Pynchon and Altman

[Heikki Raudaskoski]

Altman's "The Long Goodbye" is one of my favorite films. It
deviates drastically from the original novel. E.g. the ending
is totally different. But the film remains very Chandleresque
in spirit. TLG (the film) bears indisputable similarities to
IV, already creditably charted by John, and perhaps others too.
Nevertheless, it is much more Chandleresque than IV.

One could say that IV is about "coming down". TLG, which takes
place a couple-three years later, is about total disillusioned
hangover. As in the original novel, Elliott Gould's Marlowe is
all alone. Well, he does have a cat, at least initially. This
Terry Lennox guy who is Marlowe's best (and as it seems, only)
friend... well, in case some of you haven't seen the movie, no
more spoilers.

Doc still has his network of friends and acquaintances, however
fragile this network might be getting. Some "ether" around him
- the fog can act as one too. The High Tower Apartments of TLG
are a long way from the hippieish Gordita Beach, from the "hill".
In spirit, IV is much closer to "The Big Lebowski".


Heikki