The race to space gets heated between the U.S. and Russia after Russia announces a planned lunar orbit using three civilians; it's determined that just one American astronaut will make the pilgrimage to the moon, where he must remain for a year in a shelter until an Apollo mission can bring him home. The decision to send a geologist (James Caan) over a more-knowledgeable military man (Robert Duvall) causes tempers to flare between the two friends (Caan tells Duvall, "You've got the guts but you haven't got the brains!") and for Caan's wife to worry about his return. Early directorial effort from Robert Altman was one the filmmaker publicly denounced (his artistic vision was strait-jacketed by executive producer William Conrad, who shot additional scenes after production wrapped). While the project is certainly a curio for film historians, it isn't an exciting movie. Youthful Caan, Duvall and Michael Murphy all look terrific, and yet they all dress and talk the same--there's no personality in evidence before or behind the camera. ** from ****

"Countdown," Robert Altman's first theatrical release, is the only film I've seen by the prolific director that feels nothing like an Altman project. A bit of history surrounding it reveals that Altman battled the studios over creative control, and that the final version of the film exists more as a product of the studio than of the auteur. Never again, for better or worse, would Altman relinquish control of his films, a tenacity that won him an instantly recognizable style not afforded to many other directors.So "Countdown" isn't terribly interesting formally and feels like it could have been directed by anybody, but that's not to say it isn't an interesting movie. Released a year before man actually landed on the moon, it provides a remarkably accurate guess at what such a feat would look like, and the film is played with conviction by a strong cast of actors led by James Caan, Robert Duvall and Michael Murphy. Duvall and Murphy would appear again in "MASH," and Murphy would go on to become an Altman regular. Barbara Baxley, known to Altman devotees as Haven Hamilton's wife in "Nashville," fulfills wifely duties in this film as well, though women may as well not even exist for all the attention the screenplay affords them.As a studio film, "Countdown" isn't half bad. As an Altman film, it's one of his weakest. But nevertheless, it's well worth seeking out, especially for fans of the iconoclastic director.Grade: B-

The film is interesting although very TV-movieish in many ways (editing, melodramatic score, zooms and pans) but it had some good points nonetheless.Many of the scenes involving characters in conflict were very realistic-people talked over each other, facial expressions, sarcasm, etc. The scene between Ross and Gus was exceptionally well done and very interesting since we had Ross trying to do his job for the government and Gus showing concern about the human element of the project.The training simulations were cool and it seemed many were filmed at NASA or at least recreated in an authentic fashion. This a good movie for Saturday or Sunday afternoon...give it a try and enjoy the acting, script, and low-key TV style film-making.

Although this movie was made back in the 1960's, tonight was the first time that I ever saw it. My wife and I found it to be an enjoyable Friday night offering. This movie was not about special effects, meteors hurling through space, etc. Rather, it was about the people who comprise the team that organizes and develops the US Space program. As always, Robert Duvall was excellent, this time as an Astronaut who, because of political considerations, was removed as the person who was scheduled to become the first to land on the moon. Duvall played his character with just the right amount of anger and disappointment before becoming the instructor and motivator to the man who replaced him, also well played by James Caan. I wish the ending had been a bit longer but that is a mere quibble with what I feel is a fine movie