altman quintet have to be consider more than just flaw represent a so many other reviewer have point out and the idea behind the film and even some of the choice in depict those idea and ought to work and yet very little in this difficult film do . the partially fog camera lens i remark to my wife that it have to be the most distracting directorial conceit i have ever see never allow me to get into the film world . in general there be serious problem with the mise en scene employ here . it clear that no small amount of thought go into factor like costume and production design and but neither be very effective in evoke a believable world . perhaps it be a matter of scale while the film be so stage bound that i laugh out loud once it be mention that five million people live in the city . ( yes i understand the constraint of the film budget . matte painting here and there might have help . ) in all the most disappointing altman film i have ever see . great idea and grand metaphor do not always come through in art it just part of the game .