SHORT CUTS
A film review by Jon A. Webb
Copyright 1994 Jon A. Webb
SHORT CUTS is a kind of 90s sequel to NASHVILLE. The location is L.A., and the theme is sex. Like Altman's last film, THE PLAYER, this film is filled with stars, but here they are playing characters. An early joke has Alex Trebek appearing in a cameo role.
I thought all the actors did well, with the exception of Matthew Modine. For some reason he seems off his mark here: his lines sound amateurish and flat. This is odd, because he's playing a character he's played before, in GROSS ANATOMY. (In fact, almost all the actors are playing characters they've played before, more or less.)
I found Tim Robbins the most fun to watch. He plays a philandering, self-important cop, very broadly and with almost slapstick wit. The scene with the megaphone is a classic.
On the whole the film does not have as much impact as NASHVILLE, probably because Altman simply does not have as much to say now as he did then. It must be nice to know everyone, and to be so respected that they all want to work with you, but that in itself does not seem to me to be enough reason to make a film.
Given the content, the film is also overlong. Three-hour films should be reserved for movies with great themes. It is still an entertaining film, with a remarkable cast and excellent direction, but I felt as though I was looking at the imitation of film art.
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