, like the ending was always going to happen no matter what. The constant images of the paintings are what did that for me, I think I interpret them almost as a warning to the two younger women to avoid making the same mistakes as the older one (which they fail?).

[@Cyan3031]

That's a fantastic interpretation, this has always been one of my favorite movies because it's so strange.

[@kevinswift1036]

Been fascinated by this movie for years. Great review & analysis. Thought provoking and insightful, just like the film

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Brilliant film. Thank you. Spacek is amazing

[@mattn6066]

As a woman, the male directors who have made Female centered films or scripts with dynamic full developed female characters like Bergman Woody Allen Robert Altman Kurosawa etc, Do you think that they are writing authentic women or what they want women to be or write what they think women are ??

[@vanhoywilliam2439]

Hi Maggie, I'm wondering if you have seen (and plan to review) Irreversible. For me, this was very unsettling and I'm sure this is what the filmmakers intended. On a positive note, Irreversible is completely original. Would like to hear your take on it.

[@Ravi-xf8dw]

really glad i found your channel today.. just saw 3 women yesterday and it's sad how there are not many people talking about.. i really loved the dream like feeling about the film and your review is wonderful ..

[@theninthheart4736]

Not many talking about? ...wut?

[@Ravi-xf8dw]

@@theninthheart4736 i meant on film twitter it's not very well know. I have barely heard about this film.

[@auroraorha]

I love you! Such a passionate person to listen!

[@aeugnewtype]

Truly a masterpiece. Along with Images, these make up the peak of Altman's work

[@ChrisPrendergast123]

The real question is when is that "suspiria (2018)" and "climax (2018)" review coming?? Both films about dance.

[@rgwebb5165]

Much has been made of this movie and it is deserved. I just watched it for the first time. I know I will watch it again. This movie is open ended. Much is left up to interpretation. Duvall is superb. The men in this movie are fools. I'd deal with the burger melts.

[@BruceWayne-pm6co]

I remember the trailer sold me. I always wanted to watch this movie, I still have to.

[@Alvaro-fh5dd]

Have you seen Cold War (2018) from Pawlikowski? I remember that you review Ida a few years ago and you like it

[@deepfocuslens]

I'd certainly like to.

[@moditekke9842]

Welcome back.

[@stevecattani9545]

Good analysis. It is a masterpiece. RIP Shelley.

[@kevincarlson4562]

Well done-eloquent and incisive. I first saw this aged 13 and have been hooked since. The only more dreamlike movie I've ever seen was Eraserhead.

[@CoryCapron]

Oh man, thanks for putting this back on my radar! Love Altman too but never got around to this one.

[@theninthheart4736]

Love Altman, but haven’t seen his best & most famous film...wut

[@tjebbedonckers]

I'd love to hear what your favourite ( HA! ) movies of 2018 are/were, Maggie. See any chance to make/post a short list?

[@theninthheart4736]

No one watches contemporary movies lmfao

[@milky_quartz]

saw this movie last night not knowing anything about, and with my parents no less. we were all disturbed by it haha. my dad a found the most humor it it 😭 my mom said don't play movies like that anymore 💀💀💀 and was still thinking about the movie the next morning 😂

[@milky_quartz]

the beat part about the experience was how you said, nothing much seemingly happens throughout the film, and even my mother repeated saying throughout the film the nothing is happening, we all still couldn't take our eyes off the screen, and then were still thinking about it the next day

[@abdulk3388]

movie was 🔥🔥🔥🔥 . Just saw it today after Natalie portman suggested it on IG

[@tonywords6713]

LOVE this film, so creepy and underrated

[@theninthheart4736]

....wut?

[@archangel5278able]

Interesting review. I might have to check this film out. Altman’s always been a filmmaker I’ve liked rather than loved, though to be fair I’ve only seen about 8 of his films. From what I’ve seen though, I can appreciate how Altman, at least in his ensemble films, creates these huge canvases with all these crazy, engaging characters going through them, as well as how, in watching them, they feel like no other films. Character interaction is all that matters to Altman. If and when there’s a plot, it’s shunted into the background and given little attention. But what keeps me from loving Altman is that I think there’s a streak of cynicism that runs through him into his films, and that creates a distance between us and the characters. To know what I’m talking about, all you would need to do is compare/contrast Altman’s Short Cuts, one of the great films about LA, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia. Anderson has a warmer, more humanist approach to his characters in that film that I prefer over Altman’s. You get the feeling that he loves his characters, even the despicable ones. But this is just based on what I’ve seen of Altman. I’ll definitely check out 3 Women. Anyways, I don’t know how it works around here, whether you take requests or not, but I’m going to throw one out there and suggest Atom Egoyan’s The Sweet Hereafter. That’s a great film and certainly one worth bringing to people’s attention.

[@theninthheart4736]

Good god, what an embarrassing thing to admit to. Altman’s best film is 3 Women followed by Brewster. You’ve seen 8 of his films but not the one that is widely regarded as his best...? 🤣🤣🤣

[@simiancinema2022]

GREAT! One of the great analyses of this great film.

[@RamblesBrambles]

Commenting that everything is underrated is underrated

[@averayugen7802]

The two girls were both shallow, materialistic and immature, but upon major stress they switch roles and the plot moves ahead to bring in the third woman, the one who really knew about all the catastrophic violence in life, and she, the once superior and silent critic... becomes the unwitting childlike savior of them both. Sorry for the spoiler but please go see this film, so different and artsy!

[@AdamFishkin]

Got introduced to Altman through "Gosford Park". Heavy and moody, but pretty accessible. It did not even remotely prepare me for "Nashville", which has had a lot of hype as supposedly Altman at the peak of his powers. Even for 2 1/2 hours centered on country musicians, that thing was a head-scratcher. At least with "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" you know it's deliberate troll humor when all is said and done. "Nashville" is just …. I mean ……………. who is what for when, please?

[@theninthheart4736]

What a horrible intro to Altman.

[@AdamFishkin]

And why are you telling me that? (*Edit: It was unclear whether or not you meant "3 Women".)

[@GravityFromAbove]

Interestingly Persona, Three Women, and Mulholland Drive are all made by men. Can you think of something similar made by a woman. Or a woman's meditation on men?

[@strawdawgs78]

American Psycho

[@LoverOfManyArts]

@@strawdawgs78 American Psycho wasn't originally made by a woman, the movie was made by a woman, which was adapted from the novel made by Brett Easton Ellis

[@classicvideogoodies]

Catherine Breillat's "Romance" (1999) and "Fat Girl" (2001) deal with sexual subject matters from a female POV. Maya Deren's 1943 silent short film "Meshes from the Afternoon" shows an abused woman's nightmarish visions. In Agnes Varda 1962 French New Wave film "Cleo from 5 to 7," a young woman wanders in Parisian streets thinking about her place in the world. "A Simple Life" (2011), by Hong Kong film director Ann Hui, is a moving portrait of an aged domestic worker. In this year's Academy Awards, the Oscar for animated short film went to "Bao," about a lonely woman's motherly care towards a dumpling; it was directed by Domee Shi based on her own mother. There is no shortage of female directors making films about female subjects. But not all films have $100m ad campaigns and are shown in 3000 theaters. Those who are interested must seek out and see these films.

[@Ravi-xf8dw]

@@classicvideogoodies thank you

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

Big

[@mackdebruin999]

Is the text on the books backwards? Just curious if it's just me.

[@thebigzapfer8696]

I have often tried to read the bookshelf too ;] I am guessing the video is flipped.

[@mackdebruin999]

@@thebigzapfer8696 [][][] Usually that's done to avoid unfair copyright strikes, but Maggie doesn't use clips. Still copyright holders will strike ANYTHING on KZbin these days.

[@thebigzapfer8696]

@@mackdebruin999 I thought it may be some like that, its shame its come to that, even with out clips.

[@mackdebruin999]

@The Wraith [][][] I'm not sure, but avoiding copyright strikes is usually the reason people flip their images/footage. Copyright holders have no clue how Fair Use law works and the people behind KZbin are such cowards, they won't stand by content creators, instead favouring the copyright holders who might sue them unjustly.

[@thebigzapfer8696]

@The Wraith I think its just to stop people being dicks or maybe the YT bot can read stuff and auto flag? I mean tumbler got rid of all females presenting nipples with bots so its not impossible lol

[@angelthman1659]

One of my favorite films.

[@chrisbender8714]

After watching several of your reviews, I feel like you would like the movie Safe (1995) with Julianne Moore. Subscribed!

[@78deathface]

Where did you get all those backwards books? Are you in the mirror dimension???

[@HamzaTalksFootball]

I saw PTA's films first but can certainly see them having been influenced by some of Altman's films.

[@theninthheart4736]

Pta is trash

[@douglasbriel6103]

I don't know if you've seen it yet, but I think you'll enjoy "I Kill Giants". Great film about family trauma.

[@TheFadingMan]

I like this movie. There is nothing like it. Can’t believe it got made.

[@twentyten1942]

I’ve heard about this movie for a looooong time. I’m gonna see it now. Thanks.

[@twentyten1942]

Also, hopefully history and life will continue to repeat itself, rather than all of us frying to death from global warming.

[@seanlocke9159]

How did you know I just bought this film yesterday!!!???

[@deepfocuslens]

It came to me in a dream.

[@badr6491]

I just finished it and i felt like im stupid for not understanding it but this review helps so thanks

[@douglasbriel6103]

Looking like one of Charlie's Angels here.

[@deepfocuslens]

I pick Drew.

[@deirdrewilson8957]

Why does Pinky get so upset being called Pancake ?

[@kenlee7984]

ive never seen it but sounds interesting

[@AnthonyGuerrino_aka_TonyMoro]

Will you be reviewing Green Book?

[@NeverTakeNoShortcuts]

One of the best movies ever.

[@blinkzone1]

Hey deepfocuslens. What happened to Edgar???

[@deepfocuslens]

Dem bitches killed his ass.

[@bryce3066]

please review nashville queen

[@zacharyantle7940]

The way you describe, it sounds SO MUCH like a screenplay I wrote recently, but from a male perspective so to speak. I’ve never seen this, but I also think it might be something you may like reading? I’m looking for feedback in it too actually haha. And no I’m not showing off 😂

[@brantleyhart7566]

It was the oddest & most beautiful movie 😍

[@wjm4268]

Pinkies supposed parents where way to old to be her parents. Any Comments?????????????????????

[@williamjones4758]

I got a little exasperated with your review because you're all over the place while not even mentioning the Gerald Busby score, which adds so much to the film. You also don't mention the fact that the pregnancy ends in a stillbirth. This is key, because Altman is really saying that women can survive without men and they might be better off. 1 woman became 2; 2 women became 3; 3 women became 1. That's on the poster and that tells you a lot.

[@brianpetkovic4579]

NEW FAN.

[@hetrogamr84]

I've got only a high school education. I only know English. K-12 taught me not a single hour of a not-English laguage. I'm 45. You make me feel bad about myself. Are these reviews only for the really educated? Maybe I should unsubscribe.

[@ilikespacedinosaurs]

Great movie

[@domwalker6526]

10/10

[@xpallodoc]

Hot as wow

[@mauricezadkovick7412]

There's nothing sexier than a girl who knows about movies. I thought for a while (over 15 years), that movie wisdom were exclusively for men. We really need a woman like you to be Roger Ebert's substitute. (I'm not kidding).

[@theninthheart4736]

....😳😳😳 what in gods name are you talking about....😳😳

[@radosawrusnak7700]

a greta review I must admit, I had pretty much the same feelings during the screening. Totally fond of this rare masterpiece

[@theninthheart4736]

Rare ?