Streamers

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

46%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 343

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Movie Info

Based on the virulently antimilitary play by David Rabe, Streamers is set in a basic-training barracks. Matthew Modine is among the raw recruits who alternate between strutting around like bantam cocks to snivelling like frightened children. To test one another's manhood, the recruits indulge in violent physical and verbal game playing. Special attention is given those whose skin color or outlook on life is at odds with the "standards" of the group.

Rating:

R
Genre:

Drama
Directed By:

Robert Altman
Written By:

David Rabe
In Theaters:

Oct 9, 1983 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Jan 19, 2010
Runtime:

118 minutes
Studio:

United Artists

Cast

Matthew Modine
as Billy

Michael Wright
as Carlyle

Mitchell Lichtenstein
as Richie

David Alan Grier
as Roger

Guy Boyd
as Rooney

George Dzundza
as Cokes

Albert Macklin
as Martin

B.J. Cleveland
as Pfc. Bush

Bill Allen
as Lt. Townsend

Paul Lazar
as MP Lieutenant

Phil Ward
as MP Sgt. Kilick

James Terry McIlvain
as Orderly

Todd Savell
as MP Sgt. Savio

Mark Fickert
as Dr. Banes

Dustye Winniford
as Staff Sergeant

Robert S. Reed
as MP

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Critic Reviews for Streamers

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (4)

It goes partway toward realizing the full effect of a stage play as a film, then botches the job by the overabundant use of film techniques, which dismember what should be an ensemble performance.

Aug 30, 2004 | Rating: 2/5

Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic
Sure it's searing and intense, but so is a microwave oven.

Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic
M*A*S*H* stripped from its wise-guy veneer

Apr 2, 2010 | Full Review…

Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
... a different kind of filmed theater that combines the intimacy of the original play with a cinematic expressiveness.

Jan 18, 2010 | Full Review…

Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
What elevates the film above a dated topical discussion is Altman's imagining of the army barracks as a hothouse environment where tensions and fears play out in oddly manic outbursts%u2014and his direction of his actors accordingly.

Jan 4, 2010 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Andrew Schenker
Slant Magazine
The ensemble cast comes up smart with some fine spontaneous performances.

Oct 24, 2005 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Conveys the toxic effects of the Vietnam war

Jul 23, 2003 | Full Review…

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for Streamers

Nov 26, 2016

This was made for the theater, the transition to cinema doesn't work at all.

Marcus W Super Reviewer
Sep 01, 2014

An intense and well written drama that deals with matters like racism, homophobia, self-acceptance and the dehumanizing side of war, relying on a revealing dialogue and with strong performances by its entire ensemble cast, especially Michael Wright and George Dzundza.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
May 12, 2011

The string of films Robert Altman made during the 1980s ("Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean," "Secret Honor," "Fool for Love," "Beyond Therapy") were all adaptations of stage plays. Altman attempted to blur the line between stage and screen by sticking almost exactly to the staging, sets, dialogue and structure of the plays. Of course, he brought his filmic sensibilities to each picture, always emphasizing the aspects Altman deemed most important. While none of the films are particularly successful, it's still a worthy experiment. As for "Streamers," it's a difficult film. Unfortunately, it's not difficult because of the subject matter (the Vietnam War, homosexuality, racism) but because the actors over act, the film feels stagey and claustrophobic, and there just ins't anything to truly hold your attention. While it's one of Altman's more complex (failed) experiments it's also a very uncomfortable 2 hours (and not in the good way "3 Women" or "Images" is).

Steven C Super Reviewer
Apr 30, 2011

I really didn't know what to think of the film. Other than the fact that it is a very effective drama. However, it was all over the place and I got dizzy trying to keep up with all the different plots. The acting was good but sadly this is not one of Robert Altman's best movies.

Jason R Super Reviewer