I loved Short Cuts when it first came out but GF and I rewatched it recently and it didn't hold up. Even though I know Dr. T sucks, we still liked it due to the Kate Hudson/Liv Tyler love story angle. We're so predictable. RIP, Altman.
I'll nurse you back to health. I'll wear the nurse outfit!
"BuffyBot" ,'Dirty Girls'
Buffista Movies 5: Development Hell
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Glamcookie - Nov 21, 2006 7:43:48 am PST #5848 of 10001
I know my own heart and understand my fellow man. But I am made unlike anyone I have ever met. I dare to say I am like no one in the whole world. - Anne Lister
juliana - Nov 21, 2006 7:45:44 am PST #5849 of 10001
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I miss them all tonight…
Sound design. His biggest, most-lasting contribution IMHO. The overlapping conversations, often with the important one not in the foreground.
Oh my, yes. He taught me how to pay attention to the wee details.
I actually quite like Pret-a-Porter, even though it's not that good.
Frankenbuddha - Nov 21, 2006 7:46:26 am PST #5850 of 10001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
How about, top 5 Altaman movies not made by Altman:
Melvin & Howard: Jonathan Demme
Choose Me: Alan Rudolph (definitely my favorite of his movies)
The Late Show: Robert Benton
Smile: Michael Ritchie
Something by Hal Ashby (can't decide which)
Or the Bizarro!Altman top 5:
O.C. & Stiggs
Pret a Porter
H.E.A.L.T.H.
Quintet
Beyond Therapy
Fred Pete - Nov 21, 2006 7:47:16 am PST #5851 of 10001
Ann, that's a ferret.
Gosford Park and MASH, by all means. I remember enjoing The Player, but I don't remember a lot of details.
I only saw Nashville fairly recently and was disappointed. It seemed to need another half hour -- like Altman was trying to say something but never got it off the tip of his tongue.
Frankenbuddha - Nov 21, 2006 7:50:16 am PST #5852 of 10001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
I'm a huge fan of POPEYE (I saw it twice when it was in theaters), but I definitely think it's one that gets better on repeat watches.
And Matt is so correct about Shelly Duvall being spot-on for Olive Oyl - I can't even imagine another actress in the role.
Hayden - Nov 21, 2006 7:52:38 am PST #5853 of 10001
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
GC, I had the same flip-flop on Short Cuts. Also Nashville, although I think that there's enough to redeem the movie overall.
As far as the baby Altmans go, I liked Magnolia a lot, although ultimately there was no there there. My co-editor Gary makes a great argument that Winterbottom is Altman's true heir.
Sean K - Nov 21, 2006 7:57:33 am PST #5854 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
I'm a huge fan of POPEYE (I saw it twice when it was in theaters), but I definitely think it's one that gets better on repeat watches.
Frank and I are one. I was just scrolling to the end to champion Popeye as one of his (IMO) more enjoyable films.
Frankenbuddha - Nov 21, 2006 8:04:02 am PST #5855 of 10001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
Winterbottom is Altman's true heir
Interesting. I really must get around to reading that issue. My biggest problem is that I hate reading lengthy pieces on-line, and there isn't really a good option with THH for printing (though I did slog through the Peckinpah articles using cut & paste one day when I had nothing to do at work).
DavidS - Nov 21, 2006 8:04:51 am PST #5856 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I'm also a big Popeye fan. But I'm one of the few people who's actually read some of the original Segar Thimble Theater strips and owns the Fleischer animated Popeyes too. I appreciated the fidelity to both of those visions you get from Feiffer's script, but also the originality of Altman's vision. Plus Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. "He needs me / he needs me / he needs me / he needs me / he needs Meeeeee!"
The Long Goodbye is one of my favorites too. Sterling Hayden! Jim Bouton! That ending. That coke bottle.
Hmmm, I've got McCabe on the TiVo right now...
Scrappy - Nov 21, 2006 8:08:10 am PST #5857 of 10001
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
1. McCabe & Mrs. Miller (possibly my favorite film of all time)
2. Gosford Park (Gets better on repeated viewings)
3. MASH (not only a great fim, a great influence in attitude and technique)
4. The Player (Just saw it recently--it holds up beautifully)
5. Nashville (amazing cast, so many of whom step way out of their comfort zones)
Oh, and Long Goodbye.