Altman's Surprisingly Good Health

It's been a dream of mine for some years now to see every feature film helmed by one of America's greatest directors, Robert Altman. It's primarily the late-70s/early-80s output that's been the hardest to track down, but recent years has seen the release of several of these titles on DVD, as well as airings of some others on The Fox Movie Channel. (A Perfect Couple, one of the holy grails of my quest, is being released on DVD in a few weeks.) Of the dozen or so films Altman directed between 1973 and 1983, the two that seem to get the most abuse are Quintet and Health. Even Altman apologists I've spoken with have little good to say about these two. A few months ago I caught Quintet on Fox (my review here), and it confirmed that everything I'd heard was true. Try as I might, I just couldn't find enough about the film to like, though the experience of having finally seen it made it all worthwhile. Naturally then, I approached Health with more than a little trepidation. After all, even Altman's greatest supporter Pauline Kael didn't review it in the pages of The New Yorker -- not an encouraging sign. Yet the good news is that Health is in fact a terrific film, and while it's understandable that audiences may not have appreciated it in 1982, it truly is worthy of reevaluation. Sure, Altman is repeating himself -- structurally and technically the film is almost identical to Nashville, with its multi-threaded plotlines, cast of thousands, and clever use of layered dialog. And though it's far lighter than the 1975 masterpiece, it is easily one of the funniest films on his résumé. A biting political satire, Altman originally intended for Heath (aka HealtH, or H.E.A.L.T.H.) to be released during the 1980 presidential campaign, but executives at Fox decided to shelve the film for nearly two years. With its acronymic title (Happiness, Energy And Longevity Through Health), Health uses the microcosm of a health food convention as an allegory for the often sleazy and underhanded practices that occur during an election year, while at the same time skewering the then-burgeoning health and fitness craze. Set entirely in the Florida hotel that is hosting the convention, the film chronicles the presidential campaign of H.E.A.L.T.H., an organization whose function is never made quite clear. The two main candidates are Esther Brill (Lauren Bacall), a feisty eighty-three year old virgin who occasionally slips into a catatonic state, and humorless Isabella Garnell (Glenda Jackson), whose every utterance turns into a lengthy tirade. Co-screenwriter Paul Dooley plays Dr. Gil Gainey, an independent candidate who continually rails against the two-party system, and who also performs an amazing underwater stunt. Altman's star-studded cast also includes James Garner as Esther's campaign manager, Carol Burnett as an advisor to the White House, Henry Gibson as a political dirty-trickster (in drag), and Dick Cavett as himself. As good as all of them are, the real scene-stealer is Alfre Woodard (in her big screen debut) as the hotel manager who is none-too-impressed with the health nuts. Her lengthy (seemingly improvised) scene where she's interviewed by Dick Cavett is nothing short of absolute deadpan comic brilliance. Like Nashville, Health is strewn with various interconnected plot threads, though it's far more anarchic here. It's hard to say whether or not this is by design, but it actually works in the film's favor. The political maneuverings and underhanded tactics are mostly presented without any context, but this senselessness makes the film that much more interesting. Unlike Quintet, which took itself far too seriously, the surreality of Health has a circus-like feel to it, and it makes for an excellent companion piece to Popeye, made the same year. And like Robin Williams' nearly sub-vocal utterances, many of the funniest lines are those heard in passing, or buried within simultaneous conversations. The film's only drawback is that it is very much a product of its time, and some of its humor might not mean as much to a contemporary audience. (Some might not understand why Dick Cavett lying in bed watching The Tonight Show is funny.) Still, the film was an unexpected surprise, given how denigrated it was. Silly but often hysterical, Health finds Altman at his directorial best -- solid from start to finish, with virtually no filler, and great performances from the entire cast. Here's hoping that somebody at Fox unearths this treasure and gives it the release it deserves.

Comments

[Sam Adams]

Wow. You have succeded in making me want to see it -- though, sadly, not in getting Comcast to carry FMC. Grrr. For those who do have it, looks like it's screening at 10 pm Sun and 2 am Mon -- nice of them to schedule it directly against the Oscars so Altman's effectively competing with himself. Sigh.

[jamy]

So how does one come by a copy of this film? Is it only showing on cable? How annoying.

[la_depressionada]

it is a sad testament to the state of american film, and i include "indies" here, that even the lesser lights of the 70s & 80s shine brightly. i think it's because they presumed a modicum of intelligence in the viewing public. luckily i am so much older than you, that i have seen every altman movie.

[David Ehrenstein]

Can't say I agree. H.E.A.L.T.H. is not without interest, particularly in relation to Alfre Woodard who makes all her scenes come live. But it's as if he went straight to castign after a first-draft was sketched out. I'm a good deal more indulgent toward Quintet, in that it's so deliciously risible (worth seeing just for the shot of Nina Van Pallandt with an arrow through her head) and funstions as a kind of Canadian cousin to Rivette's Duelle and Noroit.

[Brian F.]

It would be great if Altman got the Kubrick treatment, and they released all his films as part of a set, one that can purchased as a box or separately. That way, they would put out everything. Maybe Criterion could be encouraged?

[Jonathan Shapiro]

My favorite video store (Cinefile in Los Angeles), stocks a DVD-R of this culled from the Fox Movie Channel. I thought it was very, very amusing, much like the underrated "O.C. and Stiggs". I love Altman's so-called "wilderness" phase (post-"Popeye" and pre "Player"). He produced so many neglected films that are in major need of reevaluation. "Health" can eventually be licensed to the Criterion collection, so start e-mailing them! Unfortunately, Altman's greatest achievement, "Brewster McCloud", will probably never see a DVD release for years.

[Noel Vera]

This probably has the funniest final image of any Altman film, unless someone can name me a funnier one.