First time for Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. Being a play, it's got the two obvious obstacles: visual staginess (which directors sometimes call attention to even more when they try to overcome it), and plot-revelations mechanically grinding away. But I liked it more as it went along, and really liked some of the performances. Best line--I'm sure many single the line out--is the best description of Facebook I've ever come across: "I'm happy, Goddammit!"
― clemenza, Saturday, 23 August 2014 23:47 (ten years ago) link
I love Tanner '88. Definitely the peak of that era, and among my favorite Altman projects more generally.
― The Ape In The Outhouse (Old Lunch)
As I've been going to all these Altmans at the Lightbox, I rewatched Tanner '88 at home. I liked it a whole lot five years ago, not as much this time. One problem, I think, is that the first viewing was on my old small TV, so the look of it didn't matter too much. Watching the Criterion on a big-screen TV, it really felt like what it is: a TV show, with the visual flatness of shows 25 years ago. Some of the photography wasn't very flattering--Veronica Cartwright got the worst of it.
One or two of the reporters seemed to disappear at some point, and certain subplots were elided or dropped. With the politics, I sometimes wasn't sure what was satirical and what wasn't (e.g., Bruce Babbitt).
It held my interest all the way, and there were great moments throughout. Pamela Reed's really good; Michael Murphy plays Michael Murphy, but that works out fine. I would move it down to Altman's second tier of films.
― clemenza, Sunday, 24 August 2014 00:22 (ten years ago) link
Going to try to force myself to watch Buffalo Bill, Quintet, and A Perfect Couple in the next couple of weeks, the last '70s films I haven't seen. I've got the first on VHS, the other two on DVD. At some point, I started and gave up on Quintet and A Perfect Couple within 15 minutes.
― clemenza, Sunday, 24 August 2014 14:05 (ten years ago) link
Geez, you can actually watch Health online (for now, anyway--was posted June 5).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnIuGroZpuc
Seems to be impossible to see otherwise.
http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/where-on-the-shelf-ishealth
― clemenza, Sunday, 24 August 2014 14:11 (ten years ago) link
From the wiki page on Health:
On June 12, 1982, U.S. President Ronald Reagan screened the film at Camp David during stormy weather. In his diaries that day, he called it "the world's worst movie".[33]
― MaudAddam (cryptosicko), Sunday, 24 August 2014 14:28 (ten years ago) link
He disliked the pot smoking scene in 9 to 5 too -- said it would've been funnier if they'd been drunk instead.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 24 August 2014 14:31 (ten years ago) link
(xpost) I can imagine Altman liking that quote so much he'd want it on his headstone.
― clemenza, Sunday, 24 August 2014 14:42 (ten years ago) link
obv RR never watched OC and Stiggs
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 24 August 2014 15:56 (ten years ago) link
or any of his own movies.
― It's Autumn Sunrise (Eric H.), Sunday, 24 August 2014 17:31 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af0Yei2sAbE
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 24 August 2014 17:36 (ten years ago) link
reagan was in some pretty decent movies! he's by no means the best thing about them, though.
― I dunno. (amateurist), Tuesday, 26 August 2014 21:42 (ten years ago) link
Short Cuts was as strong as ever for me; I'd probably rank it third along with McCabe. There are so many moments and scenes that are on the short-list of Altman's greatest. My favourite serious one is where Lyle Lovett softens when he learns of the boy's death. Best comedic, probably Buck Henry and Lili Taylor picking up their photos.
Kael and Marcus have both written about what they see as the film's weakest character: Lemmon for Kael, Annie Ross for Marcus. I don't mind Lemon. He's too Lemony, I agree, especially as he recounts his long story, but the character's credible. (I seem to remember that Kael singles out his exit as especially annoying--I think that's his best moment.)
More inclined to agree about Annie Ross. Her songs are shrill, and the scene of her on the floor drinking after her daughter's suicide is the film's worst, I think.
The rest of the performances are all uniformly good-to-great.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 27 August 2014 17:46 (ten years ago) link
Only those who have watched an edit of the film that completely deletes Andie MacDowell get to pick anyone other cast member as the weakest link.
― It's Autumn Sunrise (Eric H.), Wednesday, 27 August 2014 17:55 (ten years ago) link
No...she plays that character perfectly.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 27 August 2014 17:58 (ten years ago) link
So does Annie Ross iirc.
― a guy named Christian White who represents the typical white Christian (Eric H.), Wednesday, 27 August 2014 18:03 (ten years ago) link
Knew next to nothing about the radio show going into A Prairie Home Companion, other than I knew what Garrison Keillor looked and sounded like. Anyway, I guess it was an honorable film for Altman to go out on, and I liked bits of it here and there, but I was on the outside looking in for the duration. Didn't like the Kevin Kline framing device; Virginia Madsen worked a little better for me, especially the resonance of the final shot when viewed in context. Harrelson and Reilly are pretty entertaining, and Lindsay Lohan, who I only know as a cultural joke, is quite good.
― clemenza, Monday, 1 September 2014 01:02 (ten years ago) link
There wouldn't be any tragedy to Lohan's story if she weren't a good, sometimes even great actress.
― a guy named Christian White who represents the typical white Christian (Eric H.), Monday, 1 September 2014 02:20 (ten years ago) link
http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/2014/08/robin-williams-popeye
― the one where, as balls alludes (Eazy), Monday, 1 September 2014 16:44 (ten years ago) link
Kino has Blurays of The Long Goodbye & Thieves Like Us out later this year
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Monday, 1 September 2014 17:11 (ten years ago) link
NYC MoMA to show everything
http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/1525
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 2 September 2014 11:58 (ten years ago) link
Wow--better than what we got here, which amounted to a dozen films. Make sure to see Nightmare in Chicago, which I was able to catch on TV once.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 2 September 2014 14:25 (ten years ago) link
ive never seen Countdown, Quintet, A Perfect Couple... and prob go to a few more I've only seen once, I guess.
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 2 September 2014 14:28 (ten years ago) link
The Altman documentary is a conventional film-by-film overview, but I still recommend seeing it. Lots of interview voice-over with Altman; the narration's about half him and half his wife. The linking bit of having various Altman actors define "Altmanesque" didn't work so well for me. The filmography seemed complete, except for the omission of The James Dean Story and Nightmare in Chicago. Not sure where Mann got the audio of Kael reading her McCabe & Mrs. Miller review (I guess there's an audio book of one of her collections?). Sad at the end, of course.
― clemenza, Sunday, 21 September 2014 20:06 (ten years ago) link
MoMA NYC has announced its Altman retro offerings for December, and the curios are curious. Jukebox videos! That "Combat" episode! Fabian as a psycho killer! A 1956 industrial popcorn musical! Is any of the TV stuff on discs as supplements?
TELEVISION PROGRAM 2“A Lion Walks Among Us” (from Bus Stop) 1961. Directed by Robert Altman. Teleplay by Ellis Kadison, from the novel The Judgment, by Tom Wicker. With Fabian, Diane Foster, Richard Anderson, Philip Abbott. The director’s presentation of pop star Fabian as a psychopathic murderer was so provocative in its day that it led to a Congressional Investigation of violence in broadcast television. 60 min.“Together” (from Alfred Hitchcock Presents) 1958. Directed by Robert Altman. Teleplay by Robert C. Dennis. With Joseph Cotton, Christine White, Sam Buffington. This melodrama about a murderer trapped with his victim might be viewed as a rehearsal for the self-imposed containment of a President confronting his misdemeanors in Altman’s Secret Honor. 30 min.
Corn’s-A-Poppin’ 1956. Directed by Robert Woodburn. Screenplay by Woodburn, Altman. Altman cowrote this independent musical comedy, directed and performed by colleagues from the Calvin Company in his hometown of Kansas City. This low-budget affair, about a popcorn executive, the ensemble cast of the show he sponsors, and a conniving competitor, is replete with the social satire and dramatic deadpan that would become Altman’s trademark. Restored by the Northwest Chicago Film Society, with funding from the National Film Preservation Foundation. 58 min.
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 5 November 2014 21:07 (nine years ago) link
Oh, fantastic. I just recently got the first five seasons of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Didn't realize I had an Altman episode to look forward to.
― Walking Feenicks (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 5 November 2014 21:41 (nine years ago) link
well, don't expect overlapping dialogue.
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 5 November 2014 21:42 (nine years ago) link
^^That's one of the wonders of Secret Honor--Altman manages to Baker-Hall to overlap with himself.
― Don A Henley And Get Over It (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 5 November 2014 21:55 (nine years ago) link
Boo to the omission of Jazz '34, Kansas City, and Pret-a-Porter.
Can someone tell me about HealtH, Countdown, Corn's-a-Poppin', Buffalo Bill and the Indians, Quintet, That Cold Day in the Park, A Perfect Couple, and/or Fool for Love?
― benbbag, Wednesday, 5 November 2014 23:59 (nine years ago) link
I feel like I've seen Buffalo Bill, but can't remember
― benbbag, Thursday, 6 November 2014 00:00 (nine years ago) link
corn's a poppin' looks unreal btw
― schlump, Thursday, 6 November 2014 01:13 (nine years ago) link
Quintet is terrible, like a bad episode of battlestar galactica
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 6 November 2014 03:37 (nine years ago) link
Is that the sci-fi one with Paul Newman? If so, yeah, didn't even finish it.
― MaudAddam (cryptosicko), Thursday, 6 November 2014 03:38 (nine years ago) link
Buffalo Bill is maybe his funniest film, sort of presents William Cody as the vainglorious Johnny Carson/Larry Sanders/opera diva of his milieu; Newman v wacky.
HealtH I remember being a watchable minor work; def not surprised it was beyond President Reagan's grasp.
Fool for Love I thought was meh at the time, dunno if it was botched as I'd never seen the Shepard play.
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 6 November 2014 04:01 (nine years ago) link
The series continues through the first half of January, sched not yet posted.
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 6 November 2014 04:03 (nine years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzejNljcss0
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 6 November 2014 05:16 (nine years ago) link
A Perfect Couple is this weird hybrid Romantic Comedy/Concert Film/Musical. You can get a good sense of it by looking at the trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doxVbo9Z9G8
― Don A Henley And Get Over It (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 6 November 2014 05:57 (nine years ago) link
complete NYC MoMA retro schedule now up, thru Jan 17
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Friday, 5 December 2014 15:13 (nine years ago) link
Holy cow. That'd comprise the next 1.5 months of my life if I lived in NYC. HealtH!
And another Altman biography. Do I need to read another Altman biography? I suspect I might.
― Hamhole and Fly Eyes (Old Lunch), Friday, 5 December 2014 15:20 (nine years ago) link
Countdown gets much better when James Caan leaves for the moon. Duvall is good, but then he almost always is.
(The NASA press liaison is played by a pre-"Hi guys" Ted Knight, which retrospectively ruins all those scenes.)
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 7 December 2014 19:00 (nine years ago) link
Of course I can't make Jazz/KC. Maybe I'll take time off.
― Banned on the Run (benbbag), Sunday, 7 December 2014 20:24 (nine years ago) link
seeing Images and TLG over the weekend
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 13 December 2014 15:56 (nine years ago) link
Images was a chore. Lots of portentous shots of Susannah York through glass beads and shit.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 13 December 2014 17:02 (nine years ago) link
sez you!
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 13 December 2014 17:11 (nine years ago) link
Images is no match for 3 Women.
― Eric H., Sunday, 14 December 2014 00:45 (nine years ago) link
John Simon called out Susannah Yorke for being in "an unfortunate period of pregnancy" (or something along those lines) in her Images nude scene.
― Don A Henley And Get Over It (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 14 December 2014 00:57 (nine years ago) link
Images is clearly a precursor to 3 Women though. Sure it's a half-failed variation on Repulsion, but I like York, and Ireland.
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 14 December 2014 05:27 (nine years ago) link
what was really annoying is that the principal characters have the names of other actors in the cast. cutesy.
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 14 December 2014 15:23 (nine years ago) link
Shared by Criterion on FB today...
https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10377540_10155004409535565_8755197253931025184_n.jpg?oh=860c321f19726ff9aee54f180ccbf6c2&oe=5508B0B9
― Don A Henley And Get Over It (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 22 December 2014 20:11 (nine years ago) link
My fancy friends invited me up/got me tickets for "Nashville" and "3 Women" at MoMA this weekend. "Nashville" was fine but "3 Women" which I haven't seen in years was so wonderful
― llehctim INOJ (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 22 December 2014 20:14 (nine years ago) link
I still like 3W .. up til those last 5 minutes.
went to The Long Goodbye w/ my friend and his teen son (it's his fave movie). It was my first time seeing it since hiking up to Marlowe's apartment in Hollywood Heights. There's only one real good shot of the lengthy stairs, when Gould runs down them after Mark Rydell leaves with his coterie and wounded girlfriend.
I had to bag A Perfect Couple when i got a late party invite, but it's on DVD.
― things lose meaning over time (Dr Morbius), Monday, 22 December 2014 20:21 (nine years ago) link