Robert Altman's Jazz-Infused Homage to His Hometown is Like Most, but Not All, of the Maverick Directors Filmography, it's a Love it or Leave it Affair.
His Most Successful, Financial and Critical, Movies don't Fit in that Box with Altman's Others that Part the Majority of Fans and Critics like the "Red Sea".
"Nashville" (1975) and "The Player" (1992) are Exceptions.
With "Kansas City" the Writer-Director is in Familiar Territory Again as there are Folks and Critics on Both Sides of Altman's Vision.
His Modus-Operandi has Always been to Never Compromise and Play the Maverick to the End,
You Need Talent to Survive for so Long in His World of Making Movies Apart from the Maddening Crowd of Hollywood.
His Film-Making Talent is Rarely Criticized. But His Movies are Frequently.
This is a Luscious Looking Film and the Free Form/Improv Jazz Soundtrack is its Reason for Being.
The Period Detail Drips from the Screen.
The Music is a Delight.
Harry Belafonte Steals the Acting Honors and Rants Endlessly about the Human Condition while Whiffing Cocaine and Murdering Anyone who Dares Double-Cross.
Jennifer Jason Leigh's Lead Performance is a Sticking-Point for Sticklers Wanting Perhaps a more Nuanced Take.
Nope, Not Going to Happen.
It's an Over-the-Top Cartoony, Stereotypical Gangster-Moll Cliche and it Comes Off Thick and In-Your-Face and Seems Silly.
Even if You Consider it a Disastrous Dramatic Overkill, the Film is so Good Otherwise that it can be Sloughed Off as an Altman/Leigh Indulgence.
The Film's Saving Grace is the Eye and Ear Candy...it's a Treat.
