Few American filmmakers have enjoyed the extensive filmography that Robert Altman accomplished, particularly in light of his entering feature films in his 30s and ending his TV career in his 40s. While not all of his films were welcomed by the critics or the public, a large number of his works are today considered by many to be masterpieces—explicit comic and dramatic critiques on American culture (or, in the case of Gosford Park, British culture). We will focus on his talent as an “actor's” director, assembling large casts and handling complex storylines in a seamless narrative flow. We will also examine his reputation as an “anti-genre” director, as each of these selected films falls into a different genre category. The films to be viewed include: M*A*S*H* (1970), The Long Goodbye (1973), Thieves Like Us (1974), Nashville (1975), The Player (1992) and Gosford Park (2001).
Course Code
500995