Altman

People often forget that Robert Altman was 45 when MASH (1970) transformed him from a jobbing director to a beloved maverick. Suddenly, critics were talking about an "Altmanesque" mix of roving cameras, large ensembles and overlapping dialogue. But none of these traits was new and they didn't always guarantee success. Indeed, Altman spent long periods in the doldrums after his 1970s heyday and he only returned to form late in his career. These peaks and troughs have been ably explored in print, but are largely skirted in Ron Mann's sanitised and rather superficial, family-approved profile. However, he does make fine use of private sources and clips from Altman's lesser works to show how his distinctive style evolved and how trenchant he was in his mistrust of the Hollywood studio system. Countless guests offer their views, while the man himself provides some choice archival insights. But, while this makes a decent introduction to a principled artist and major force in contemporary American cinema, it leaves far too many gaps about his personal and professional exploits for it to be considered definitive.