Quentin Tarantino on Robert Altman

Quentin Tarantino reacts to the films of Robert Altman, including MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Brewster McCloud, Quintet, Nashville and Fool for Love.
Sources: Cinema Speculation, Pure Cinema Podcast, Austin Film Society, Brett Easton Ellis
Apple:
podcasts.apple...
Spotify:
open.spotify.c...
www.audible.ca...
Apple:
podcasts.apple...
Spotify:
open.spotify.c...
www.austinfilm...

[@SamL12345]

Love the Richard Linklater story, two great young filmmakers meeting by chance at a midnight showing of Altman's Nashville.

[@scotia7326]

Rest easy Mr. Sutherland

[@winstonwolf5706]

"I'm sorry, I'm white." -Donald Sutherland

[@roguetoken5640]

I need to hear QT talk about The Long Goodbye

[@Able406]

Cliff making his dog dinner has to be an homage to Elliot Gould feeding his cat, right?

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

Honestly the only Robert Altman movie I truly like, along with The Player. Elliot Gould is awesome in it.

[@spinin1251]

@@Able406 I just watched it and that was the first thought that came to my head

[@spinin1251]

@@dr.juerdotitsgo5119 As someone that also considers those his better movies, perhaps there is something to be said about Altman movies that have a crime mystery element to them. Maybe there is still something there to enjoy when the plot is tighter and it can't all be buried by his style.

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

@@spinin1251 Yes, maybe he got lucky with scripts that gave some backbone to his eccentricities. But personally I think that if Altman came out in any other era other than the 70s he would've been an obscure underground filmmaker. "New Hollywood" was the absolute peak of valuing style over substance, self-indulgence, and "burning the rule book" just for the heck of it, so he was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

[@ianrobinson4200]

Hard to believe he was watching these adult movies at 7 or 8, I didn't even think of watching anything other than kid's/blockbuster movies until I was teens at least

[@bigkraus1]

I remember seeing Brewster McLeod and being baffled and confused… I chalked it up to my young age later… But I’m pretty sure it is as weird and strange now… I’ve tried searching for it but only just now found it… Thank you, Quentin Tarantino!!!

[@deckofcards87]

My favorite Altman films are the surrealist ones; Images, The Long Goodbye, 3 Women. The Player is fantastic. Nashville I appreciate on many levels, the music is not one of them. I understand the songs are meant to be ironically cheesy but they take up a big portion of the running time.

[@hetmanjz]

Images is spectacular!

[@Able406]

Now you’ve gotta find Quentin Tarantino relaying his actual meeting with Robert Altman from the Brett Easton Ellis pod. Good luck though, I think it’s been pretty much wiped from the internet.

[@tairiqueellis4841]

whatd he say

[@Able406]

@@tairiqueellis4841 I haven’t ever actually found it or heard it personally. The ReelBlend has talked about it and I’ve read Reddit comments but my understanding is that Altman brushed him off, that he wasn’t particularly fond of Tarantino. Same with Kubrick. People have speculated that’s why Tarantino is always prickly when it comes to Altman now even though he clearly respects his films. He calls him a pothead and spent an entire chapter of his book trashing Bruster McCloud which is sampled here. I could be wrong though, like I said I haven’t actually heard it. Ellis removed it from his website and there doesn’t seem to be any trace of the recording online anymore. He also did a STARZ intro to McCabe and Ms Miller years ago that also seems to be lost

[@francescobenati2045]

@@Able406 (a quite prickly) Tarantino on McCabe an Mrs Miller is already on this channel

[@Able406]

@@francescobenati2045 yeah, that’s not the STARZ intro though. It’s just the same podcast that’s sampled here

[@masterofallgoons]

​@@Able406- I don't know about a meeting between the two, but Kubrick apparently loved Reservoir Dogs, and called Pulp Fiction one his favorite movies.

[@jadentrez]

Short Cuts is one of my favorite Altman movies.

[@kengruz669]

It pains me to hear Quentin dismiss and deride "McCabe & Mrs. Miller." It's a gorgeous film.

[@MrDonovon07]

I think he was talking about Nashville

[@MrDonovon07]

He's not a genius, but he knows film history well. I can confirm

[@platonicthrusting645]

I haven't seen it - nor any Altman film yet, but the clips shown indeed looked absolutely gorgeous. Wonderfully unique cinematography, with a glossiness shining over the earthy textures that seems like the perfect choice for a revisionist western deconstructing the mythos. I think I'll make it my first Altman

[@platonicthrusting645]

@@MrDonovon07 Nah it doesn't look like it because he went on to talk about the different actors in the film that did a good job and asking Warren Beaty if it's true he co-directed it

[@platonicthrusting645]

Also I think watching something on a bad print or in the wrong format or a cut can really taint something in your mind. It reminds me how Harrison Fords dispirited narration in the theatrical cut of Blade Runner totally disrupts the hypnotizing mood set up by the art direction and Vangelis score, to name one example. For some people it's hard to completely let go of the first impression. I'm curious what he means about the bad first 20 mins to the film, despite coming round to the rest of the movie

[@atomcraft4067]

RedLetterMedia just did a review of Popeye from 1980 with Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall. Such a weird choice for Robert Altman to direct.

[@footofjuniper8212]

I watched that one. They really shit on it. It was one of my childhood favorites, so it kind of stung for them to go after it like that.

[@Able406]

@@footofjuniper8212 something tells me Jay isn’t a hardcore Altman fan

[@juniorjames7076]

I'm GenX so I first saw Popeye (heavily edited for television) on NBC in the early 1980s. I was only 11 or 12 but I remember it was the first time I felt I was watching a masterpiece of comedy and performance that NOBODY was going to appreciate!! I have loved this film forever and it made me a life long fan of Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall at an early age. Williams and Duvall perform as if trained in the medieval European tradition of pantomime or troubadour clowns. Masterclass performances.

[@TheRealNormanBates]

@@footofjuniper8212 eh.. I don't think they "shat" on it. Jay was honest, and I frankly have to agree. Rich was more kind, probably due to it being one of his first movie experiences. If you like or love the film, okay! No shade or insult. I personally agree with Jay, as even the 11 year old me thought it was "Anti Popeye", having grown up watching the Popeye cartoons that played every weekday afternoon after getting home from school. Even so, all that matters is: is it on blu-ray, and will you purchase it? I realized having a minor argument with a friend over whether *The Terminator* or *Terminator 2* was the better film, that, in the end, all that matters is whether you are going to spend time and money on something or not. They both exist, so why argue?

[@TheeRobertPhoenix]

I was a little older than QT and I saw the exact same movies.

[@dafunkycanuck]

I just finished watching Brewster McCloud for the first time and though it was great.

[@johnedwards7088]

1968? The Love Bug was released in March of 1969

[@Able406]

😱 it had a limited release starting on December 24, 1968. Tarantino always goes by first public showing

[@ratfinkie62]

My dad took me to R rated drive in movies, and then he fell promptly asleep.

[@marccalhoun1901]

RIP Shelley Duvall

[@NoirFan84]

Yeah, I've thought about it over recent years about how modern audiences would be pretty disgusted by the treatment of Hot Lips in MASH. It would definitely be problematic if it was considered one of the more popular films from the 70s with audiences today. I rewatched Blume In Love fairly recently too & I had the same feelings about that

[@joebarr725]

It helps to understand that M*A*S*H takes place in the 1950's.

[@orpheus9037]

Watched MASH a few years back - I think audiences today would definitely find it sexist if not cruel to women. But 3 Women is a vastly more complicated and curious take on women - also a bit harrowing. That's a tough and challenging film to watch. Certainly one of Altman's more enigmatic films.

[@winstonwolf5706]

Oooo "problematic."

[@curiositytax9360]

It’s a film about the army for fuck sake in early 70’s. It goes easy on her compared to the reality.

[@shoesareverybad]

I think Tarantino correctly identified MASH as anarchistic rather than anti-war.

[@sssnacksss]

i love California Split. So much to love in the Altman catalog. GTFOutta QT.

[@waynej2608]

"I'll bet you twenty bucks that you can't name the seven dwarves".

[@orpheus9037]

Quentin: 3 Women? The Long Goodbye? More on Nashville?

[@darj617]

Nobody loves QT like QT himself

[@niteowl789]

Hey, he was a very sophisticated kid! His mom said so!

[@saintsalieri]

He's in his rambling boomer era which is no more or less annoying than any of his previous eras. Except his most recent movie was terrible.

[@Njbear7453]

What a list of 5 films !

[@CommieGobeldygook]

Fuck this noise, Brewster McCloud is awesome

[@petergivenbless900]

My story is the inverse of Quentin's; the first Robert Altman film I saw was 'Brewster McCloud' which I watched on TV late one night when I was 11 while my parents were out and I loved it! I could never quite get into watching 'M*A*S*H' however, despite also enjoying several other Altman films over the years (I even saw 'Popeye' in the theatre when it was released).

[@AdamDonaldson7272]

Agree ! my dad loved brewster mccloud

[@platonicthrusting645]

I haven't seen it yet but that camera work of the kid flying in the bird apparatus looked fucking dope

[@keaton718]

MASH is just plain funny. It doesn't feel like it should be funny, which probably makes it funnier.

[@spinin1251]

Altman has never been for me. The most difficult director for me to enjoy with films I would struggle to get into. But I definitely appreciated Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and The Player. It just took some work. With his other films, the amount of work I neede to do while watching them tended to outweigh any enjoyment.

[@matthealy907]

Buffalo Bill and the Indians is one of the worst things I've seen. Never understood Altman's status as a film maker.

[@Able406]

Have you seen California Split or The Long Goodbye?

[@spinin1251]

@@Able406 I just watched the Long Goodbye actually. It was pretty good, but again I felt like I wasn't getting whatever I'm supposed to get out of it. I don't mean the general story, filmmaking, cinematography, which had some great moments: his apartment, the girls next door, the different locations like the house on the beach, etc. It all had character. But a lot of it to me just feels very "so what" instead of "wow."

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

Don't go looking into his personal views or his comments after 9/11. He was a piece of shit and a hateful bastard. Absolutely no empathy whatsoever. Makes perfect sense why he didn't get to direct as many films as he wanted.

[@timmeadows970]

Love Brewster McCloud.

[@patrickthomas8890]

I grew up on the MASH show and was shocked to learn what Hotlips nickname meant. She told Frank Burns to kiss her hot lips while he was going down on her in the movie (don’t remember if the original book had the same scene)

[@johndurham6172]

I saw MASH and Patton in a drive-in double feature. Airport 🤔 it was probably loved for the time but hardly belonged with the classics today.

[@fabiobonetta5454]

A true cinematic Savant

[@greyinvader]

I wonder what Quentin thinks about Popeye.

[@TuongNguyen-hx3mh]

Thank Robert Altman for make America cinema great again.

[@ajplays-gamesandmusic4568]

This town looks like the same town they filmed Popeye The Movie in... and Robert Altman directed that too. @5:14

[@josiahscurlock]

I've been to the Popeye town. It's in Malta. They have to row you out there, but it still does a roaring tourist trade. Probably the most commercially successful aspect of that whole movie. And it pissed down with rain the whole time I was there, which seemed appropriate.

[@TheRealNormanBates]

@@josiahscurlock is it still gross and depressing looking, or did they snaz up the buildings and give them more brighter, lively colors?

[@josiahscurlock]

@@TheRealNormanBates My memory is that it's essentially as it was, although it has been a while. The "Wimpy Burger" I had was fairly disgusting, I remember that.

[@Barfyman362.]

I loved Brewster McCloud.

[@tonywords6713]

Brewster McCloud is fucking amazing

[@joegideon8461]

I was thinking, well, that's just your opinion, Quentin.

[@briano6115]

"... strong level of mediocrity ... " says it all :)

[@HorySmokes]

Can anyone hear what QT says about Warren B's quote re Julie Christie? The others start laughing over him, can't make it out.

[@Sean-ek5jz]

'you don't think that pot-head could have gotten a good performance out of Julie Christie, do you?'

[@mrtchadd]

What I love about Altman is how messy his filmography is. Amazing films, terrible films, all over the place films. Wild swings. Kind of the opposite philosophy of Tarantino. Altman wouldn't have thought twice about making the Film Critic movie.

[@The_Camera_Guy]

Altman already made it: The Player! QT wishes he could match Altman misanthropy

[@HoldenNY22]

I prefer the TV Series- MASH to the Movie- especially after Wayne Roger left the Series and it became more serious. I thought the Move was to Mean and Sadistic.

[@waynej2608]

I'm just the opposite. Loved the film, didn't care for the TV show, despite it's apparent popularity.

[@grodietroy]

he mad at a better director

[@palmereldritch7777]

Brewster mc Cloud is a masterpiece compared to The hateful eight and once Upon a time in Hollywood.

[@theodorerooseveltsantlers270]

1:56 Damn, Quentin's mom based af

[@WalterBurton]

👍👍👍

[@chadfredrick1519]

McCabe & Ms Miller is better than anything that Tarentino ever made. It's not even close. In fact Altman made more films better than Tarentino's entire filmography than the amount of films Tarentino's made. But it's true Quentin never made anything as bad as Quintet.

[@Enfield14]

You have no idea what you’re talking about Altman cared more about pot than directing good films it’s a fact

[@chadfredrick1519]

@Enfield14 Guess he was just the luckiest person of all time to accidentally make so many masterpieces. Everyone knows that no creative artist ever used drugs.

[@Enfield14]

@@chadfredrick1519 you stated altman made better films than tarantinos entire filmography when at least on the technical side compositions i mean how a movie flows from scene to scene OUATIH and the Hateful Eight are better than anything Altmans done but film bro posers think shitting on tarantinos filmography is flavor of the era Altman was a junkie who made a few all timers tarantino is a master just ask any of his peers

[@chadfredrick1519]

@Enfield14 I would never shit on Tarentino. I'm a fan of all his movies to some degree. His themes can be a little repetitive though. Most of his movies are some kind of riff on empowerment. I have to admit I've been somewhat disappointed in his career. While I find his movies immensely entertaining I think he could of had more diversity considering his immense talent. But I like him a lot. I just wish he would have took more risks. Revenge, while something he may wanted to investigate, and isn't an unworthy subject, I think his talent could of delved into more provocative territory. Altman may of been less talented but he took those risks and didn't have as much thematic simplicity. And it shows in his work because while I think he made 10 movies better than anything Tarantino made, I'd also say he probably made 10 movies worse than anything Tarentino made.

[@marcevan1141]

"McCabe and Mrs. Miller" is one of the most beautiful and original American films ever made.

[@60zeller]

Nashville is a very well made bunch of Nothing

[@Pnanasnoic]

May QT live a hundred years and sprinkle his cinema genius throughout my lifetime.

[@ursaminorjim]

Wow, Quentin. And you were *_eight?_* That's soooo cooooool! God, he's insufferable.

[@timmeadows970]

Watched all those movies when I was eight and I am cool.

[@TheRealNormanBates]

@@timmeadows970 I watched these movies when I was 18 and I am room temperature.

[@Dock76]

Man, Quentin hates Altman.

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

A lot of people do. The guy was an asshole and lacked any sort of empathy or compassion towards anyone. His comments after 9/11 were disgusting, ridiculing people for grieving the loss of so many, and mocking those that came together afterward. Just a hateful person. Makes a lot of sense why he couldn't get as much work as he wanted. Won't get to direct if you're constantly shitting on everyone.

[@bobmclennan1727]

MASH is the subject, but this is really just an excuse for the world's most self-centered filmmaker to talk about himself and about how cool he thinks he is.

[@douglaspouch5313]

Robert Altman is by far the worst director of that era. Watching Nashville, Popeye or Short Cuts is like nails down a blackboard during a migraine. maybe that's the point?

[@nobodynothing00000]

MASH is really mean spirited.

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

That's the real Altman spilling out. Hateful, spiteful, mean spirited, and lacking any empathy or compassion. Altman was a horrible person.

[@marcevan1141]

I can see your point. It's brilliant in some ways, but Altman made much better films later on.

[@mic187x2]

I found most Robert Altman movies to be pretentious.

[@kengruz669]

Sorta like your comment.

[@hetmanjz]

What are their pretensions? You need to be way more specific than that.

[@mic187x2]

@@hetmanjz His films were not as important or good as he and his supporters made them out to be. That's what made them pretentious.

[@scorpnov13]

Glad you’re quitting at 10 movies Quentin.

[@alexchernandez88]

interesting he cites sally Kellerman being exposed int the shower a highlight of Mash, That scene and the asian accent one are a couple of the worst moments in an otherwise classic film for me

[@dancochrane5577]

Very few comedies from back then hold up as funny. Watch Blazing Saddles and count how many times they do Heddy/Headly joke, which isn’t funny the first time. Young Frankenstein, Brooks never topped it.

[@alexchernandez88]

@@dancochrane5577 Another 2 classic comedies that sadly couldn't get made today. Although I cringe at a couple scenes in MASH, I prefer the freedom that filmmakers and comedians were given in screenplays/stand-up specials during the 'New Hollywood' period through the 80's in contrast to the current climate.

[@_scabs6669]

I don't want to hear another word about that bloodthirsty egotistical rip off Lame-antino

[@JustBeeCuzzz]

to understand what a load of crap hollywood is, just imagine that tarantino is considered a top tier director. hahaha.

[@andreiiancu2501]

Altman is good but soooo overrated

[@obsidiancrow450]

he's got some all timers but some stinkers as well. thats what seperates him from a scorcese, a kubrick and even tarantino. Mccabe and mrs. miller is one of my favorite movies of all time but tarantino is right. the first part of the movies mix is dog shit and not in a "oh he just wanted it to sound bad!" way

[@ZiggyPeterLewis]

@@obsidiancrow450 Apparently he just wanted us to be in there in a middle of a too crowded noisy place, and said that being a real democratic director was to let any actor have the same level of sound as Beatty the star. Not such a good idea, in the end, but it's part of the charm of the first half of New Hollywood momentum, experimentation and all, even with its flaws... I ended up after 4 watches to love that freaking movie...

[@obsidiancrow450]

@@ZiggyPeterLewis I mean I get the whole "talking over each other thing" but like its just literally not recorded or mixed well. Everything is incredibly faint and sounds like they just stuck the cheapest mic they could find in the room and shoved that into the film. im talking mainly about the first part in the bar when mccabe shows up and deals poker

[@ZiggyPeterLewis]

@@obsidiancrow450Yeah I know it's like the crash test of this movie, these first 15 minutes. Once you get in or through them, it's a great movie. I've been very very hard on Altman (specially the treatment of Terry Lennox in this god damn Long Goodbye or How I spit on you and your characters, Chandler), and I guess it's all a matter of taste and how many chances you give to a film, but I gave McCabe 4 shots, and on the fourth, it was all love, aaaaaaaaaaalllllllll soft and whispering Leonard Cohen loooooove, baby.