DR. T AND THE WOMEN

I knew I had seen Dr. T & the Women when it came out in 2000, but I couldn’t recall a single scene.  That should have been my first clue.  Still, in pursuit of my 2025 goal to watch every Robert Altman film, I decided to give it another shot.  Now that I’ve rewatched it, the mystery of my memory lapse is solved: there’s not much here worth remembering.

M*A*S*H

The movie M*A*S*H inspired a television series of the same name that aired consistently as a top-rated show for 11 seasons (1972 – 1983).  The movie and the TV show, however, are very different experiments in storytelling.  My 2025 journey to see all of Robert Altman’s films continues as I review M*A*S*H, the original movie released in 1970.

THE JAMES DEAN STORY

"I’m trying to find the courage to be tender in my life.  I know that violent people are weak people.  Only the gentle are ever really strong." - James Dean

SECRET HONOR

What happens when an insecure, paranoid, and disgraced former U.S. President has time alone to contemplate his legacy?  Robert Altman’s Secret Honor (1984) shows us one possibility.  This film is a compelling, thought-provoking one-man performance that is mesmerizing, disturbingly unsettling, and, given the current status of democracy in the United States, extremely prescient.  In a way, I imagine this movie could be more compelling today than it was when it was released.

IMAGES

Susanna York’s performance in Images earned her the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival.  It was a well-deserved honor.

THE LAUNDROMAT (1985)

Straight out of the gate, I admit that this entry is not a feature film directed by Robert Altman.  Instead, The Laundromat is a television film directed by Robert Altman!  This movie first aired in 1985, during the early years when the burgeoning pay channel, HBO, began producing original content.  It marked the third collaboration between Altman and Carol Burnett, and it was for this reason that I included it in my 2025 Altman film journey.

KANSAS CITY

Kansas City (1996) is a modern noir film that delves into themes of crime, class, relationships, racism, and politics, all woven together by the soulful backdrop of live jazz music.  The soundtrack is mesmerizing, creating a seamless flow of music that starts from the opening scene and continues through to the closing credits.  While the film's execution may be a bit uneven at times, it leans a tad more toward success than failure.