Comments on: Robert Altman dies

By: Gary Rosen

Gary Rosen — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:21:28 +0000

Have to second Bill S here – “Network” is one of my all-time faves. Not just Holden, but the whole cast is phenomenal. And the “mad as hell” scene is one of the iconic moments in film history.

By: Twill00

Twill00 — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 03:01:48 +0000

Happy Feet was a solid B. Very entertaining, and the message wasn’t too obnoxious, since we’re used to Hollywood horse puckey in every movie.

Please ignore the actual biology in question, this story is good for you. Conservatives bad. Religion bad. Doing what feels good good. Don’t forget to “save the planet” from the evil humans.

But darned if our fake penguins can’t *dance*.

By: Walter Guest

Walter Guest — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 02:00:44 +0000

I’m probably a party of one but I think Popeye is a masterpiece and I didn’t even like it the first two times I saw it.

By: reliapundit - the astute blogger

reliapundit - the astute blogger — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:31:57 +0000

i think his movies sucked – most of them, at least.

and his politics sucked bigtime.

but the speech he gave upon receiving the special Oscar,tm was truly touching and warm and classy.

i hope he rests in peace.

and i hope that soon his leftist ideology will finally rest in peace, too.

By: Captain Hate

Captain Hate — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:25:47 +0000

Short Cuts was ok as a movie but it completely failed to capture the essence of Raymond Carver’s stories. Ever since I saw Tess Gallagher’s name on the credits I’ve thought of her as Tess Ono.

By: Bill S

Bill S — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:17:18 +0000

No, Nashville does not hold up, and Roger's post indicates he instinctively senses that it might not. Borrowed it a few months ago and we did an in-home walk-out (took it back to the library only one third watched.) A movie from a year later that does hold up nicely is Network. Just saw that last week. William Holden had more talent in his pinkie than George Clooney has in that whole huge Easter Island head of his. And count me in as the McCabe And Mrs Miller-enamored. All that mood in a western and Leonard Cohen too.

By: Patrick Tyson

Patrick Tyson — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:24:52 +0000

I think I'll follow Daniel's lead and confine myself to a few words of praise for my favorite of Robert Altman's directoral efforts in the '90s, Vincent & Theo. Tim Roth turns in one of the great performances of his career as Vincent Van Gogh. This is one of the few biographical films about artists which manages to stay close to the "truth" of the life as it was lived and the art as it was created while delivering the drama. It's also not in the Altman "style". Altman took many deserved knocks and kept right on working. Come here, Mr. Buntline! Come over here and look at Sitting Bull! The son-of-a-bitch must be seven feet tall! He's getting smaller every year. from Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson, screenplay by Robert Altman & Alan Rudolph from the play, Indians, by Arthur Kopit Robert Altman may or may not get smaller, but he won't be forgotten. .... My favorite George Miller memory (IIRC) has him accepting the 1995 Golden Globe for Best Picture - Comedy/Musical with a plastic pig snout over his nose. Babe and Happy Feet are a long, long way from Mad Max.

By: Daniel in Brookline

Daniel in Brookline — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:41:41 +0000

Well, if nothing else, I’ll always remember Robert Altman fondly for “Popeye” and the cinema debut of Robin Williams.

Perhaps Altman was guilty, as the saying goes, of selling his birthright for a pot of message. But when he could convince himself to turn it off, he did amazing work.

respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline