the films of Robert Altman (ranked)

[@ManCarryingThing]

Hey everyone, Nadia wasn't feeling great so she let me steal the channel again. we'll both be back next week with Puss in Boots most likely :)

[@camelopardalis84]

Your finances are none of my business, of course, but does it make more financial sense for you two (or one of you) to post this video on her channel or is this more/simply about wanting to have this video on this channel because it was originally planned to be put on this channel? Not complaining or anything, and also not asking for advice on how to run a KZbin channel. I am just curious.

[@caiusactinunwise1412]

@@camelopardalis84 this is just the channel focused on film/shows reviews, whereas Jake's 'Man Carrying Thing' is mostly memes and sketches + everything books related. So, I suppose he wants to have it nicely organised and arranged in order.

[@camelopardalis84]

@@caiusactinunwise1412 I forget that Jake's own channel isn't sketches and stories (like books, films and t.v. shows) but just sketches and books, and that Nadia's channel here (I think it's at least mainly just hers, and not completely theirs together, but I don't know) is about films and t.v. shows.

[@sisterwendybeckett1983]

Hey I really enjoyed this ranking video, I'd really be interested in seeing once you've caught up with the rest of his filmography, what your opinion of the rest of the films are as well. Health, OC and stiggs, Quintet, fool for love, that cold day in the park, images, countdown, Dr T and the women, cookies Fortune, a perfect couple, the gingerbread man, pret a porter, beyond therapy, the james Dean story, streamers, aria, basements, the laundromat, Tanner 88 and especially Kansas City!!

[@lukelinder7667]

As a fellow Altman fiend, I approve this list. 3 Women is my second favorite movie of all time. Please move Images (1972) to the top of whatever movie-watching queue you have. It has the surrealism of 3 Women but goes full tilt into psychological horror.

[@odinforfang8573]

What's your #1 then?

[@sethluke7341]

love this, been wanting to get more into altman for a while and this is one of the few videos on youtube that provides a good overview. love how you talk about what you’re passionate about and not just what is popular/gets views

[@gregorydavidson2744]

I’ve only seen The Player (great movie) and The Long Goodbye (in my Top 20 favorites). Thanks for recommending more! It’d be cool to see you and Nadia run through more directors’ filmographies

[@johnhein2539]

MASH's "problematic" elements are what help make it an enduring classic. They're not just hippies rebelling against the establishment, they're demonic clowns tormenting an establishment that never had a chance. That shot of Robert Duvall through the fire cutting to Sutherland and Elliot coldly walking on seemed to establish that. It's maybe the first black comedy to insult religion that intensely. It's pretty much a South Park level black political comedy made for 1970, which actually makes it even more pitch black. To call it problematic is to kind of admit it was too much for you, and that's alright. To me, the only thing bringing it down is the football game at the end, it seemed to belong elsewhere.

[@C.G.Jr.]

BASED. Any video that mentions The Player is automatically BASED AND TRUTHPILLED

[@notveryniceatall]

Cringe

[@notveryniceatall]

Cringe

[@romanclay1913]

While at UCLA, my girlfriend heard from her friend that MCCABE & MRS. MILLER was an interesting film. We drove 30 miles and saw it’s last screening on its last night at the second-run State Theatre in Pasadena. There were only 2 others in the auditorium. We were blown away. It was like seeing the unveiling of a masterpiece. As we left the theatre, a worker was up on a ladder removing the M-C-C-A-B-E red plastic letters from the theatre's marquee. Thank you Robert Altman, Julie Christie and Warren Beatty. The GF became and remains my wife. She doesn't remember that night at all.

[@garyshipes8827]

Just excellent stuff. You really get what makes Altman stand apart. His movies are so diverse and people seem to want the same thing over and over. Some of us simply don;t. My fave Altman films are his orphans... A Perfect Couple, HEALTH and A Wedding (so glad you gave it some love) I enjoy your channel!

[@yo26721]

Oh man the ending of McCabe & Mrs. Miller is so unforgettable

[@shawnxevious5470]

Huge props for Nashville at the top of the list. I'm not even a country music fan at all, but this movie is just fantastic from beginning to end and is really a good representation of what makes Altman great. There's so many subtleties to the relationships, like Haven's crush on Barbara Jean. 3 Women comes in second for me.....extremely underated masterpiece.

[@clumsydad7158]

gotta be Nashville, but yeah

[@michaelmacaulay7808]

Images deserves a high spot - it's a fantastic film and Altman keeps his signature style with a minimal cast too.

[@maxdunning8316]

I highly recommend his film Dr.T and The Women to anyone who is a fan of Altman’s films. It’s fantastic!

[@MichelNJoia]

Have not seen many altman films, but my favorite, and I keep thinking back on It, it's "the long goodbye".

[@jamie-sims]

We watched Nashville in my film club and everyone was immediately sold on Altman. It's surprising that Nashville is as good as it is, if that makes sense. Like a nearly 3 hour movie with no central plot and two dozen protagonists - and we all loved it. Usually a film as unusual as that would be divisive - some people would love it, some would hate it, some would find it too long or confusing or unfocused. But no, everyone was just universally like this is amazing.

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

McCabe and Mrs. Miller had been my favorite movie for many decades. It's only slightly above some of Altman's others for me, but one of the factors is Vilmos Zsigmond, who also shot The Long Goodbye.They're probably the two best-looking movies Altman ever made. I liked Gosford Park more than you did -- but I'm into British country house murder mysteries. If you've only seen it once, see it again. It's designed to work differently the second time through. Of the ones you haven't seen, I'd recommend Kansas City as the best. Incredible music (a lot of the top jazz musicians in the world are in it), and a story that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but ends up in a very specific place. And, yes, Three Women is his David Lynch film.

[@mikefallopian3191]

Mine too. My two favorite movies, by anyone, are McCabe and Mrs. Miller and All That Jazz

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

I absolutely love Robert Altman. He's such a maverick filmmaker. I've never really ranked his work but here's what i got so far: 15. Brewster McCloud 14. Vincent and Theo 13. A Wedding 12. Buffalo Bill and the Indians 11. Gosford Park 10. Images 9. The Player 8. MASH 7. Thieves Like Us 6. California Split 5. 3 Women 4. Short Cuts 3. The Long Goodbye 2. McCabe and Mrs. Miller 1. Nashville

[@rumplestiltskins7590]

I’d like to see something like this for Paul Thomas Anderson, just cause you mention Magnolia a few times and I’ve been watching all of his films recently.

[@pyaepaing1295]

love you guys' videos (both about books and movies). I would love to see you guys do more of these ranking in the future. it's also strange because I was just going through some of Altman's work and this popped up.

[@mattkean1128]

Your intro always reminds me of the cover for Baron Wenckheim's Homecoming by Laszlo Krasznahorkai.

[@clumsydad7158]

haha, pretty deep cut reference, nice

[@KneeAches]

I was at the first (partial) screening of 3 Women and was able to ask Altman a couple questions. After McCabe he became my top director for years.

[@miltiadisathanasiou4058]

The long goodbye deserves to be higher

[@JefferyEPetrone]

Got to see "Theives Like Us" on 35mm recently, and it's really interesting seeing Altman adapt the same novel as Nicholas Ray did with "They Live By Night". Shelley Duvall is quite good, and loved seeing Keith Carradine not long after "Emperor Of The North Pole".

[@moogie242x]

I love BREWSTER MCCLOUD. I Altman said it was his favorite. Definitely requires more than one viewing. 3 WOMEN is a masterpiece. Shelly Duvall should have won an Oscar for her performance. I got to see SHORT CUTS on opening day , a lot happening there.

[@lucasbertsche3710]

I’ve had some Altman films on my watchlist for forever now, and this finally motivated me to watch them lol. I checked out the Long Goodbye and Nashville. Ordered the Short Cuts criterion too because I’m a huge Magnolia fan

[@johns123]

Love Altman, currently on a kick. My favorites are McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Brewster McCloud, California Split, and 3 Women

[@JAYJAY-x5o]

I've been an Altman fan forever. I was too nervous the night I met him, even with booze. I think that That Cold Day in the Park and Countdown -- 2 of his pre-MASH films --are so forgotten as to be underrated. And I think his reviled Beyond Therapy (his film being all I've ever seen of this play) is formally arresting, so underrated. Watch Quintet on a hot summer day with your brain turned off, a beautiful film to drift off to, so underrated. Kansas City has an incredible sense of place, Altman's hometown, the specificity and realism are incredible, so underrated. All his film's have something to discover, even the failures. And failures, as a general rule, are frequently far more rewarding and even more fascinating, than many successes. But in Altman's case, his top five are masterpieces because he risked tipping over into failure. He cut his teeth on TV and got a lot of practice. His films can be very different and he had so much technical skill that he could be intuitive like few directors would ever be allowed today, especially at his budgets People don't mention the technical expertise , as they do with Kubrick, but Altman couldn't have been Altman without just as much.

[@peanutbutteroven2660]

Well now you gotta rank David Lynch's filmography

[@timtrek]

Seeing Brewster McCloud at 22 was life changing for me..the sheer strangeness, cynicism, depth and bizarre cast of characters.. it awoke something very deep inside me.. it's saying something about society, conformity, the quest for transcendence, being an outsider, the mystical path, self betrayal, how the world corrupts.. whilst also being a ridiculous caper, murder mystery and bird lecture .. and in the end what a circus show it all is.. a truly unique film

[@aaronstark5060]

It’s interesting that you made that comment about not having to like country music to like Nashville. I dragged my feet on seeing it for a long time because I hate country, but I eventually watched it and it deserves every bit of praise that’s been heaped on it. I also like you mention that people who DO like country felt attacked. I can see why they might feel that way, but Altman was using that scene as a backdrop. He could have easily set it in the San Francisco rock scene or New Orleans jazz scene and not much would have changed.

[@nedd.8479]

Of his films that I've seen: 1 - The Long Goodbye 2 - 3 Women 3 - The Player 4 - Images 5 - M*A*S*H 6 - Come Back To The 5 & Dime 7 - Short Cuts 8 - A Prairie Home Companion 9 - Nashville 10 - HealtH 11 - Gosford Park 12 - That Cold Day In The Park 13 - McCabe & Mrs Miller 14 - Brewster McCloud 15 - Quintet

[@brokendoorknob3448]

awesome! i love how you put how you used to respect directors who seemed to have a command over the frame. very apt and i think what most people imagine when they think of what makes a good director. but altman is one of my favorites and i think has a command over the film in a different way that is no altogether dissimilar to someone like kubrick. I'd be curious to hear more about your opinion on other New Hollywood directors or films in general. it's my favorite era of hollywood. (i love sidney lumet, who i think a lot of people write off as a populist director so his specific greatness tends to get overlooked)

[@kenthartman4473]

Every single favorite was mine. Nice to have that validation. Thanks!

[@fredrik241]

Thanks for this run-through am gonna catch up now on my Altman. McCabe & Mrs Miller is one of my favorites I'm even trying to put together a little thing about the background of the film set in Vancouver and a wooden bench that got made for me.

[@bacarandii]

I think "A Wedding" is one of Altman's less inspired movies, but I think the joke at the Cannes press conference was Altman off-handedly suggesting that maybe he'd try hiring himself out as a wedding photographer next. Maybe the self-deprecating humor didn't translate into French? I interviewed him several times over the years, and one time I had just returned from a long trip to Europe and mentioned how I loved being in places where no English was spoken because there was so much nonsense that you simply didn't have to overhear. The inventor of the Lion's Gate multi-track sound system got all excited and said he felt the same way -- saying he'd lived in Paris for years and never learned French because it was so much easier to turn out the noise that way! (Maybe the best thing about "A Wedding" is that it inspired Krzysztof Zanussi to make "Contract" in response -- his way of showing how he thought it should have been done. THAT is a great movie.)

[@Slowdive52]

The Long Goodbye makes an amazing double feature with Cassavetes' The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

[@mackereltacos2850]

Have you seen any films from Altman's protégé Alan Rudolph? He was assistant director for The Long Goodbye and Nashville, and later Altman produced many of his films. One big difference between Altman and Rudolph is that Rudolph is way more romantic (some say sentimental), but there's still lots of comedy at play. Choose Me and Trouble in Mind are some of his best. Just completely underrated imo!

[@womancarryingman]

no, i'll check them out!

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

my favorite Alan Rudolph movie is Remember My Name with Geraldine Chaplin and Anthony Perkins. Not always easy to find though it recently was on one of the streamers.

[@visualizeprog2874]

My top 5 Altman films that I've seen 1) Nashville 2) M*A*S*H* 3) Short Cuts 4) The Player 5) Dr. T and the Women Didn't love "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" as much as most Altman fans I must amit...and I think it's important not to judge movies made in the 60s, 70s and 80s through the lens of today's PC cultural values where everything is "phobic" or an "ism". i.e. "M*A*S*H" is set in the Korean War of the 1950s (though the look of it with hairstyles, etc. seems more late 1960s Vietnam). Altman actually toned down the racism & sexism of the time period. In reality, despite an executive order by Pres. Truman that desegregated the Army on paper, by the accounts of those who were there the Army remained very much segregated during the Korean war (pre MLK & civil rights). But the movie portrays a black (ex-pro football player) officer/neurosurgeon staying in the same tent and being an equal (or superior) of white officers. This is a total fiction that seems to go unmentioned by most fans of the movie and T.V. show. The audiences of Altman's early days would most likely not have wanted to watch a more realistic portrayal of the Korean War area military - so they get a historically inaccurate & funnier story instead. The "modern audiences" of today who want movies that will portray decades past as fitting into with their current political & cultural views will never see anything portrayed accurately, and that's unfortunate.

[@Flike245]

Thieves Like Us would definitely be in my top 5. Maybe you need to understand the context that it's a remake of a Nicholas Ray film called We Live By Night. The Ray film is very tender and romanticized, while Altman's dour take strikes me as much more realistic. The corruption of their criminal lifestyle ultimately poisons everything about them.

[@Xylus.]

Altman! Nice. I don't ever see anyone making Altman lists, so this is refreshing

[@WorkingPoorFilms]

You hit the three bigs ones: McCabe, California Split, and The Long Goodbye. I think "Thieves Like Us, is very strong too. I think "Images" (another shot by Vilmos Zingmond is very cool if a minor horror story. Read Kael on "The Long Goodbye.I'll defend the much hated "Quintet" too (to a degree). And Brester McCould has it's moments too...

[@Flipty18]

love Altman movies, love when anyone talks about Altman movies

[@princeranjan3439]

Hey, I have an awesome idea. How about you rank Hayao Miyazaki movies.

[@KneeAches]

From someone who saw these as they came out: 1.McCabe, 2.Long Goodbye, 3. Mash, 4. The Player, 5. 3 Women, 6. Nashville…….

[@yournamehere6002]

What do you think of this guy calling MASH racist and sexist and CALIFORNIA SPLIT transphobic?

[@miltiadisathanasiou4058]

I’ve just recently watched long goodbye and McCabe and Mrs miller and they’re two best films I’ve ever seen.

[@vicenteortegarubilar9418]

Now you have my attention, I mean you always have it, but still...I love it. I wish Nadia the best.

[@jcc6913]

This was Unexpected but still pretty great

[@gregorydavidson2744]

Make a video on Paul Thomas Anderson next! (if you want to)

[@brandonwinchester4564]

Yessss one of my favorite directors

[@lonestar6709]

M.A.S.H is a little low here, dude. I still think it's one of the zaniest, irreverent and ingenious comedies, ever made. 14 directors were fired from it. 14! Only Robert Altman could have pulled it off. A minor miracle, of a film.

[@gooddog2001]

I loved THE LONG GOOD-BYE.

[@TheActualCathal]

MASH has a lot more in common with Animal House than anyone seems to notice.

[@dalegriffin6768]

My favorite film director, especially his 70's films,Macabe & Mrs Miller was a masterpiece, probably my favorite film, Brewster McCloud was bizarre but was so different,no film has ever been made like that one, Nashville is a classic,and 3 women was very bizarre,but i liked it because it's different and i like different,i found out today Shelly Duvall died and she was in 7 of his films

[@ogto]

finally, a fellow Altman lover but ALSO mash hater. loved the TV show, love Altman, HATED the movie... And Nashville is a masterpiece. but The Player is probably my favorite overall

[@carolfromhr9900]

Exact same way here. Love Altman and the show, but the movie is unwatchable.

[@123four...]

I love Mccabe and Mrs. Miller, really deserves more attention

[@lazyhead4382]

can we stop with the "problematic" bullshit. stop with the trigger warning nonsense

[@HankBukowski]

Talks about how good one movie depicts mental illness but warns us about how others portray mental illness.

[@noahjulia8342]

Where did you watch A Wedding? I am literally unable to find it anywhere

[@womancarryingman]

i think i rented it from the public library a long time ago - in san francisco

[@noahjulia8342]

@@womancarryingman I’m in Washington and there is plenty of random shit in our libraries so I got to dig around.

[@NoahIsThaGOAT]

You can find almost all of Robert Altman’s movies on Internet Archive

[@BrutalistJr]

I thought 3 Women was very clearly his attempt at doing the Bergman thing: playing somewhat unsubtly with the symbols of classic analytical psychology. it's very easy to digest the film thru the lens that each of the women operates as a layer within a single individual's psyche. like the Jungian concepts of conscious/subconscious/unconscious, or perhaps Freud's model. sounds clinical or tedious maybe, but it really isn't. it's a very powerful film.

[@marlowemitchell3557]

Images is one of his best. You've gotta check it out

[@comrademax57]

maaan I still haven't seen The Player

[@Altairkin]

Yes, great director. Nashville in my top 5 favorite movies. Surprised you haven't watch Images.

[@smartestprimate5213]

2:30 before an actual movie is named. By that time I assumed this was satire and the Man had never actually watched an Altman movie. Lol

[@ZacharyWeaver-rc8xc]

I fucking love M*A*S*H but I get where you’re coming from.

[@shawnxevious5470]

M*A*S*H is hilarious. I just watched it recently and the chemistry between the characters is awesome. You can skip the 11 seasons of the show and just watch this for the best parts. And yeah it's a bit sexist and racist, but respect the time period bro. They didn't live through your modern lens, and these movies are a representation of the what it was like then.

[@EthanButler]

I will suggest the show MASH. It was actually incredibly progressive for the time and besides a few episodes that feel a little dated, i think it ages like fine wine. The way it tackles warfare, racism, sexism, gun control and all that shit was just incredibly empathetic, especially considering it was made in the 70s and 80s, when that type of content was considered taboo. The film is very juvenile but the show is very different imo. Check it out sometime.

[@colonelweird]

I've loved Short Cuts and Magnolia for years, but it never occurred to me to put them together before - it makes sense. I need to watch them both again. But this reminds me - wasn't there a wave of "L.A. stories" in the 90s, about normal people, or people in or near show biz? The Player and Short Cuts were two of the best. I think Steve Martin did a couple movies like that, and Grand Canyon was another (which I loved then, but now it's pretty dated). (Oops, Martin was in Grand Canyon, I see now.) Nashville and McCabe & Mrs. Miller are movies I watched with the feeling that I'm just not getting the point. I could tell they were doing something great, but most of it went over my head. And all the mumbled dialogue drove me nuts. I should try again.

[@gooddog2001]

In the LONG GOOD-BYE it was quirky. Most people hated it. I loved it. Marlowe was a flawed person with admirable qualities. I'd like to see a lot more nonformula experimental stories. Guys take a risk like Robert Altman.

[@peterjohnson5871]

Glad to see Nashville at number 1. One of my favorite films.

[@henrygaspari]

So much going on in Nashville, gets better with each viewing, and its almost 50. One of the greatest films of all time. Altman no 1 without a doubt

[@clumsydad7158]

i'm no expert on Altman, neither a huge fan ... but i do own and enjoy Prairie Home Companion with multiple viewings ,,, and of course enjoy Nashville

[@KneeAches]

Seriously? If accurately portraying men as they were (are) in the military is sexist so be it. I am having trouble coming up with racist for MASH. How? California Split routine of having fun with a man dressed as a woman, during that time period, seems more enlightened than against any group of people. SORRY we can’t joke about anything without people being offended.

[@Boonehams]

Wait, did you miss Prêt-à-Porter or did I?

[@susanamercadoperez7117]

Didn't you forget Images ? Not for nummer 1 (for me it is The Long Goodby) but defenitly top 10

[@Bushranger28]

How could leave out Cookie's Fortune? 👎 Easily in the top 5 of his films

[@dalegriffin6768]

3 Women had to be David Lynch's favorite film

[@nl3064]

I'm not a huge fan of Altman, but I do love McCabe (my favorite Western) and really enjoy MASH. For me, 1. McCabe & Mrs. Miller 2. MASH 3. Nashville (?) (I remember Nashville being a pretty decent movie, but never really felt like rewatching it) 4. Short Cuts 5. The Player (Didn't Care much for it) 6. The Long Goodbye (Ditto) (All six of the above are included among the 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die) and 7. Gosford Park (so fucking boooooring)

[@moveonfastfast]

THREE WOMEN 💚💛❤️

[@MrJoebuck74]

Brewster McLoud 10 out of 10 Popeye 1 out of 10....and I said it all

[@drainel9707]

How are you gonna rank them when you havent even seen them all? Also Come Back to the Five and Dime is one of his best!

[@JAYJAY-x5o]

I think the juvenile hijinks in MASH are kind of the point considering the context. Also, you woke kids (I'm being funny, I'm pre-woke woke myself.) are constantly going off on old films for not being appropriately p.c. But shouldn't films reflect the times? Reflect the culture, warts and all? I feel younger generations might be stifling the more provocative art smart people could use more of with these sort of criticisms. And I hear this stuff all the time, you aren't the only one.

[@naserbaby4537]

Nice director!

[@lazyhead4382]

Jimmie Dean is a great movie.

[@gelmibson883]

Never knew whats the deal was with Altman. He made one relavant movie.

[@EntertainmentKorner]

yeah bro you lose me at that "transphobic" shit. now nothing you say means jack shit to me

[@say6607]

streamers is also good

[@boogieboots]

you might even say it was "a total MASH success"

[@tg995nation6]

Let me say I don't like Nashville. MASH, McCabe and Mrs. Miller. The Company for a latter film. California Split3 Women