NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Short Cuts

Short Cuts is a 1993 film directed by Robert Altman. Filmed from a screenplay by Robert Altman and Frank Barhydt, it is inspired by nine short stories and a poem by Raymond Carver. Substituting a Los Angeles setting for the Pacific Northwest backdrop of Carver's stories, the movie traces the actions of twenty-two principal characters, both in parallel and at occasional points of connection. The role of chance and luck is central to the film, and many of the stories concern death and infidelity. The film was distributed by Fine Line Features. Image File history File links Shortcuts. ... Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 â€“ November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... Raymond Carver Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. ... Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 â€“ November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... Ward in Miami Blues (1990) Frederick Ward (born December 30, 1942) is an American actor. ... Rosalie Anderson Andie MacDowell (born April 21, 1958 in Gaffney, South Carolina) is an American actress and former fashion model. ... Davison as Senator Robert Kelly in X-Men Bruce Davison (born June 28, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American actor. ... Tim Robbins at Cannes, 2001 Height: 6 ft 4 in / 1. ... Julianne Moore (born Julie Anne Smith on December 3, 1960) in Fayetteville, North Carolina is an American actress. ... Fine Line Features was the speciality films division of New Line Cinema. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // March 31 - Actor Brandon Lee is accidentally killed during the filming of The Crow. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... // March 31 - Actor Brandon Lee is accidentally killed during the filming of The Crow. ... Film is a term that encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. ... Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 â€“ November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... Raymond Carver Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 1,290. ... The Pacific Northwest from space This page is about the region that includes parts of Canada and the US. For the US only region, see Northwestern United States The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ... Fine Line Features was the speciality films division of New Line Cinema. ...

Plot

In one of the film's opening scenes, Dr Ralph Wyman (Matthew Modine) and his wife Marian Wyman (Julianne Moore) meet another couple, Stuart and Claire Kane (Fred Ward and Anne Archer) at a concert and make a spontaneous Sunday dinner date, but both marriages show their cracks over the weekend. While Ralph and Marian Wyman avoid a taboo topic that is undermining their marriage, Stuart Kane goes on a fishing trip with some buddies (Buck Henry and Huey Lewis) and they discover a dead body in the water. Upon his return, Claire Kane is repulsed to discover that Stuart and his buddies left the girl in the water until the end of the weekend so they could continue fishing. Matthew Avery Modine (born March 22, 1959 in Loma Linda, California is an American actor. ... Julianne Moore (born Julie Anne Smith on December 3, 1960) in Fayetteville, North Carolina is an American actress. ... Ward in Miami Blues (1990) Frederick Ward (born December 30, 1942) is an American actor. ... Anne Archer Anne Archer (born August 24, 1947) is an Academy Award nominated American movie and TV actress. ... Buck Henry (born December 9, 1930 in New York, New York as Buck Henry Zuckerman) is an American actor, writer and director, best known for his work in television, film, comedy, and satire. ... Huey Lewis, sporting a Tape a record, go to prison sleeveless T-shirt. ...

Meanwhile, waitress Doreen Piggot (Lily Tomlin), whose lout of a husband (Tom Waits) is a verbally abusive drunk, accidentally hits young Casey Finnigan (Zane Cassidy) with her car. When the little boy walks away from the accident, she assumes he is all right, but never learns the fatal consequences, or the tragic harassment his parents, Howard (Bruce Davison) and Ann Finnegan (Andie MacDowell), must face from the local baker (Lyle Lovett) who is livid because Casey's birthday cake was never picked up. Howard's father, Paul Finnegan (Jack Lemmon) drops by the hospital after a twenty-year absence and relates the story of his own infidelity. Lily Tomlin (born Mary Jean Tomlin on September 1, 1939), is an Academy Award-nominated American actress and comedian. ... Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. ... Davison as Senator Robert Kelly in X-Men Bruce Davison (born June 28, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American actor. ... Rosalie Anderson Andie MacDowell (born April 21, 1958 in Gaffney, South Carolina) is an American actress and former fashion model. ... Lyle Lovett, from the cover of 1996s The Road to Ensenada Lyle Lovett (born in Klein, Texas on November 1, 1957) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Jack Lemmon at Expo 1967. ...

Doreen's daughter, Honey (Lili Taylor) is married to Bill Bush (Robert Downey, Jr.), a man aroused by sadism. Their party buddies, Lois (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Jerry Kaiser (Chris Penn), face a toxic brew of phone sex and jealousy, as Lois earns her living as a phone-sex operator, leaving Jerry with a wife whose attitude toward sex is indifferent at best. Lili Taylor Lili Taylor (born February 20, 1967 in Glencoe, Illinois, USA) is an American film and television actress. ... Robert Downey Jr. ... Jennifer Jason Leigh (born February 5, 1962) is an American actress who has appeared in numerous films. ... Christopher Shannon Penn (October 10, 1965 â€“ January 24, 2006) was an American film actor. ...

Gene Shepard (Tim Robbins) is an unethical cop who cheats on his wife, Sherri (Madeleine Stowe), and seems oblivious to the fact that his wife long ago had discovered his secret -- and just does not care. Gene's mistress is realtor Betty Weathers (Frances McDormand), and Sherri's ultimate confidante is her sister, Marian Wyman (Julianne Moore). These stories are woven together with musical bridges performed by Zoe (Lori Singer), a depressed cellist, and her embittered, jazz singer mother, Tess (Annie Ross), who live next to the Finnegans. By the end of the three-hour film, the Wymans and Kanes' Sunday dinner obligation turns into an all-night raging party, until everyone's lives are upended by a unifying Monday-morning disaster. Tim Robbins at Cannes, 2001 Height: 6 ft 4 in / 1. ... Stowe pictured with John Travolta in 1999s The Generals Daughter Madeleine Stowe (born August 18, 1958) is an American actress. ... Frances McDormand (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress, best known for her role as Marge Gunderson in Fargo. ... Julianne Moore (born Julie Anne Smith on December 3, 1960) in Fayetteville, North Carolina is an American actress. ... Lori Jacqueline Singer (born on November 6, 1957) is an American actress. ... Annie Ross (born 25 July 1930) is a jazz singer. ...

Sometimes the connections among characters are meaningful; other times, they bump into each other randomly in bakeries, bars, hospital waiting rooms, or mix-ups at the Fotomat. In a couple of instances, a moment is repeated, but with different characters and outcomes, emphasizing the role of fate.

A Short Cuts Soundtrack album was issued to accompany the film. The Short Cuts Soundtrack was released in 1993 as the soundtrack album for the film Short Cuts. ...

Awards and nominations

Robert Altman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and a nomination for the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay tied with Frank Barhydt. The cast won a Special Golden Globe Award for their ensemble acting. The movie also won the prestigious Golden Lion and the Volpi Cup for Best Ensemble Cast at the Venice Film Festival. Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 â€“ November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Academy Award for Directing is an accolade given to the person that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences feels was best director of the past year. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... For the main article see Golden Globe Awards. ... The Golden Lion (it: Leone dOro) is the name of the highest prize given to a film at the Biennale Venice Film Festival. ... The Venice Film Festival (it: Mostra Internazionale dArte Cinematografica) is the oldest Film Festival in the World (began in the 1932) and takes place every year in late August/early September on the Lido di Venezia in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi, in Venice, Italy. ...

Cast

Ward in Miami Blues (1990) Frederick Ward (born December 30, 1942) is an American actor. ... Rosalie Anderson Andie MacDowell (born April 21, 1958 in Gaffney, South Carolina) is an American actress and former fashion model. ... Davison as Senator Robert Kelly in X-Men Bruce Davison (born June 28, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American actor. ... Tim Robbins at Cannes, 2001 Height: 6 ft 4 in / 1. ... Julianne Moore (born Julie Anne Smith on December 3, 1960) in Fayetteville, North Carolina is an American actress. ... Matthew Avery Modine (born March 22, 1959 in Loma Linda, California is an American actor. ... Anne Archer Anne Archer (born August 24, 1947) is an Academy Award nominated American movie and TV actress. ... Jennifer Jason Leigh (born February 5, 1962) is an American actress who has appeared in numerous films. ... Christopher Shannon Penn (October 10, 1965 â€“ January 24, 2006) was an American film actor. ... Lili Taylor Lili Taylor (born February 20, 1967 in Glencoe, Illinois, USA) is an American film and television actress. ... Robert John Downey Jr. ... Stowe pictured with John Travolta in 1999s The Generals Daughter Madeleine Stowe (born August 18, 1958) is an American actress. ... Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. ... Lily Tomlin (born Mary Jean Tomlin on September 1, 1939), is an Academy Award-nominated American actress and comedian. ... Frances McDormand (born June 23, 1957) is an Academy Award-winning American film, stage, and television actress, best known for her role as Marge Gunderson in Fargo. ... Peter Killian Gallagher (born August 19, 1955) is a Golden Globe award winning American actor. ... Annie Ross (born 25 July 1930) is a jazz singer. ... Lori Jacqueline Singer (born on November 6, 1957) is an American actress. ... Jack Lemmon at Expo 1967. ... Lyle Lovett, from the cover of 1996s The Road to Ensenada Lyle Lovett (born in Klein, Texas on November 1, 1957) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Buck Henry (born December 9, 1930 in New York, New York as Buck Henry Zuckerman) is an American actor, writer and director, best known for his work in television, film, comedy, and satire. ... Huey Lewis, sporting a Tape a record, go to prison sleeveless T-shirt. ... Dirk Blocker (born July 31, 1957) is an American actor. ...

External links

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Films directed by Robert Altman

The Delinquents • The James Dean Story • Countdown • That Cold Day in the Park • MASH • Brewster McCloud • McCabe & Mrs. Miller • Images • The Long Goodbye • Thieves Like Us • California Split • Nashville • Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson • 3 Women • A Wedding • Quintet • A Perfect Couple • HealtH • Popeye • Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean • Streamers • Secret Honor • O.C. and Stiggs • Fool for Love • Beyond Therapy • Aria • Vincent & Theo • The Player • Short Cuts • Prêt-à-Porter • Kansas City • The Gingerbread Man • Cookie's Fortune • Dr. T & the Women • Gosford Park • The Company • A Prairie Home Companion The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ... Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 â€“ November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... The Delinquents is a 1957 motion picture which Robert Altman wrote, produced, and directed in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri during the summer of 1956 on a $45,000 budget. ... Countdown is a 1968 film starring James Caan, Robert Duvall and Joanna Moore. ... A film by Robert Altman, shot in Vancouver, Canada, and set in the year 1969. ... MASH is a 1970 satirical American dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and based on the novel M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker. ... Brewster McCloud is a 1970 movie directed by Robert Altman; it centers on a young recluse who lives in a fallout shelter of the Houston Astrodome building a pair of wings so hell be able to fly. ... McCabe & Mrs. ... Images is a 1972 psychological thriller directed by Robert Altman. ... The Long Goodbye is a 1973 film adaptation of Raymond Chandlers novel The Long Goodbye. ... Thieves Like Us is a 1974 film directed by Robert Altman and starring Keith Carradine and Shelley Duvall. ... California Split is a 1974 film directed by Robert Altman and starring Elliott Gould and George Segal as a pair of gamblers. ... Nashville is a 1975 film which mixes themes of U.S. presidential politics with those of the country music and gospel music businesses in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bulls History Lesson is a 1976 film directed by Robert Altman and starring Paul Newman as Buffalo Bill. ... 3 Women is a 1977 film directed by Robert Altman starring Shelley Duvall and Sissy Spacek. ... A Wedding is a 1978 black comedy directed by Robert Altman, starring Carol Burnett, Lillian Gish, Geraldine Chaplin, Vittorio Gassman, Mia Farrow, Lauren Hutton, Pam Dawber, Desi Arnaz, Jr. ... Quintet is an post-apocalyptic science fiction film by Robert Altman produced in 1979. ... A Perfect Couple is a 1979 film directed by Robert Altman. ... Popeye is a 1980 live-action film directed by Robert Altman, based on the comic strip and cartoon character Popeye the Sailor. ... Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean is a play by Ed Graczyk, and its film version, directed by Robert Altman, and starring Sandy Dennis, Cher, Mark Patton (his first film role), Karen Black, Sudie Bond and Kathy Bates. ... Streamers is a 1983 film by Robert Altman. ... Secret Honor is a 1984 film written by Donald Freed and directed by Robert Altman and starring Philip Baker Hall as former president Richard M. Nixon, a fictional account attempting to gain insight into Nixons personality, life, attitudes and behavior. ... O.C. and Stiggs is a mid-1980s film directed by Robert Altman, based on two characters featured in a series of stories published in National Lampoon. ... Fool for Love is a 1985 film directed by Robert Altman. ... Beyond Therapy is a 1987 film directed by Robert Altman, who adapted to screenplay with Christopher Durang, who also wrote the theater play. ... Aria is a 1987 British film, in Italian, French and German, made up of ten short pieces directed by a variety of different directors, based on pieces of classical music. ... Vincent & Theo is a 1990 biography drama directed by Robert Altman, starring Tim Roth and Paul Rhys. ... The Player (1992) is a movie that tells the story of Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins), a Hollywood studio executive who believes he is being blackmailed by a screenwriter whose script he once rejected. ... PrÃªt-Ã -Porter (English: Ready to Wear) is a 1994 satirical black comedy written, directed and produced by Robert Altman and shot during the Paris, France, Fashion Week with a host of international stars, models and designers. ... Kansas City is a 1996 film, directed by Robert Altman, and featuring numerous jazz tracks. ... Based on a discarded John Grisham manuscript, The Gingerbread Man is a 1998 film by Robert Altman. ... Cookies Fortune is a 1999 comedy film directed by Robert Altman and starring an ensemble cast, including Patricia Neal, Charles Dutton, Julianne Moore, Glenn Close, Liv Tyler and Chris ODonnell. ... Dr. T & the Women is a 2000 comedy / romance movie that stars Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Kate Hudson, Liv Tyler and Tara Reid. ... Gosford Park is a 2001 film, directed by Robert Altman. ... For other uses, see Company (disambiguation). ... A Prairie Home Companion (previously known as The Last Broadcast) is a 2006 ensemble comedy film elegy directed by Robert Altman, his final film released just five months before his death. ...

Contents

Awards and nominations

Cast

External links