Robert Altman: The Oral Biography by Mitchell ZuckoffMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This "Oral Biography" features narrated quotes by Altman, his family, collaborators, and co-workers. Altman's own words are largely drawn from interviews done close to the end of his life and are not read by himself, as is the case with other quotes it sounds like. Some distinctive voices speaking their own words stand out, among them actors Tim Robbins and Bob Balaban. This book makes me want to see many Altman films I missed (Fool For Love, Thieves Like Us, Brewster McCloud, etc.) and re-see ones I already knew (Popeye, MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, etc.) The book strongly underscores that adoration actors had for him and this seemed to arise from the freedom he allowed them, encouraging improvisation. Going off the script purposefully like that damaged his relationship with studios and backers. Hard drinking and obsessive work habits damaged his relationship with family and friends.
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