Review of Mr. Patman

I watched the film this evening 1/18/2014 and everyone should know that this film is known as both Mr. Patman and also as Crossover. This 1980 movie is quite difficult to locate and often can only be found in the VHS format as Crossover by Lightning Video. This film has a storyline that is difficult to follow. The movie is about Coburn working as a male nurse in a mental hospital and the environment is depressing to say the least. Coburn as Mr. Patman is supposed to have a special bond with the patients but basically comes across as an aging flirt. James strangely dyed his eyebrows black for this picture and it is distracting. Coburn spends a decent amount of the film sleeping around with neighbors and co-workers and his character seems to lack direction. He has empathy for the patients he cares for but bad things seem to happen to his friends and lovers throughout this shaky little film. I am a huge James Coburn fan but this is not one of his better roles, poor dialogue and a depressing premise work together to sink this film. Beware the dark ending where Coburn's character has to decide if he is better suited to treat patients or to give up and become one of them himself. Kate Nelligan is in the supporting cast as a mental patient who prefers to walk around her ward in the nude. This is the rare James Coburn film that is unfortunately not worth watching.