Watching this crossed off a lot of lists I’ve been working through (AFI Top 100, WGA 101 Funniest Scripts, Palm d’Or Winners, etc.). I don’t think the film plays well as a satire of war. It’s hard to see what the film as a whole is saying actually. It plays very episodically and the humor of a bunch of people partying around and being happy-go-lucky, is what kept me from really connecting with the plot. It is also hard to get past the sexism of the 1970s and the extreme misogyny. I will say the juxtaposition of the light-hearted summer camp-like moments and bloody red surgeries. I really like the ideals as depicted by Hawkeye and Houlihan and I think it ‘s the smartest commentary on living through war: Why should we be stiff and proper about things when everyday there will be a sea of suffering and carnage. The issue is they trade that conversation that’s happening in to make it to a snobs vs. slobs comedy of pranks. It could have been so much more, but it relegates itself to a comedy film akin to the films that would come after it like ANIMAL HOUSE, REVENGE OF THE NERDS, OLD SCHOOL, and PORKYS. The cast is phenomenal, but I especially loved Elliot Gould. I feel like he was the basis for Borat since their hair and mustache are very similar. Tom Skerritt was also a standout for me. The show scene is really terrible and she’s right about it being Blake’s fault. Altman is clearly not on her side though, even though her breakdown is played as a joke with Blake being in bed with a woman at the time. It’s such a weird moment in film history considering how big this movie was. The fact they show it again in the credits is also horrible.
