Altman

A look at the life and work of American filmmaker Robert Altman.

For anyone who loves film and its history, this is a must-see documentary. The career of Robert Altman spanned many decades and he worked with just about anyone who was anyone, making some of the greatest films of all time. Some duds, too, but that will happen.

Rather than just talking to a handful of people about their memories, this mixes in plenty of home footage, Altman's own memories, and those of his wife. While his career could fit into a much longer film, for the time frame allotted they did a great job covering his whole life and leaving us wanting more rather than opening up the possibility we could get bored.

Ron Mann's rather soft documentary on film director Robert Altman, who amusingly was fired by Jack Warner from his first theatrical endeavor (1968's "Countdown") because of Altman's desire to have the actors overlap their dialogue. Altman, who began as a TV writer, slowly worked his way into the director's chair for a variety of television programs such as "Hawaiian Eye," "Bonanza" and "Combat!" It was on the series "Whirlybirds" that he met his wife, actress Kathryn Reed, who would remain by Altman's side for the remainder of his life. Home movies and behind-the-scenes footage highlight this otherwise unenlightening piece, with a narrative that reads something like this: "Once he finished that film, Altman began his next picture. After it was completed, he began a new project." There are a few nice touches (such as critic Gene Shalit's colorful TV review of Altman's "Popeye"), but otherwise extremely little about how each of Altman's eclectic projects were perceived by the public. Apparently an absentee-father, Altman, who passed away November 20, 2006, is nevertheless praised by the family members who took part in "Altman". Still, it's a documentary with only a passing resemblance to documentaries. ** from ****

I found this documentary a comprehensive review of Robert Altman's life's work, highlighting the director's determination to be independent of Hollywood conventions. Even though he was born in 1925, Altman was totally in sync with the following generation, the post-war baby boomers who first came of age in the 1960's. His anti-establishment stance never wavers as he thumbs his nose at the military, President Nixon, commercialism, and the election process. One of the most erudite talk show hosts Dick Cavett, a cultural icon of the youth generation, appears in the documentary, a nice touch.

Beginning as a writer of television scripts in the 1940's Altman eventually graduated to being a movie director. The movie MASH is one of the classic anti-war movies that treats it with a large dose of humour. Actors like Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland seemed to fit the temper of those times. "Nashville" seems to reflect an unease with American culture under the silent majority of Richard Nixon who pandered to the culture of working class white people and their love of country music.

Later, Michael Murphy was tapped for the role of Jack Tanner in Tanner '88, a television show that Altman believes changed television as an entertainment medium. He also had worked with some of the best comediennes such as Carol Burnett and Lilly Tomlin. Altman cast Robin Williams as Popeye in the movie of the same name. It bombed and we are treated to Gene Shalit's review of the debacle. This movie highlighted Altman's belief that the major studios were only interested in blockbusters like Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

One of his most critically acclaimed movies was Gosford Park, with some of the finest British talent available at the time. This movie went beyond the stage-like production of the Upstairs, Downstairs television show and presented a more biting picture of the British class system in a lavish production that also prefigured the success of a much later TV show Downton Abbey.

Among these and other films, we see home movies of Altman, his wife Kathryn and their children. We also see some trenchant comments from Altman himself about his career and work. The documentary gives us a great view of this highly creative American director and his work.

I loved this documentary because it accomplished its mission. It reminded you of what Robert Altman was all about. His life work can be summed up thus: I'm not making movies to narc you out. I'm not making movies so you can forget your pain. I'm telling stories of passionate people, heroes and failures, who just might clue you in to cutting a path toward your own redemption.

I cried over and over as I watched it. It was touching and moving and an inspiration. It also happened to summarize much of the backdrop to my own life as a moviegoer.

Altman's story is a good one, and this flick tells it.

This movie gets a 10 from me because it accomplished what it set out to do: be a career retrospective of Robert Altman, including lots of relevant voices, film clips, home movie footage and words of wisdom from the subject himself. It was heart-felt, and made me tear up a couple times.

I didn't realize I had seen so many of this man's films: The Player (back when the '90's were so fresh and slick), MASH, Popeye. Each one I've seen, I've liked. Now, to check out Gosford Park and McCabe.