In 1970s Hollywood, Detective Philip Marlowe tries to help a friend who is accused of murdering his wife.
In this cynical take on the classic private detective genre, Philip Marlowe finds himself drawn into a complex web of murder and deception when his friend Terry Lester asks him to drive him to Mexico. Marlowe's investigation leads him through the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, encountering a cast of quirky and dangerous characters, including a wealthy recluse, his troubled daughter, and a gangster with a penchant for violence. As the body count rises, Marlowe navigates a morally ambiguous world where loyalty is scarce and betrayal is commonplace.
Robert Altman's "The Long Goodbye" was met with divisive reactions upon its release, with some critics praising its postmodern deconstruction of the noir genre and Elliott Gould's unconventional portrayal of Philip Marlowe, while others found it overly cynical and a departure from the source material. Over time, its reputation has grown, and it is now widely regarded as a seminal work of revisionist cinema and a masterclass in atmospheric filmmaking.
Google audience: Google users generally appreciate the film's unique, laid-back take on the detective genre and Elliott Gould's performance. Many enjoy its stylish direction and atmospheric depiction of 1970s Los Angeles, though some find the plot convoluted or the cynical tone off-putting.
The film famously diverges from Raymond Chandler's novel by placing the story in the early 1970s instead of the 1940s, with Marlowe's cat's name (a crucial plot point in the book) changed from 'Archie' to 'OK' due to Marlowe's constant exasperated calling of the cat, 'OK, OK'.
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