Even second-rate Altman is worthwhile

The performances are all good, with RichardGere, very relaxed and charming, actually better than usual.

Dallas gynaecologist Dr. Sullivan Travis, Richard Gere, idealises the women in his life.There`s his wife, Kate, Farrah Fawcett, who`s having some mental problems, his loyalreceptionist, Carolyn, Shelley Long, his sister-in-law, Laura Dern, and his daughters,Connie, Tara Reid, a JFK Conspiracy Theorist, and Dee Dee, Kate Hudson,who`s preparing for her wedding. Dr. T lives in a chaotic world, but he`s able to spend timewith new golf pro Bree, Helen Hunt. That`s before events begin to close in on him.. clipDRobert Altman is on the wrong side of 75 now, but he`s still able to make films in his ownidiosyncratic style, and even though DR. T AND THE WOMEN doesn`t have a particularlystrong screenplay, it`s still beautifully directed, with Altman`s trademark long takes, complexchoreography and overlapping dialogue. And the performances are all good, with RichardGere, very relaxed and charming, actually better than usual. It`s a film full of sly humour andnot a great deal of surface action, but Altman fans shouldn`t go home too disappointed. OK,so it`s not NASHVILLE or THE PLAYER, but even 2nd rate Altman is better than a lot ofother things around.