Quintet was released in February 9, 1979 and was Directed by Robert Altman. The main cast includes Paul Newman , Bibi Andersson and Brigitte Fossey. How the storyline goes is a bit different from most conventional movies. Now how the movie goes it takes place in a post apocalyptic frozen wasteland. Where one either lives or dies since it’s all a big game. This in turn leaves a series of murders throughout the groups that live in the wasteland. 

The way this movie was filmed was unconventional. Due to the fact it gives no real explanation of what happened to the world why is it a frozen wasteland. Even after that it gives no true explanation of what the purpose is why are they fighting? What is the true meaning of the movie since it definitely doesn’t go into detail in terms of giving a clear exposition of the characters and story even the trailer is vague. The whole time you guess what’s going and who is this again ? The way the movie was filmed was in a soft focus for about 30 minutes or so which was pretty unenjoyable and strange since not many movies start off in that manner. The budget for the film was surprisingly high since it was 9.3 million in 1979 and today that’s 32.8 million when adjusted for inflation.  So the budget was really good and had room to play with. The box office however is unknown due to the fact there isn’t enough data to have a specific number.  

Comparing this movie to others i’ve seen some that are about games that can kill off characters at any turn. But not to this calibre and especially not in this sort of setting where it takes place in a frozen tundra. Most of those movies take place in modern day such as the Escape room or the Belko experiment. Where the characters are placed in a situation where they have to play along if they know it or not and what one will do affects the outcome if they live or die. So I have watched movies simmer but just not as vague as this film. 

What some critics have said about the film specifically Roger Ebert. Have said the director Robert Altman” has ever come to a completely inexplicable film. He has always been a filmmaker of peaks and valleys; his great films are masterpieces, but he can also make some stinkers. But not even with little-seen films like “A Perfect Couple,” “H.E.A.L.T.H.,” and “Beyond Therapy” has he made a film that defies any attempt to explain it.” Quintet just happens to fall in the categories of being in the valleys in terms of success and how well the movie was made. Also to the point I brought up early of the movie being not clear on what it wants to be Ebert had this to say as well. “I failed, too, to find any great interest in the relationships among the characters. Paul Newman stars as a trapper who walks in out of the cold and finds himself swept up in the intrigues of the hotel” (Ebert). Ebert gave the film 2/4 stars in his blog (RogerEbert.com) From a standpoint I agree with him the film really doesn’t capture one’s attention more or less just leaves them confused. The lack of background of the charters and the environment just makes it hard for the audience to connect to them. If the audience doesn’t connect that means something went wrong with character  development.