Four Nerds

Director Robert Altman died today at the age of 81. He died doing what he loved most in life, making movies. Altman was the director of such classics as M*A*S*H, Nashville, Short Cuts, The Player, and Godsford Park. He was known for his great ensemble films, and his works rarely had a single star. Often times he directed his cast to deliver their lines the way people normally talk, and he enjoyed overlapping dialogue.

Like most people my age, my first experience with Altman's work was with Popeye. Always the innovator, this was one of the first comic adaptations whose overall look was shaped by the source material's artistic style. Other films to use this approach include Dick Tracy and more recently, Sin City. Popeye was one of the first films in which I can remember thinking, "How did they do that?"- a question which shaped the direction of my life has taken. Specifically, I wanted to know how they made Robin William's forearms bulge like Popeye's. Heck, I still remember the songs.

Altman once said that while he could never pick a favorite film, the ones that were the least successful were the ones that he loved a little more. They were like his children. Personally, my favorite film of Altman's has to be Cookie's Fortune and it's one of his best. It's one of those films that is just perfect. There's nothing wrong with it.

Rest in peace, Mr. Altman. We'll miss you.