Movie review - "Mr Patman" (1980) *1/2

 John Guillermin directed three massive hits in a row then wound up doing this odd psychological thriller/character study in Canada, part of that country's film boom which consisted of aging stars in movies that couldn't find finance in Hollywood. What happened? Did he yell at one star too many? (I'm guessing yes - he was a notoriously cranky director.)

This is an ambitious piece made by people unable to execute it. James Coburn is oddly cast as a nurse who works the night shift in a psych ward. Coburn is too strong an actor for this to work - there's no sense of insanity, going mad. Donald Sutherland would have been much better. Coburn is a stud muffin - several women throw themselves at him, including landlady Fionala Flannagan, doctor Kate Nelligan, some crazy ladies who are nude. The latter is at least lively and this movie might have been better going in a more trashy direction - with a murder or something. 

I've called this a psycho thriller but it isn't really - it's more of a character study, and not that interesting. 

It's low on atmosphere and movement and is just a dull movie. I've attached a copy of a prospectus advertisement.