Short Cuts - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: A post-auteuristic DVD from Robert Altman
Review: The "auteur theory", originally generated by the Fench New-Wave, is the idea that the director is THE almost singular artist in creating the film. The director is the god, not the writer, nor the actors. He's the guy who made the film. He's the god-all-mighty for a film.

Robert Altman, widely regarded as one the most important auteur in contemporary American cinema, has actually always opposed to this idea. Though he (somehow reluctantly) admits everything goes through his own filter, in his interviews he constantly tries to minimalize his works and to give the best credits to his collaborators.

With his 1993 masterpiece SHORT CUTS, Altman, who considers the film one of his favorites, nevertheless always has insisted that the film is not only his: Everything in the film comes from Raymond Carver, on whose 9 short stories the film is based on, the film's soul is Carver's. He also repeats that the cast (an impressive list that contains 22 great actors) is what made the film as it is.

With this director-approved DVD edition--the first, long waited entrance of SHORT CUTS to the DVD market--, Criterion came up with a very simple solution to be faithful to the director's idea: they wraped the collection of the nine stories with the DVD in the same package.

In addition, they enlarged the supplements section from their original Laser Disc edition, which already contained the making-of documentary, to introduce a wider view on the film's creation. A BBC documentary takes one of the Carver stories (the one with the cop, his wife, and the dog) and examines how it was transformed to one of the film's story. They've also put one documentary about Carver as well as an audio interview of his. Also, a glimpse on the creation of the music to which many notable musicians has contributed (U2's Bono and the Edge, Dr.John, Elvis Costello, etc) is provided with some demo-tapes of Dr.John. And to complete that, instead of just interviewing Altman, they put Altman and actor Tim Robbins (now also a fine director in his own rights) in conversation, in which Altman gladly admits the actors many contributions, like it was Robbins' idea to make Anne Archer's character a clown.

With virtually all the DVD studios immitating Criterion's long-term efforts since their Laser Disc days of adding extensive supplements and audio commentaries, Criterion seems to be challenging on a new setp: not just hailing the director=the auteur, but really getting into the creative process of a film in a sober, intellectual manner. The DVD of Renoir's RULES OF THE GAMES was a fine example, and this DVD, with apparently full collaboration and blessings of Altman is another.

The new Hi-Def transfer from the original, first-generation print is also beautifully done, and for SHORT CUTS, with it etxensive length of 3 hours and complex structure, not to forget that it is so rich with small details that one might miss at first viewing, the DVD format which permits us to watch the film repeatingly, is an ideal format. Robert Altman himself insists that, "if you have seen my film only once... well, you haven't really seen the movie yet. You only saw the story. I make my films so that it must be seen many time if you really like it."

One mystery is that, Altman, who has always provided audio commentary for Criterion's edition, didn't record a commentary for SHORT CUTS, though it's one of his favorites. Well, he didn't with the original Laser Disc edition either. I think I now understand why he didn't: because SHORT CUTS doesn't need an audio commentary, and also probably because he cannot, since it's also Raymond Carver's film for him. Maybe he thought putting the book with the film permits more understanding than he can ever talk about.

Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Edition of Short Cuts...
Review: This Criterion Collection edition of Short Cuts has everything anyone could possibly want about the movie and more...much more. Disc One contains the movie itself, which is strangely without a commentary track. Disc Two has all the extras - eight of them. Instead of the Director's Track, there is a new conversation with Altman and Tim Robbins, and two additional documentaries on the making of the film. The most valuable extras are those on Raymond Carver himself: there is a PBS documentary on his life and works, and an audio interview from 1983.

The most random extra included in this package is a paperback copy of the book Short Cuts, which is the collection of Carver's stories that Altman selected as the basis for the screenplay. I was a little put-out by this as I all ready owned the book. However, if you have not read the collection yet, I HIGHLY recommend. It is incredibly illuminating to read the short stories and compare them to the finished product of the movie. For one thing, it takes less time to read the book than it does to watch the movie. This is a LONG film - three hours. Ultimately, the film is more Altman's than Carver's. It is ironic that Carver - the master of the tightly crafted short story - should be the springboard for such a digressive film.


Rating:
Summary: A very special DVD event
Review: This is one of those instances where a film truly worthy of re-viewing and re-visiting from time to time is supplemented and complemented with outstanding support material. This Criterion Edition is of particular interest to film lovers, those interested in the literary adaptation process, actors, theatre lovers, screenwriters, teachers, music lovers (especially improvised music). Especially valuable insights from director Robert Altman and from the actors involved in the improvisatory nature of Altman's technique - freedom within tight directorial control. These are valuable and weell made documentaries. From the opening credits the viewer knows he is in the hands of a master film maker and the transfers are rich in colour with excellent definition. Faultless re-issue of a great film and again I wonder how the Leonard Maltin team can get a review so badly wrong when they allot SHORT CUTS two and a half stars. NASHVILLE, THE PLAYER and SHORT CUTS must be listed as three of the greatest American films.

Rating:
Summary: Short Cuts
Review: This movie is a real downer. It's a whole bunch of different intersecting stories that all end up badly except for maybe 2. It was interesting to watch (thank god, being as how it's over 3 hours), but overall, I felt it was definitely lacking.