Altman on Altman

by Paul Thomas Anderson, David Thompson (Editor)

An exciting collection of original interviews with the infamously outspoken director of Short Cuts.

From Nashville to The Player to Gosford Park, Robert Altman's irreverent, iconoclastic style has palpably altered the landscape of American cinema. Cited as an influence by such envelope-pushing directors as Spike Jonze and P. T. Anderson, Altman has created a genre all his own, notable for its improvised, overlapping dialogue and creative cinematography. One of the key moviemakers of the 1970s--commonly considered the heyday of American film--Altman's irrepressible combination of unorthodox vision and style is most clearly evidenced in the fourteen movies he released across that decade. By fine-tuning his talent in a diverse array of genres, including westerns, thrillers, and loopy, absurdist comedies--all subtly altered to fit his signature métier--he cemented his place as one of our most esteemed directors.

In these conversations with David Thompson, Altman reflects on his start in industrial filmmaking, as well as his tenure in television directing Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Bonanza, and his big break in feature films as the director of the enormously popular M*A*S*H, a project for which he was the last possible resort behind fourteen other directors. The resulting portrait reveals a quixotic man whose films continue to delight and challenge audiences, both in the United States and beyond.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Biography

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2006

About the author

Paul Thomas Anderson is a five-time Academy Award-nominated American filmmaker.

Reviews

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Altman's maverick approach to filmmaking can be summed up in a quote from this book: "Hollywood sells shoes; I make gloves." I've loved his movies ever since M*A*S*H, and his were the first I would go to the theater (no VCRs in those days) to see more than once. Loved the insights and descriptions of everything from financial wrangling to script development to casting. Also his choice of locations, which gave his films more of an authentic look. I can't say I loved all his movies (e.g., Pret a Porte, Dr T and the Woman, both of which he held particular fondness for), but I felt he could be forgiven since he was responsible for some of my favorites (Short Cuts, Three Women, Cookie's Fortune, MASH, Gosford Park, and most notably, Nashville).

[Paul Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Popeye was the first movie I saw in a theater. My dad owned a restaurant across the street from where it played, and he gave the employees food in exchange for tickets. I subsequently watched Popeye every single day it played in the theater. And Robert Altman became my cinematic paterfamilias. His films managed to capture the spontaneity, absurdity, and pathos that comes with being a human on this planet. His movies are immersive experiences, and all are touched by his insight, his sense of humor, and his mischievous spirit. I find that same immersive quality in his interviews as well. He has a way of bringing you into his world as he discusses his career. Altman on Altman is my favorite chronicle of the way he approached filmmaking and his recollections of each shoot. I don't see how anyone couldn't fall in love with him. His presence is both larger than life and down to earth at the same time. And his sly sense of humor permeates everything he does. If you've ever watched an Altman movie and felt there was something alchemical going on, this book won't exactly explain that, but you'll get some good one-on-one with the alchemist. The king was a rascal.

For no other reason that I love Altman dearly and could talk about him forever, are a few of my favorite movies of his:

Buffalo Bill and the Indians
Gosford Park
Brewster McCloud
McCabe and Mrs. Miller
3 Women
Nashville
The Long Goodbye
Popeye
Shortcuts
BASEMENTS (1987)
Secret Honor
Come Back to the Dime Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean
Fool for Love
The Player
California Split
Streamers
Vincent and Theo
Mash
Thieves Like Us
A Perfect Couple
And no matter what they may say, HealtH is so GROSSLY UNDERRATED.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't deny I'm a big fan of Robert Altman. Even his worst movies (e.g. O.C. and Stiggs, HEALTH, Quintet) have something fascinating to offer. To "hear" the man himself expound on his work is a joy as he provides his own insights and anecdotes. Of course, knowing what a huckster he has always been, allows the reader added mystery to discern what of his comments are true and what are embellished. This is a must have for Altman and film aficionados... for others, it might be the equivalent of an operation manual.

[Owen Hollander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fascinating and extremely deep dive into the filmography, career, and psyche of legendary director Robert Altman. The more I read this book and explored the Altman films that I haven’t seen, the more I realized just how much of a trailblazer Altman truly was for the films, styles, and genres that I am so heavily influenced by in my own creative pursuits. Altman absolutely became a top 5 director of mine after throughly watching his filmography this month and reading this extensive book. I admire his tenacity and innovative nature in his approach towards every new project. He always tried to push himself and his style by completing immersing himself in new subject matter and genre that he’s never explored while still maintaining his trademark directorial style. This was an insightful read for me and I intend to read it again in a few years and see what stands out to me that time, similar to his films.

[Jason Coffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total no-brainer for any fan of Altman's films, or anyone who's curious about how the man makes films (whether you like them or not). Covers his whole life from growing up and moving into writing for film, then working in television and finally his film career up through the preparations for "A Prairie Home Companion," with discussions about his major TV and opera projects as well. My only nitpick is that there are some of his films that are barely discussed at all (notably "A Perfect Couple" and "O.C. and Stiggs"), but there's so much other amazing stuff here that's really an extremely minor complaint.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an Altman fan such as my self, this book is an incredible resource. t is especially great to have a place where I can read about more obscure films like Dr. T and the Women, HealtH and Fool For Love, to name just a few.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revelations about Altman, his life, including his childhood, stint in the war, and how he makes movies. I read the piece about McCabe and Mrs. Miller first because I had just seen this (for the third or fourth time) and learned what Altman thought of Warren Beatty.

[Deena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Altman's candid insights useful and applicable both to life and to his films.

[Kurly Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Almost every scene in the film was improvised. We had no control over what the real people would say, but even with the actors, there was so much going on there was never any rehearsal. We'd just turn two or three cameras on and pretty much deal with what they did as if it were a documentary. But I like to go into everything that way; it's more fun for me, and the only interest in me for commercial success is to give me the wherewithal to continue making films. It's the doing of it that is the real joy..."

You could have yoinked these words right from my own mouth!

An inspiration! Such a feisty, guy, somehow more eternally hip and with it than his contemporaries who were 10-20 years younger.

A filmography like no other.

We need more new ensemble films! What happened to twenty characters all talking at once??

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful read on my favorite (somewhat underrated) director. I’ve seen almost every 70s movie of Altman’s, but didn’t realize how many other movies and shows he had well into the 00s. There will never be anyone else like him 💔 Nashville and 3 Women are both my two favorites, which I would love to see on the big screen someday.

[Bobby Kennerley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great insights from one of my favourite directors - especially in regards to his most popular work during the early-mid 70s.

The latter half of the book was much less interesting, though the same can be said about the majority of the latter half of his filmography

[Bryce Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Entry in Faber's fantastic Series which sadly ended up covering Altman's entire career.

There are some flaws here, while Altman's happy to cover his successes, his failures usually only get a paragraph and with a oeuvre as gigantic as Altman's the book ends up a bit lopsided.

Plus you get to hear Altman talk shit about Billy Jack, which is pretty awesome.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite interested in this man!

[Drew Raley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oral history/ interview is the best approach to Altman. Fills in many blanks, esp on films that get short shrift like HEALTH and Images.