Robert Altman RiP

One of most recognisible directors and one of my favourites Robert Altman, died monday Nov.20 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from cancer complications.
Rest in Piece.

Yes, we just posted a modest tribute to him today on the home page. We'd be happy to hear anyone else's reflections on his career as well. This thread is as good a place as any.

I really can’t say too much about Altman. To be honest, I’ve only seen a few of his films as most of his movies never sparked much interest for me to care. It took me years to warm up to “MASH”, even though the television show was probably one of my all time favorites in TV history. It was just a couple years ago that I was finally able to enjoy Altman’s “MASH”, and one might say, I finally got it!

As for some of his other films, well, I only made it half-way through “Nashville” before I realized I just couldn’t make the connection. “Popeye” I saw in the theatre when I was in Jr. High. I remember I went with a group of friends and all of us found it, well, boring. Needless to say, I had no connection with “Popeye”, either. I seem to remember bits and pieces of “Long Goodbye”, but the way I see it, if it doesn’t stand out in my memories it must have not been all that great. “Gosford Park” I didn’t even bother because the previews made the film look like one of those dull, English movies with lots of pompous dialog -- sorry, but it just doesn’t spark enough interest for me to care. “Cookies Fortune” and “Prairie Home Companion” I have on my Netflix list so I really can’t comment there. As for his other films, well, many of them I had not even heard of. Perhaps this is because Altman has never been one of those directors that I admired enough to follow every step he took.

Summing it all up, “MASH” was certainly an admirable piece of work, even though it took me years to get into it. However, the one film that stands out for me, and connected with me in every way possible, was “Player”. I loved the dark touch of comedy and the subtle suspense “Player” offered. It is really the only film of his that kept my interest from start to finish, and in my opinion, it is one of his best works and one of the greats of its decade.

I can’t say Altman was a favorite director of mine but I certainly admire and respect a director that has the heart and passion to do whatever they feel without the regard of a critical audience. Altman took a lot of risks in improvisation on his movie sets, and it’s a very dangerous risk because either improvisation pays off in flying colors or it can be an unforgivable flop. I think taking that into consideration and looking back at his career, well, I rest my case.

Rest in peace Robert, you will be missed by many.

Tim =)

Interestingly, my wife and I were watching a Prairie Home Companion last night with no knowledge until today of Altman's passing.

Certainly an acquired taste, I have enjoyed many of Altman's films including M*A*S*H and The Player, not to mention several others. Whether you liked him or not, it was undeniable that he had a style of his own one that was worthwhile in its own right.

A maverick in the field to many, his quirky sensibilities will surely be missed on the big screen.

sean

When I think of Robert Altman, I think of The Player - to me it is a great movie. Black , sharp satire , inetellegent, funny in a bit , but in one word BRILLIANT.
I was in my college years when I saw this masterpiece of Altman , and still after a decade I enjoy whenever I see it.
I have it in my dvd collection .

I loved Short Cuts also, complexe collection of lives.