Robert Altman 1925 - 2006

I was never an outright Altman acolyte; I've seen more movies by Altman that left me saying "Huh? Wha-?" (e.g. Quintet; somebody PLEASE explain the movie to me!) or just plain-and-simply bored out of my skull (Health; A Wedding; Gingerbread Man; Cookie's Fortune; Dr T and the Women, Pret-a-Porter - does it seem like I am picking on his later work?).

Nevertheless, there is no denying Altman contributed important vocabulary to the maturation of film during the late 60s / early 70s.

Of Altman's films, the ones I treasure the most are the stage-derived ones e.g. Secret Honor, Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, and Streamers). Add to this (short) list Short Cuts, most of Popeye, That Cold Day in the Park, and, yes, MASH.

A new Altman project always generated anticipation as the release approached; you could never write him off. I was in London last year and went to see his production of Arthur Miller's Resurrection Blues. Alas, a few scattered good performances (Maximillian Schell was a riot) did not overcome a heavy-handed, plodding script (maybe Miller is more at fault here than Altman?). Side note: I actually brushed past Altman in the lobby of the theatre after the performance and apologized to him as I thought I might have bumped him too hard (I just wanted to say something to him; I couldnt exactly say that I didnt like the play) and he was quite cheerful in replying "No worries young sir."

A Prairie Home Companion was already on its way to me via Netflix as news of Altman's death started spreading. I cant wait to see it...