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USA drama 1993 color 189 min.
Director: Robert Altman
CLV: $124.95 - available
           3 discs, catalog # CC1383L
The cinema of Robert Altman is infinitely sly, consolidating all of his political and social concerns into a series of ensemble pieces, full of corrosive humor and eccentric characters. His films feel like living organisms that seem to evolve with each viewing. A longtime iconoclast, Altman has never catered to the commercial film industry. Here, on six Director Approved editions, he bypasses the commercial media once again, addressing laserdisc audiences directly on the subjects that drive his work.


Director Robert Altman's freeform skat on Raymond Carver's short stories departs from the movie mogul world of The Player to focus on the lives of ordinary Angelenos. A diverse jazz score weaves together the nine stories, some quiet as a caress, some harsh as a chainsaw, and the finished product is a film that is never pretty, sometimes ugly, often beautiful. An astonishing ensemble cast engages us in a remarkable three-hour jam session, and the film marks a triumphant return to Altman's hallmark collage style of filmmaking.

Criterion's special edition features:

  • Documentary: Luck, Trust and Ketchup, featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with every cast member and footage of Altman at work
  • A look at the marketing of the film, including an extensive collection of advertising stills, two trailers, and six television spots
  • The complete text of the Raymond Carver stories on which the film is based
  • Outtakes and deleted scenes
  • Audio commentary by critics Pauline Kael and Michael Wilmington


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