Countdown (1967)
Finally saw this last night. Last Altman film out there I’d yet to see. A surprisingly mature effort for such an early work. I really like the cold, detached tension Altman employs in both this and ‘69’s That Cold Day in the Park, another oft-overlooked gem. There’s some moments of trademark overlapping dialogue here that feel refreshingly natural, especially given the era in which it was produced. Nice restrained performances from Duvall and Caan.
It’s a little more straightforward than a lot of Altman’s later works but its an undoubtedly strong and distinctively paced film. Cool hypothetical future turned alternate past. Worth a viewing for all the Altman-curious.
