Dr. T & the Women (2000), directed by the prolific ensemble master Robert Altman, is a swirling, bittersweet social satire centered on the privileged life of a man who is professionally revered yet personally overwhelmed by the opposite sex. The film uses its Dallas, Texas setting as a lush, manicured backdrop for a critique of upper-class entitlement and emotional dependency.
The plot introduces Dr. Sullivan Travis (Richard Gere), known to everyone as “Dr. T,” a highly successful and charming gynecologist whose life is an endless parade of wealthy, adoring female patients.
He appears to be a beacon of stability and care, but his perfectly curated world begins to buckle under pressure.
The central tension builds as Dr. T prepares for the high-society wedding of his daughter, Dee Dee (Kate Hudson).
As the wedding approaches, every woman in his life faces a concurrent crisis, throwing his routine into disarray.
His wife, Kate (Farrah Fawcett), experiences a dramatic breakdown inside Northpark Center; his sister-in-law and chief assistant, Carolyn (Shelley Long), struggles to maintain order; and his other daughter, Connie (Tara Reid), along with his sister, Peggy (Laura Dern), contribute to the growing emotional anarchy.
Adding to the chaos are the various female figures surrounding him, including his golf course confidante, Bree (Helen Hunt), and various acquaintances like Marilyn (Liv Tyler), who provide a brief counterpoint to the madness.
The film is defined by Altman’s signature style: sprawling cinematography and overlapping, naturalistic dialogue, which perfectly conveys the suffocating, non-stop demands placed on Dr. T.
Gere anchors the film, delivering a nuanced performance as the gentle patriarch who finds his patience stretched beyond its limits.
The immense supporting cast, including Lee Grant, Janine Turner, Robert Hays, and the memorable appearance by Andy Richter, solidifies the feeling of a world spiraling into elegant, controlled disarray.
Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson in Dr. T & the Women (Photo/Artisan Entertainment)
Reception for Dr. T & the Women
Dr. T & the Women grossed $5 million on its opening weekend, finishing seventh at the box office.
The film would gross $22.8 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The legacy of Dr. T & the Women is as a unique late-career piece by Altman, offering a humorous yet pointed commentary on gender, privilege, and the expectations placed on men who operate in exclusively feminine spheres.
It is a study of a man drowning in adoration, and without revealing the outcome, the climax offers a profound, bizarre release from his mounting pressures.
