Addicted to this movie!

Interesting point, Saltpeter. Never thought of that one before. Just goes to show how complex the characters, their behaviour and interactions are so entwined.

Great point about Kenny and Winifred that was totally lost on me (and I'm sure a lot of people). Thank you for sharing.

It also makes me wonder if becoming a "celebrity" or "star" means a person has to be at least somewhat "delusional." Winifred clearly believes she is already a star, only one who has not officially arrived. How she treats Connie White as her "friend" and "peer" clearly illustrates that in Winifred's mind she's there just not yet at the top of the mountain. If other people don't know it, that's okay with her because she already knows it and knows that soon all of them will know it, too.

She also keeps telling people that she's there to cut a demo. She knows she's good enough to make a professional LP and is not "auditioning" for anybody. She's coming fully prepared to stake her claim and doesn't harbor a single doubt that she'll make it happen.

I guess what makes Winifred not delusional after all is she turns out to be the real deal (which is why I believe Altman didn't want anyone to hear her sing until the end, when she carries the crowd and the day). In her mind, Winifred was long ready and prepared for her moment and it finally arrived. To become someone special you've got to believe you are already someone special.

The dark side of it is Kenny, too, is the real deal and he's arrived, having his moment not of fame but infamy. He succeeds in his mission like Winifred succeeds in hers.

What's fascinating to me is, when you see that early scene of Kenny and Winifred, there's not the slightest indication that they're the ones who will get the attention (Kenny) and the glory (Winifred) that the others are dreaming and driving for, too. They believe it, they even know it, but nobody else could guess that it's them or in any way single them out from all the others.

The others are mostly wannabes who you figure have been told by their families that they're great (when they aren't) and they go into the pit and are eaten alive because they're not even good. They're tragic figures because they have the dream and the drive, but they don't have the talent to make their dreams drive them on to stardom. They're the lonely, sad losers lost along the way and they break my heart every time. You want desperately to cheer them on, but you know they're never going to make it no matter how hard they try.

I saw NASHVILLE when it was new and have loved it ever since. It holds up after uncountable viewings. As others say, it has many facets (too many to take in on one or two viewings) and each character has his/her nuances, so they all seem 'real'. On the larger scale, it's about the pursuit of 'stardom' (ie recognition, love, filling up an emptiness inside some of us). Some characters are delusional (Sueleen Gay), some have talent and might make it (Albuquerque), some have made it but seem empty as people (Haven Hamilton), some have made it and are overwhelmed (Barbara Jean). These are just a few of course. All actors are top-notch (Ronee Blakley had not acted before!). Even the songs (written mostly by the performers themselves) are enjoyable. It's a richly detailed, totally involving film that packs a wallop in the end. Impossible to forget and endlessly re-watchable.