These days, when people talk about "identity theft," they're most likely referring to computer hackers and stolen credit card numbers. A completely different, more literal variety of identity theft is explored in Robert Altman's 3 Women (1977), arguably the most overlooked masterpiece from Altman's amazing output from the 1970s. Inspired by a dream that Altman had while his wife was recovering from a serious illness, the film itself is dreamlike and hypnotically intriguing, beginning when a dysfunctional child-woman named Pinky (Sissy Spacek) begins a new job at an old-age home in the California desert, where she quickly latches onto coworker Millie (Shelley Duvall), a yammering bore who combats loneliness with obsessive devotion to lifestyle and fashion magazines that give her a false sense of worldly sophistication. After the women become motel roommates, Pinky slowly begins to usurps Millie's personality, and their lives become interwoven with that of Willie's (Janice Rule), the artistic motel owner who provides the third corner of the film's mysterious female triangle. Altman maintains the film's elusive mysteries in an insightful feature-length commentary, in which he outlines the philosophical underpinnings of this film and his work in general, while offering interesting background detail on the film's production. Perfectly presented in its original widescreen aspect ratio, 3 Women deserves the high-class treatment of the Criterion Collection, and seems destined for rediscovery as one of Altman's finer films. Recommended. (J. Shannon)[Blu-ray Review—Sept. 27, 2011—Criterion, 124 min., PG, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1977's 3 Women boasts a fine transfer and a mono soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous DVD release, including an audio commentary by director Robert Altman, stills galleries, trailers, and an essay by critic David Sterritt. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a solid Altman film.]
3 Women
Criterion, 124 min., PG, DVD: $39.95 Volume 19, Issue 4
3 Women
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