Brewster McCloud

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Brewster McCloud

R

Released Dec 23, 1970

1h 45m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Brewster McCloud (Bud Cort) isn't your normal sort of boy. He resides in a nuclear fallout shelter in the Houston Astrodome. He labors to make on a set of wings that he hopes will allow him to fly, and is supported in his oddball mission by the maternal Louise (Sally Kellerman). But when the boy's enemies start dying off -- including a national anthem singer and Brewster's penny-pinching boss -- he becomes the object of an investigation by Police Det. Lt. Frank Shaft (Michael Murphy).

Variety Staff

Variety

A sardonic fairy tale for the times, extremely well cast and directed.

Jun 9, 2008

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Time Out

Altman's unexpected follow-up to MASH is pitched fairly successfully between escapist fantasy and satirical comment on the same.

Feb 9, 2006

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

It's imitation hip.

Rated: 1.5/5

May 9, 2005

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Jason Shawhan

Nashville Scene

This fable is beautiful and heartbreaking and has a recurrent motif where birds kill racists by shitting on them.

Sep 10, 2021

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Patrick McDonald

WBGR-FM (93.7 FM - Monroe, WI)

There is a plot in BREWSTER McCLOUD, but it mainly showcases the surreal nature of Altman's cinema. It's a must see for lovers of weirdness, expression and redemptive grace.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 4, 2020

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Norman Spinrad

Los Angeles Free Press

It is a smorgasbrod for the eyes and ears.

Jan 13, 2020

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John Y

Gloriousness that defies nonsense.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

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Josh G

Part documentary, part 60's comedy this is a strangely edited and written film that is satisfying to watch. The performances are strange and memorizing in a well set and well direct something, I think I enjoyed, definitely deserves repeat viewings.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Tina B

An under-rated cultural touchstone from beginning to end. Try to keep up.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Shioka O

I think I couldn't get it, but maybe that's okey for this film. It's like a Pop Art. This early Altman's work is surreal from the beginning and the plot is scattered, no coherent. Satiric view towards people's desire and American culture at that time. I like the art direction and the ending which is like 8 1/2.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/08/22

Full Review

Audience Member

"Brewster McCloud is a pretentious, disorganized, modishly iconoclastic movie which, in the manner of its Icarus-like hero, aspires to fly high and merely drops dead."[12] - Critic John Simon. Simon nails it. (((For history buffs only. ~

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Too slow and boring Nothing happens

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Robert Altman

Director

Bud Cort

Brewster McCloud

Sally Kellerman

Louise

Michael Murphy

Det. Lt. Frank Shaft

William Windom

Weeks

Shelley Duvall

Suzanne Davis

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Synopsis

Brewster McCloud (Bud Cort) isn't your normal sort of boy. He resides in a nuclear fallout shelter in the Houston Astrodome. He labors to make on a set of wings that he hopes will allow him to fly, and is supported in his oddball mission by the maternal Louise (Sally Kellerman). But when the boy's enemies start dying off -- including a national anthem singer and Brewster's penny-pinching boss -- he becomes the object of an investigation by Police Det. Lt. Frank Shaft (Michael Murphy).

Director: Robert Altman
Producer: Lou Adler
Screenwriter: Doran William
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Lions Gate Films
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 1970, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2015
Runtime: 1h 45m

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