Watch McCabe and Mrs. Miller

McCabe and Mrs. Miller is a 1971 western film directed by Robert Altman and starring Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, and Rene Auberjonois. Set in the 1900s in a frontier town in the Pacific Northwest, the film tells the story of John McCabe (Beatty), a charismatic but naive gambler who teams up with Constance Miller (Christie), a savvy and independent madam of a local brothel, to establish a successful business in the town.

The film begins with McCabe arriving in the town of Presbyterian Church, seeking to set up a saloon and brothel to cater to the needs of the local miners. He hires a group of prostitutes from Seattle, but realizes that he needs someone to manage the business side of things. That's when he meets Mrs. Miller, a shrewd and confident woman who persuades him to let her run the operation, promising a significant return on his investment.

As the business grows, so does the town, which attracts the attention of a major mining corporation looking to buy up all the land for mineral rights. McCabe, however, is resistant to selling, convinced that he can make a better deal negotiating on his own. His refusal to sell puts him at odds with the corporation's enforcer, a ruthless and violent man named Butler (Auberjonois), who threatens to use force to get what he wants.

Meanwhile, McCabe and Mrs. Miller's relationship grows more complicated as they navigate their conflicting feelings for each other. McCabe, who is used to being in control, is both intrigued and frustrated by Mrs. Miller's independence and strong will. Mrs. Miller, on the other hand, is initially dismissive of McCabe's advances, but soon finds herself drawn to him in ways she didn't anticipate.

Throughout the film, Altman uses stunning cinematography and a haunting soundtrack to create a bleak and foreboding atmosphere, highlighting the isolation and desperation of the characters. The film's themes of greed, corruption, and exploitation are subtly woven into the narrative, suggesting that the American dream is an illusion that ultimately leads to destruction.

At the heart of McCabe and Mrs. Miller, however, is the relationship between its two lead characters. Beatty and Christie deliver powerhouse performances, imbuing their characters with both vulnerability and strength. McCabe is at once charming and disarming, masking his insecurities with bravado and swagger. Mrs. Miller, on the other hand, is a woman ahead of her time, fiercely independent and unapologetically sexual. Together, they are an unlikely pair, but their chemistry is undeniable.

In the end, McCabe and Mrs. Miller is a timeless classic that defies easy categorization. It's a western, but it's also a character study, a love story, and a cautionary tale. Altman's masterful direction and the brilliant performances of its leads make it a must-see for fans of cinema.

McCabe and Mrs. Miller is a 1971 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 93.