BREAKING -- Robert Altman Has Died
Filed under: Classics, Comedy, Drama, Independent, Music & Musicals, Thrillers, Obits, Cinematical Indie
The great master filmmaker Robert Altman died last night at a Los Angeles hospital. The writer-director pretty much pioneered a new style of movies using multiple characters and storylines with overlapping dialogue and plots, and he continued making movies well through a time when those he influenced were attempting to copy him. Last year, while shooting A Prairie Home Companion, Altman was assisted by Paul Thomas Anderson, whose Magnolia was almost like a remake of Altman's Short Cuts, just in case the elder filmmaker was to pass on. He didn't. I guess I took it for granted that he might just continue making movies forever, but at 81, Altman had given us so many classic films, that I can't be too selfishly upset to see him go. I'm going to spend the rest of the day celebrating his life and work rather than sulking in mourning. Many of my favorite films were directed by Altman. He made my favorite western (McCabe & Mrs. Miller), my favorite movie about Hollywood (The Player), my favorite movie about the Korean War (MASH), my favorite wedding movie (A Wedding) and my favorite movie about country music (Nashville). I'm even a big fan of Popeye.
Altman was nominated for five directing Oscars, but never won an Academy Award until he was given an honorary award at this year's ceremony.
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(Page 1)2. A truly great, uncompromising artist. MASH, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, The Long Goodbye, Vincent & Theo and Gosford Park are among my favorite all-time movies (I even like Popeye, as much of a mess as it is). There will never be another Altman.
By the way, a note to hot-shot directors: watch a few Altman films and learn the value of the long-shot. Part of Altman's greatness was that he never breathed on his actors or jammed the camera down their throats going for fake intensity. He let actors do their thing, and that was why (most) actors loved him.
3. How sad.
What else is there to be said? One of the great directing legends of all time. RIP, Robert.
Posted at 2:30PM on Nov 21st 2006 by Luke G.
4. What a great career! And he was working up to the end, always a player.
Posted at 5:35PM on Nov 21st 2006 by Cath
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1. Watching Altman receive his honorary Oscar made me rethink my position on bestowing this award in lieu of getting it for just one movie. It's easy to think that any "honorary" tribute is viewed as a substitute for your peers not voting for you in prior seasons, but Altman's work ranged over the decades, and he was deserving of the industry's respect, even when it was the same industry that often snubbed him. I remember his quote about the trials of dealing with the studio system in Hollywood: "They make shoes, I make gloves" and that summed it up perfectly.
These days a director working in Hollywood would be hard-pressed to have Altman's track record: "M*A*S*H" is one of the great films of the last 50 years; "Nashville," "The Player" and "Gosford Park" rank up there as great works that any young director today would find difficult to match.
Though considered the ultimate curmudgeon who didn't take crap from anyone, Altman was gracious with his actors, and was gracious that night last March when he received his Oscar. He was a great glove-maker.
Posted at 12:55PM on Nov 21st 2006 by Mary