Robert Altman is not the only filmmaker to ever craft meandering movies, the kind populated by characters whose lives intersect in subtle ways. But he may have been the best. The celebrated director often took what some would describe as "small pictures" (read: ones that focuses on the minutiae of daily life) and turned them into epics. He did it with his 1975 opus, "Nashville," and again with 1993's "Short Cuts," a three-hour-plus journey into the lives of 22 L.A. residents that gets a Criterion Collection re-release ($29.95) today on DVD.
Yes, I said re-release. Those of you who already own the 2004 Criterion Collection version of the film can plan to save a few much-needed dollars because this DVD won't provide anything you don't already have. In fact, because it's being pushed into the marketplace at a reduced price (the '04 copy retailed at $39.95), it actually comes with less; a book of short stories by Raymond Carver, whose work inspired "Short Cuts," accompanied the original but is not part of the new set. (The older version is still available via some online retailers and, of course, on e-Bay.)
I rarely criticize the good people at Criterion, a company known for its exceptional DVD releases of seminal cinematic works. But I am a little disappointed that this "Short Cuts" doesn't include a single new extra. Since Altman died in 2006, I had hoped for a retrospective on his career or -- since this year marks the 15th anniversary of the "Short Cuts" theatrical release -- perhaps a series of interviews with members of the impressive ensemble cast, which includes Tim Robbins, Lily Tomlin, Robert Downey, Jr. and Julianne Moore. We get neither, not even an acknowledgement of Altman's passing. Criterion missed a key opportunity to say something fresh about this American master's work.
Of course, if you don't own the first DVD or have never seen "Short Cuts," these missteps may not matter one bit. The two-disc set, like all Criterion releases, includes a sharp transfer of the film that was supervised by editor Geraldine Peroni and approved by Altman, as well as an impressive, classy set of extras that take viewers onto the set of the movie and into the minds of both Altman and Carver. The two must-watch features of the lot are "Lust, Trust and Ketchup," a 90-minute documentary about the making of the film, and "To Write and Keep Kind," PBS's informative, reverent exploration of Carver's life and work. A trio of deleted scenes and several additional featurettes, including an engaging conversation between Altman and Robbins, round out the mix.
Watching "Shortcuts" in 2008 remains an entertaining, provocative experience, but it's also a sadder one that it used to be because so many members of this sizeable, gifted cast and crew have died. In addition to Altman, we have lost Peroni, Christopher Penn and the brilliant Jack Lemmon in recent years. Their strong work in this film is a testament to their talents and also more evidence that Altman was not just a great director but a hell of a leader, the kind who brought out the very best in everyone who works for him.
Sauciest Bonus Point: Julianne Moore's role in "Short Cuts" is well-known because of one revealing scene, in which she makes a startling confession to her husband (Matthew Modine) while naked from the waist down. Moore discusses that moment during the "Lust, Trust and Ketchup" documentary, a feature that also allows cast member Jennifer Jason Leigh to explain the research she did for her role as a phone sex worker. "At first I thought it would be a lot of fun," Leigh says, "and then it actually became very depressing."
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PHOTOS: 'Short Cuts' -- Criterion Collection; 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' -- Paramount Pictures
