Robert Altman

Categories: Entertainment

Sad news on Tuesday. Robert Altman, “one of the most adventurous and influential American directors of the late 20th century,” passed away.  Over the course of his career, Altman directed an enormous variety of movies.  Of course, there are the classics, such as M*A*S*H*, Nashville, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, California Split, and The Long Goodbye, but let’s not forget about his smaller, more eclectic movies:  Quintet, Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Vincent & Theo.  What an amazing body of work—he will truly be missed. 

 

So what better time than now to find out what the great man himself had to say about his films? 

 

David Thompson and Robert Altman first crossed paths in 2001, when Thompson was working on a documentary for the BBC about the making of Gosford Park.  Afterwards, Thompson asked the director if he would be willing to sit down for some informal interviews about his career.  The result is Altman on Altman, a candid discussion of his life as a filmmaker.   Arranged chronologically, the book spans six decades, beginning with Altman’s work in television and concluding with Tanner on Tanner, a short-lived series he directed for HBO.  During the course of the interviews, Altman reflects on the creative process, technical details, and personalities involved in the making of his movies.  It’s absolutely fascinating reading. Whether you’re an ardent film aficionado or—like me—just a big fan of his movies, Altman on Altman is definitely worth your time.