Robert Altman died yesterday. He directed such movies as M.A.S.H., Nashville, Popeye, The Player, Gosford Park, and most recently, A Prairie Home Companion.
I have often referred to Robert Altman as being the most overrated Hollywood director ever. I couldn't stand his methods of filmmaking. He would have the actors just bustle around and improvise their dialogue, talking over each other. I know what Altman was trying to do; he was trying to make the actions of the actors more authentic. Unfortunately, the end result was usually a muddled confusing mess. Over the years, I have given his movies chance after chance, and each time I would get burned. I have seen M.A.S.H., Popeye, Shortcuts, The Gingerbread Man, and the final straw was Dr. T & the Women. After I suffered through Dr. T, I swore that I would never again waste my time on a Robert Altman film, and I stuck to that promise to his end.
In addition to his abysmal movies, Altman's politics sucked as well. He was your typical preening leftist. In 2004, he was one of those actors who swore that if George W. Bush was reelected, he would leave the United States, in this case promising to move to Europe. After Bush won, did Altman move as promised? Of course not; as in the other examples, like Alec Baldwin, these Hollywood types were so convinced that Kerry was going to win, that they had no problem making these ridiculous assertions that they were going to leave the country in the event of a Bush victory. The joke was on the Hollywood types - including Robert Altman - when their boy Kerry got his head handed to him by the voters of Middle America.
I know it is considered uncouth to speak ill of the dead, but I didn't find many redeeming qualities about Robert Altman. I just wish I could have my money back for the many times I foolishly gave his movies a chance.
Good Day to You, Sir
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never was, and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson
7 comments:
Sounds like your criticism is strictly about politics. Typical from right wingers. Oh well, you'll miss out on a lot of great novels, music, TV, and films because of your unwillingness to view anything created by people who have a different view on politics than you do. I actually feel bad for you. Trying to find decent entertainment, of any sort, not created by liberals is going to be quite a challenge. I guess you could watch Schwarzenegger movies...
Howard, you really need to think things through before you spout off. Did you not notice that I have watched - count 'em - five Robert Altman movies? Did you not notice that I said I didn't like them, not because of his politics, but because he was a crappy filmmaker.
Thanks for feeling bad and all, but once again, thou assumeth too much. Do you truly think that I only limit my viewing and reading to right wing entertainment and media? Are you that close-minded? I watch movies and t.v. shows all the time that are full to the brim with leftist actors, directors, and storylines. I even rented - GASP!!! - Farenheit 911 AND Bowling for Columbine. When it comes to watching good cinema or reading a good book, I don't care about the political leanings of the artist. It may shock you, but I am able to separate the personal from the professional. Sean Penn may be an assclown in his private and political life, but I loved Mystic River because he is an incredible actor. OMG, Tim Robbins was in that film too!
Let's put your tolerance to the test: I have watched Farenheit 911. Have you ever watched or even heard of FarenHYPE 911? It's a great documentary that answers all of Michael Moore's many lies in his film. Did you see the Passion of the Christ?
BTW, Schwarzenegger hasn't put out a good movie since 1991's Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
Crappy filmmaker?
No. I'm not a big Altman fan, but he was a great filmmaker, and I would bet that some of his films will be watched for as long as the movies are considered a living art form. He is the American Balzac.
Tastes differ, and in my opinion, Altman's movies were unorganized, improvised messes.
Absolutely right. Altman was overrated and annoying.
I have to agree.
Altman was horrible IMO
I was about to believe I was the only person on the planet who hated ALL-EVERY movie Altman ever made.
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