VINCENT AND THEO

Following a string of theatrical successes in the 1970s, many of Robert Altman's films in the 1980s received a more muted critical response.  However, in 1990, he returned to form with Vincent & Theo, a biographical drama centered on the complex relationship between the artist Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo.  The film earned Altman renewed acclaim.  At its core, Vincent & Theo is a richly textured exploration of two brothers bound by love, obligation, and a shared devotion to art.

THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK

When That Cold Day in the Park premiered in 1969, it was met with lukewarm, if not outright dismissive, critical reception.  Today, its Rotten Tomatoes score stands at a mild 50%, but I find that judgment sorely lacking.  As Robert Altman’s fourth directorial effort, and his first foray into psychological drama, the film may not reach the heights of his later masterpieces, but it remains a striking and quietly unsettling work that deserves some thoughtful reconsideration.

CALIFORNIA SPLIT

Robert Altman's California Split is another triumph in his unique brand of filmmaking, one that thrives on character over plot and the nuances of human behavior over dramatic story arcs.  Released in 1974, the film is a quintessential example of Altman's improvisational style and his ability to drop viewers into fully realized worlds without conventional exposition.

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.