It Brought On Many Changes

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2006)

You know you're in for something very odd when the theme song is named "Suicide is Painless".
This is, inexplicably, considered an anti-war movie, as only a viewer who has never actually seen one could describe it (and what Altman said about his own work doesn't sway me - he outfoxed himself). On the contrary, the whole story is about the love of the war, of the situation that allows the hijinks to exist in the first place. If you doubt it, ask yourself: Is there is single serious moment here? Nope, it's insouciant from front to back, and therein lies its magic -- the ability to sustain the surreal tone.
Note how there are four narratives at work. There is what we see, tailored to the idea of "new cinema", including the nudity for comic effect. Note also the arrangement of the doctors, a la Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" in the 'black capsule' scene.
Not quite in line with this is what we hear. This is trickier, because there's an effect intended by the juxtaposition of unrelated film footage with audio, mostly dialogue. This is encapsulated on a smaller scale in the 'Hot Lips' scene - the idea that we're listening in with the aid of a microphone and PA.
The third is the juxtaposition of football and band music, reviving the idea of silent film-era slapstick humor.
And fourth, the simultaneously omniscient and clueless PA announcements, revealing that this is all about the making of itself, later adopted in "The Player", for example.
This the necessary precursor to "Animal House", "Caddyshack" and "Stripes", among others.