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Short Cuts [1993]
![Short Cuts [1993]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zrl8d1U7L._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £4.06 (subject to change)
one of the most boring and depressing experiences I have ever had
Review date: 2008-11-03 Rating: 2 out of 10
OK it's stylish, OK it's got a cracking cast and it's well acted, but this is simply the most boring film I have ever seen, nothing happens - honestly - nothing, there is just no coherent story line to link it all together and the entire 3 hours+ (and trust me, it felt longer) was like a series of completley unrelated, depressing and, ultimately, pointless vignettes.
This is Altman at his self-obsessed, self-indulgent worst. Avoid it, unless you've got far to much time on your hands and want to be made thoroughly depressed, confused and miserable.
And the music score has got to much jazz on it as well.
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Reviews
go compare
Review date: 2008-09-27 Rating: 8 out of 10
I've always been a great fan of this film, which is why I want to point out to viewers that part of it - section based on the story 'So much water so close to home' - has been remade, or repurposed in the Ray Larwrence film Jindabyne (2005), which relocates the action to Australia. It is the ultimate Altman tribute, I think, and adds new layers of complexity to the story.
Bare Bones is better than none at all
Review date: 2008-02-06 Rating: 8 out of 10
Well, its been a long wait for the R2 release of Robert Altman's classic 1993 release - did it really need his death to prompt it?. It's hard to think of a significant director who has been so sorely mistreated on R2 DVD (except for Hal Hartley). The prolonged, eye-catching opening title sequences of a group of insecticide spraying planes wheeling through the LA night sky paves the way (and sets the pace) for this sprawling, meandering three hour epic which comprises a myriad of characters - mostly flawed or wanting ordinary joe's from a variety of backgrounds for whom life, circumstance or fate have something in store for just around the corner. The impressively long and varied cast list produce mostly fine, almost cameo performances and a familiar Altmanesque bluesy score permeates the background.
This film paved the way for more recent films with disjointed and interconnecting plot lines (not that there is much of a plot as this is more a collection of character studies) and will appeal to fans of films such as `Magnolia'.
The R2 print and sound are fine and the format is of the `narrow' widescreen type, but it only scores 4 stars because this barebones DVD has no extras whatsoever. See the Criterion R1 release for the treatment this film really deserves. That said, for first time viewers this is worth the relatively low purchase price.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Christopher Penn
Lily Tomlin
Robert Downey Jr.
Lili Taylor
Andie MacDowell
Creators:
Andie MacDowell (Primary Contributor)
Christopher Penn (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437943934
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-02-04
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 188 minutes