In many ways, "Brewster McCloud" reminds me of some of the French absurdist films, such as "Buffet Froid". Such films deliberately confuse the viewer and typically reviewers either completely hate the films or think they are brilliant. I have no idea in which camp you would be, but I am pretty sure you'll hate it or love it.

The film begins with one of the worst renditions of the US national anthem ever filmed (Margaret Hamilton does this horrid job). What follows is mostly random, as all sorts of seemingly unrelated and bizarre characters act weirdly....and none of it makes much sense. There's a boring and imbalanced professor of ornithology who appears here and there randomly as he delivers a lecture about birds, a 'super-detective' investigating murders, a shoplifter, an old coarse man who is worse than Ebenezer Scrooge and meaner, birds pooping on people repeatedly, as well as a variety of other characters who just come and go for apparently no reason. Additionally, OFTEN characters say bigoted things which would shock sensitive audiences today....again, all to provoke the viewers. And, as you watch you keep hoping that all this will somehow make sense and gel as a story. Eventually, the plot is revealed...and it's pretty odd.

It seems that Brewster (Bud Cort) is obsessed with learning to fly....and not with a plane but with wings much like the Greek myth about Icarus. Obviously, Brewster ain't right....and it eventually culminates with him flying about inside the Houston Astrodome with these homemade wings. But, by this portion, I had essentially checked out and didn't really care any more.

Overall, for me, a major chore to finish. A bizarre film that just didn't pay off by the end to justify all the weirdness and nonsensical moments.

The title role in Brewster McCloud is played by young Bud Cort who has the dream of the great Leonardo DaVinci of achieving flight. He also has a nasty habit of taking care of those who don't share his vision. Some tell tale droppings of birds in flight are his calling card.

Cort has made himself to home in a bomb shelter neath the Astrodome and this serial killer has everyone in Houston concerned. They even have a guest homicide consultant Michael Murphy in from San Francisco.

Oddly enough except for Cort everyone else in the cast gets a chance to chew the scenery. My favorites are Stacy Keach as his Trump like employer and Margaret Hamilton who give a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner that makes Roseanne Barr sound like Celine Dion.

In the end Cort gives us a demonstration of the wings and he looks like Mothra flying around the Astrodome. You also have to love the end credits, one of the most original ideas ever.

Bird-obsessed Brewster McCloud (Bud Cort) lives in a secret bunker under the Houston Astrodome. Louise (Sally Kellerman) may be his guardian angel. There are a series of bird-related murders and legendary police detective Frank Shaft (Michael Murphy) arrives from San Francisco to solve it.

The plot meanders but its weirdness is fascinating. It's a strange little movie from Robert Altman. While it's rarely thrilling or funny, it's oddly compelling. Bud is a weird little actor. Kellerman is fine but it would be more compelling if she spends much more time with Bud. It would be funnier if she's definitively invisible to other people and hanging around him day and night. It would also be more powerful to see her brutally murder those people. She could have been an iconic character and contrast perfectly with the meek Brewster. Overall, this is a fascinating weird little movie.