Short Cuts (1993)

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Directed by Robert Altman.

Starring Anne Archer, Bruce Davison, Robert Downey, Jr., Peter Gallagher, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Lyle Lovett, Andie MacDowell, Frances McDormand, Matthew Modine, Julianne Moore, Chris Penn, Annie Ross, Lori Singer, Madeleine Stowe, Lili Taylor, Fred Ward, Buck Henry, Jack Lemmon, Huey Lewis, Tim Robbins, Lily Tomlin, Tom Waits.

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Based on stories by Raymond Carver, Short Cuts follows 22 Los Angeles residents whose lives intersect over the course of a few days. Ann and Howard Finnegan (Andie MacDowell and Bruce Davison) are preparing for their son Casey's birthday party when the boy is injured in an auto accident and falls into a coma. Meanwhile, Andy (Lyle Lovett), a baker, seethes with anger over the birthday cake that wasn't claimed, and Howard's father, Paul (Jack Lemmon), decides that a visit with his ailing grandson is a good time to discuss his infidelities. Lois (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a new mother who watches over her baby when not making money doing phone sex, which bothers her husband, Jerry (Chris Penn), though he knows they need the money. Pilot "Stormy" Weathers (Peter Gallagher) takes a very literal approach to dividing up community property with his ex-wife (Frances McDormand). Doreen (Lily Tomlin) is trying on to hold her marriage with Earl (Tom Waits), who is a good man on the rare occasions that he's sober. Zoe (Lori Singer), a classical musician, is trying to find some way to connect with her mother, Tess (Annie Ross), a jazz singer. Dr. Ralph Wyman (Matthew Modine) and his wife, Marian (Julianne Moore) put their bickering on hold while they have dinner with another couple, Stuart and Claire Kane (Fred Ward and Anne Archer). Stuart and his pals Gordon and Vern (Buck Henry and Huey Lewis) earlier went on a fishing trip where they discovered the body of a drowned woman but decided not to report it until the end of the weekend. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert A ...
by Risselada in Risselada Blog

loved it.

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"Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver CountryThis was one of the special features on the Criterion Collection DVD release of Short Cuts. Not too much to say about it, but it was comprehensive and had interesting conversations with the actors, Carver's widow, and Altman. An interesting look into how this movie got made and Atlman's approach.Rating: 8/10 " [More]

movie year countdown #14 - 1993 ...
by Risselada in Risselada Blog

loved it.

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"This blog entry is part of my “movie year countdown”. To read more about that check out my first Spout filmblog entryShort CutsI'd seen two other Altman movies before this. I loved The Player but M*A*S*H was not quite as great as I was hoping. I knew I was taking a risk on a movie nearly 3 hours long, but luckily it was fantastic.While they are definitely two different approaches, the movie uses it's huge cast with unusual connections successfully in the same way as Magnolia. I think that Magnolia is the improvement, but in a way you should not compare them. I'd never read any of Raymond Carver's writings, but would be interested after this.As a movie fan though I think the most initially overwhelming and impressive thing about this movie is the cast list. As you are watching the opening titles and the names just keep coming at you like an unstoppable barrage you aren't quite sure what to think. A lot of movies with a huge cast of celebrities ... " [More]

Re: Most are unsure if they lik ...
by lukasblu in Real movies

loved it.

"i saw all 3 of the above Alejandro González Iñárritu films ,i personally love Amores perros (2000),21 grams ,it was o.k. and as for Babel (2006),it was my least liked of the three.Babel was a bit too long and too slow;( i get the meaning and the symbolism of the movie BUT the movie is still too long and drawn out) much prefer somethimg lighter like Short Cuts (1993); Innaritu did executive produce a womens- like- version of short cuts(without the $20 bill being passed on) called Nine Lives (2005);i would like to see Nine Lives;Have u seen it?? " [More]

Re: Favorites
by Risselada in British Invasion

loved it.

"I actually just saw Short Cuts for the first time two nights ago. I don't think it is at all exaggerating or exploiting what is fundamentally American, but I do think it may come close to genuinely capturing it. " [More]

M*A*S*H
by HairyLime in HairyLime Blog

liked it.

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"In a discussion group recently the topic of 'book adaptations' has been brought up, and while I was watching this last night it occurred to me that this one is another good example of a successful 'book to movie' transformation that is neither too literal of a rote retelling, and stands on its own as a film.Caught the final third of this one a couple weekends ago while flipping channels, and then watched the rest of the movie yesterday evening. Not the first time I'd seen it (I've actually lost count how many times), and it struck me how very fresh and innovative it still seems 30 plus years after the fact. There wasn't really anything like it seen before, with its overlapping dialog, meandering storyline and counter-cultural viewpoints.Those brought up on the television series may find the flavor a little hard to digest, no neatly tied up plotlines, no laugh track, a subtler brand of humor.Gould and Sutherland are a great pairing, and would go on to cos ... " [More]

Movie year countdown viewing pr ...
by Risselada in Risselada Blog

loved it.

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"Here’s the dilemma. I have a list of well over three thousand movies I want to see saved on IMDB. I have a subscription to Netflix and recently every time I return a DVD it has been an extremely arduous task to make the decision as to which movie I should see next. In an effort to narrow down my choices and make the process of choosing slightly less overwhelming I have devised a system, almost a bit of a game for me. Here’s how it goes.For my first film selection, I have narrowed the options down to only films that were released in the year 2006. Then after I have watched that movie, my next selection would have to be a film released in 2005. Then I would see a film from 2004, then 2003, etc. The process of deciding is still laborious, but actually quite a bit more exciting. (I'm going by IMDB as my source for release years)I have already been making a list and have also already begun watching the films. I decided this might be a good time to start fooling ... " [More]

R.I.P.
by i-heart-art in i-heart-art Blog

loved it.

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"I am generally not as sad when I hear news of someone dying at a ripe old age (generally anywhere near or over 80), especially if they had fame/fortune or in some other way lived a full and fulfilling life. However, I cannot help but be sad when a great talent shuffles off of this mortal coil. I'm not sure if I really have anything to blog about Short Cuts at this time, except that I think that it was the first Altman film that really grabbed my attention and made me cognizant of him, once I was old enough to be aware of the director's role in the filmmaking process and I began becoming more of a fan of specific directors than actors. " [More]

Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

loved it.

A dazzling and dizzying adaptation of short stories by Raymond Carver, Short Cuts ranks with the finest work of Robert Altman's career; it's the sort of sprawling but intimate character piece for which he became known with such earlier classics as MASH (1970), Nashville (1975), and The Player (1992). While Altman's busy, overcrowded style might not seem a good match for Carver's clean lines and minimalist prose, Altman demonstrates an intuitive feel for the sleazy underside of Los Angeles (relocated from the Pacific Northwest in the original stories) that Carver's characters call home, and, like Carver, he knows how to let his characters express themselves with small gestures that say more than long speeches. The stories wind around each other with just enough connecting threads to hold the tapestry together. And as is his hallmark, Altman has assembled a superb cast and given them plenty of room to work; Jack Lemmon's monologue about cheating on his wife may be one of the finest dramatic moments of his career, and celebrated jazz singer Annie Ross creates an unforgettable portrait of a woman lost in her music. Short Cuts is the work of a master filmmaker in full command of his craft, and it's so absorbing that at the end of its three-hour running time, you may find yourself wishing you could spend even more time with these characters. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

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