The Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep bit was amusing at first, but it felt like it went on too long.

Yes, but how do you feel about Altman movies?

I didn't feel the Tomlin/Streep went on too long, and quite delightedly, they sustained it.

I kept wondering aloud if Altman had written the bit himself, as it was all just spot on. And I definitely got the feeling that Tomlin and Streep had rehearsed the bit once or twice -- enough to have it down more or less, but not so much that it was no longer fresh.

spend a lot of money to watch a film you can't enjoy because of the inconsiderate strangers watching it with you

What we need is a theater with AI to detect the obnoxious viewers and inject a sedative into their butts.

I wanted to throw a copy of Stoppard's Travesties at Tomlin and Streep, while yelling "proper pacing and decent dialog, damn it". Perhaps I just haven't seen enough Altman movies to get it.

"proper pacing and decent dialog, damn it".

That's exactly what Altman tries very hard to avoid in his movies.

Yes, but how do you feel about Altman movies?

Exactly. I loved it to pieces.

This is kind of nifty -- Fourth Ammendment shipping tape.

That's exactly what Altman tries very hard to avoid in his movies.

Didn't Altman do The Player? The dialog in that one didn't make me want to throw things.

24: I had no idea how fond I was of Edgar. I was screaming "No, no, not Edgar" at my television.

Altman does use overlapping dialogue like that quite a bit, but it doesn't seem as awkward in the movies as it did with Tomlin and Streep.

Any thoughts on Altman's Nashville? It's on my to-watch list when it airs later this month.

Didn't Altman do The Player? The dialog in that one didn't make me want to throw things.

He may have been trying to avoid different things in that movie. Altman also tries never to make the same movie twice (I think he even made a comment to that effect).

Of course, in the process, he's created his own brand of movie, but it's very distinctive, and doesn't share many qualities with any other type of film.

ETA: Haven't seen Nashville yet, but I think I'll add it to the list at some point.

Altman does use overlapping dialogue like that quite a bit, but it doesn't seem as awkward in the movies as it did with Tomlin and Streep.

Really, I'd be surprised if they had rehearsed more than once for that bit, so. I got the impression (can't remember what she actually said) that Lily Tomlin felt like they were fucking it up.