after all the fine, fine films he made that I enjoyed thoroughly, my lasting memory of Altman will be the time I went to see Beyond Therapy. Awful, terrible film. There were about 30 people in the theater when it started and me and my friend were the only ones there at the end. We refused to give up on it. Never paid off.

Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so. - Bertrand Russell

then why is yo' name 'Zelig'? ;)

And yep, seen 'Quintet'. Interesting flick but desperately needed a book. Re-watched from this vantage-point in time, it has the feel of a 'Dr Who' episode.

I've seen nearly all of his films, some several times, and I while I enjoyed many of them terrifically and recognize how revolutionary his style was, I often feel that his importance was always undermined by a lack of narrative judgement. Many of his films flirt with greatness, only to fall flat at the end in a welter of laid-back vacuity. Oddly, the ending of 'The Wedding' always struck me as his most brave. I don't expect my good friend Harley to agree with me, but I find these days that I re-watch [Altman's chief disciple] Rudolph's films with more enthusiasm than I do those of the Master.

Warren Beatty sinkly slowly into a snow drift in McCabe and Mrs. Miller. Ronee Blakeley's implacable dignity in Nashville. 'Suicide is Painless' in MASH. Sterling Hayden's long walk into the Pacific in The Long Goodbye.

God he was good.

To think is not enough; you must think of something -- Jules Renard

Film World Mourns Director Robert Altman

“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”--William Tecumseh Sherman

..."Paririe Home Companion", wasn't one of my alltime favorites, but it turns out he had done the whole thing while suffering from cancer. He was in pre-production for the next one, with shooting starting in February.

I've always admired guys that love their work and to work 'till they die. That's my plan. I want to be in the middle of something that's really fun and rewarding with I kick off.

Me: We! -- Ali

Nearly twenty years of documentaries and TV before his breakout, MASH.

More Wagster!