Altman

I am fascinated by the artistic process, how things are created, what motivates the artist, what obstacles are encountered and how they are overcome. In this documentary, I think Ron Mann has succinctly put together the various factors that motivated Robert Altman and made his career so long and successful. I felt I learned a lot more about the movie making process and artistic creation in general.

Simple things we now take for granted are important. For instance, putting together a team of people that work well together, giving people a break and letting them shine. These were radical ideas in the era of C2C Command and Control studio structures, where the word was passed down from on high. How about two people arguing, both speaking at the same time. Adds to the emotion and conflict right? Altman pioneered the use of multiple soundtracks to get right into a dialogue.

What I found particularly interesting was how Altman dealt with career setbacks. Each time things did not seem to be going his way (at least by the standards of others), he simply reinvented himself by turning to a different genre of film or theatre or production. When confronted by harsh critics, he simply shrugged it off and kept on working with undiminished enthusiasm. What a wonderful role model for young people starting off on a career. Bravo, great doc!!

Robert Altman is admired amongst directors and actors, but despised amongst the producers of Hollywood. Isnt it ironic that some of his best work (The Player) is a terrific parody of all the pittfalls Hollywood digs for those trying to make a movie.

I have always wondered why there is such an admiration for him as a director, but the admiration grew out of his love for movie making and his love for the actors. And that love is being returned now. He treated his actors and his movie crew in a way few other Hollywood directors did. Robert Altman's movies seemed to be sort of a family/friends gathering of like minded spirits, who supported each other.

This guy made some terrific movies and he also made quite a few stinkers, movies that really were below par. But Robert Altman's talents never faded, his passion never faded, it was the Hollywood industry that did or did not give him the chance to film the way he wanted to, resulting in periods of success and periods of drought and failures.

I'll always remember Altman for his classic movies. And after seeing this movie I'll also will dearly remember him as a sort of a father of the actor's community. Too bad he got an early stroke, after which he finally had to give up drinking. But up untill then he lived his live to the fullest, giving us audiences worldwide several beautiful movie classics!

BRAVO !!!

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.

Ron Mann's rather soft documentary on movie director Robert Altman, who amusingly was fired by Jack Warner from his first theatrical film (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 highlights 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 ****

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.