Timeless classic

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2006)

M*A*S*H is one of my all-time favorite movies. I so was hooked on this film from when I first saw it in the theater on it's initial theatrical release that I went back to see it several more times and I very seldom will do that with a movie. I've probably seen this in it's entirety at least a dozen times on TV alone and whenever I'm channel surfing and stumble across a showing of it I'll at least stop and watch whatever part of it I've come across for a while. This is a good example of a movie that you have to see more than once. On it's surface it seems like a simple straight forward dark comedy which is obviously using the Korean war setting as an metaphor to the current Vietnam war of it's release. But there is so much going on in this movie you simply can't appreciate it all in a single viewing. It's certainly difficult to pull off a good film that has a large ensemble cast like this one does but M*A*S*H succeeds wonderfully. Sutherland, Gould, Kellerman, Skerritt and Duvall never step on each other but yet each delivers a memorable performance that is an important piece to the greater whole. In smaller roles John Shuck, Bud Cort, Bobby Troup, Joann Pflug and Gary Burgoff are an excellent compliment. The football scene alone with real NFL stars like Ben Davidson, Fred Williamson, Fran Tarkenton and Joe Kapp among others is better than some entire sports themed movies. This is Robert Altman at his best. He alternated between a movie and television directorial career who along the way made some great films including this, Nashville, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, The Player, Come Back to the Five & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Images and 3 Women. He also made some less-than-memorable movies so it's hard to figure out the hit and miss genius of Robert Altman but this is a hit and perhaps his masterpiece. Don't go into this movie thinking this is a great war action movie or a great side-splitting silly comedy because it neither. It is a very funny smart comedy and although implausible and surreal it is also very real. I would give this a 10 and highly recommend it.