There is no mistaking it when you are watching a Robert Altman film. Even those who think they are unfamiliar with Altman’s work will pick up on the distinct style and feel that is shared throughout his movies. The overlapping dialogue, the large ensemble cast, and the immersive story are all telltale signs that Altman is at work.
Despite the similarities in his films, he managed to tell create an extremely versatile body of work throughout his iconic career. With his death in 2006, the world was sadly deprived of more films from Altman, but he left behind plenty of great work to remember him by. Here are Robert Altman’s best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Gosford Park (86%)
Given Altman’s love of ensemble films, a grand murder mystery seems like the perfect genre for him. Unsurprisingly, he brought a lot of class and beauty to this type of film in Gosford Park. The film shows the class divide that exists in an English country estate where the rich part guests, as well as the domestic staff, become suspects in a murder.
The movie boasts an incredible cast that includes Helen Mirren, Clive Owen and Maggie Smith to name but a few. The movie is also filled with clever humor and interesting commentary on the inequalities of its characters’ status.
Cookie’s Fortune (86%)
Altman previously tackled a murder mystery of sorts with Cookie’s Fortune, albeit with an interesting twist. Following the suicide of their matriarch, a well-respected Southern family attempts to cover up the scandal by staging a murder. This results in mayhem in the small town.
Altman once again takes a breezy and light approach to the story despite its darker elements. The exceptional cast brings their own charm to the story and the end result is a charming Southern caper with plenty of humor for its audience.
Vincent & Theo (88%)
Vincent Van Gogh has been the subject of many films that explore his tortured genius as an artist. Altman took a new approach to the story with Vincent & Theo which examines the relationship between Vincent and his brother Theo who supported his brother’s artistic pursuits and tried to find a market for his paintings to be sold.
Tim Roth and Paul Rhys star as the two Van Goghs and give powerful performances that bring this complex relationship to life. Altman also looks to recreate some of those famous paintings through his beautifully shot film.
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (88%)
Altman tried his hand at the Western genre with McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and as you can imagine, it made for a unique entry in the genre. The film stars Warren Beatty as a gambler and Julie Christie as a prostitute who form a business partnership in a remote mining town that draws a lot of attention.
Altman was beginning to cement his voice as a filmmaker with this revisionist Western tale. The film has since become a landmark in the genre as well as a stellar vehicle for Beatty and Christie who give outstanding performances.
California Split (88%)
Altman often likes to explore unique and sometimes seedy worlds through the eyes of interesting characters. In California Split, we are brought into the world of professional gambling as an amateur gambler befriends a pro. Soon the amateur begins following in his new friend’s footsteps, leading him further into this sleazy world.
Though it shares some of the dry wit present in much of Altman’s work, this is also one of the filmmaker’s most uncomfortable works. It is a fascinating and depressing look at the life of a compulsive and destructive gambler.
Nashville (91%)
Nashville is viewed as many to be one of the hallmark films of the 1970s as well as one of Altman’s finest films. The large ensemble film is set in the busy days leading up to a large country music concert, following the various characters involved behind the scenes and on the stage.
The movie has a massive epic feel that gives it an amazing energy. It also speaks directly to the views of the time while also remaining fairly relatable today with its message of cynicism and the American dream.
3 Women (94%)
Altman’s films of the 1970s were often challenging and ambitious projects with 3 Women being a standout among them. Sissy Spacek stars as an awkward teen who begins working at a spa in a California desert town. She soon befriends a lonely woman named Millie (Shelley Duvall) and they form a bizarre relationship with each other.
Critics praised the work of the actors in the film as well as Altman for constructing this tense mystery. They pointed to the film as a bold exploration of womanhood in this era while also keeping the audience on their toes with where the story would lead.
Short Cuts (95%)
Short Cuts is one of Altman’s most sprawling films and features one of his largest and most impressive casts, including Tim Robbins, Julianne Moore, and Robert Downey Jr. among many others. The film tells a series of small tales about various characters living in Los Angeles and dealing with their relationships.
The movie’s massive cast and multiple storylines prove to be ambitious yet Altman somehow keeps everything interesting and entertaining while tying it all together in a satisfying way in the end.
The Long Goodbye (97%)
The Long Goodbye is based on Raymond Chandler’s iconic mystery novel, yet Altman manages to bring it to life while infusing some of his own style into the famous story. Elliott Gould stars as the famous private detective Phillip Marlowe who, after helping his friend out of a jam, finds himself mixed up in a murder.
Critics called the movie a cool and stylish mystery that perfectly fits the tone of Chandler’s work. They also acknowledged that Altman brings a special flair to the story which results in a unique and special film with separates itself from the rest of the noir genre.
The Player (98%)
It’s clear from much of Altman’s work that he has a certain view of show business that might not always be so positive. This outlook is brought to life wonderfully in the Hollywood satire, The Player. Tim Robbins stars as a self-involved studio executive who begins getting death threats from an unknown enemy.
Critics called the film hilariously cynical without being weighed down by bitterness. The massive ensemble featuring endless A-list cameos makes it feel like a true yet surreal Hollywood tale.
