Mumford

What, people said, in reply to this.

What's next? I asked again. Now that Lawrence Kasdan has done "The Big Chill", what's next? Surely this film signals something. SOMETHING.

'Something', indeed. It took more than a few years, a few missteps, and a few side trips, but 'something' has arrived. That 'something' is entitled, simply, "Mumford".

'Mumford', I should explain as preface, is the name of a writer who writes about towns and cities. But he has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with "Mumford".

Then, again, maybe he does.

I digress. In "Mumford" there is a town called 'Mumford'. In Mumford there is a psychologist. His name is Mumford (Loren Dean). He sets up his office in Mumford because--

Ah. Wait. I may unnecessarily confuse you, so a quick aside: Mumford is a wonderfully conceptualized place, according to the aforementioned director Kasdan. So perfectly visualized you can imagine yourself living in Mumford, going to the good doctor Mumford, because, well, folks in Mumford have their share of problems, troubles, and lonely lives.

Back to Mumford. Not the town of Mumford or the film of the same name. No, the doctor, Mumford, who rents an apartment from Lily (Alfre Woodard), who owns the coffee shop, who inspires Mumford--the doctor--to listen to people's problems. Which, basically, goes to explain why he suddenly chose to set up shop in Mumford, and why, albeit oddly and somewhat curiously, he is soon the most popular psychologist in town.

Are you following this decidedly circular logic? If you are, good. If you aren't, no worries. The way the logic of "Mumford" turns and turns on itself all you need to do is what Mumford does: Stand in one place and all will come around to you again and again.

And make you, maybe, popular, like Mumford.

Although I wouldn't count on that.

Being popular, I mean. But you never know. Especially when it comes to "Mumford"

And Mumford.

And Mumford. The doctor, that is.

Lawrence Kasdan had success with "The Big Chill" because he knows how to write dialogue. He has honed that talent here, especially in the remarks uttered by Mumford, in response to remarks made by patients.

Like director Robert Altman Lawrence Kasdan has done well with large casts, owing much to his skill with dialogue. After all, all roads in "Mumford" lead to Mumford.

The doctor, that is. Who, it seems, represents Mumford.

The town, that is.

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