I just saw Short Cuts for the first time, which is bizarre because in the 13 years since it has come out I have developed an affection for Altman and Carver is one of my favourite writers.

I liked it, but I wish I had watched it before I ever heard Raymond Carver’s name. I wish I was watching the characters weave in and out of the inter connecting story without recognizing the clothes that they used to wear. I normally don’t have that problem with an adaptation. Usually I am able to separate the story from the film very cleanly in my head. I get grade A annoyed at people that say, “Well, it wasn’t like that in the book.” –Not recognizing that an adaptation of a book into a film is a translation into another language. Sometimes some children are killed on the way. It’s like King Solomon, except different.

I think the problem for me was I forgot, (except for a few – ‘Small good. . .’, ‘So much water. . .’) what stories were being used in Short Cuts.

What is right and true in the film are those rhythms between men and women. He gets Carver there, hook line and sinker.

It’s silly. Ridiculous. I’m feeling annoyed with the film for being a B+. This film could have been an A. Who the hell am I to get lairy over a film being a very respectable B+.

Whatever. A few of my, why it needed oregano thoughts.

A Small, Good Thing is one of those stories that can make me cry just thinking about it, but Lyle Lovett bless his little heart sucks ass as the baker in this. That said, I still cried. . . but I’m a shill.

Jindabyne gives a lot more credit to “So Much Water So Close To Home” but that is to be expected- you can’t compare an entire film to a snippet in another one. . . but certain moments screamed false. The guy is pissing in the river. He realises he is pissing on a body and he keeps going. I don’t know about you boys, but I can stop certain things mid steam. At least aim in a different direction when you see what you are doing. The entire story didn’t have the gravitas that it deserved.

While I wished I didn’t know Carver, my jaw dropped when I realised that “Tell The Women We Are Going” was one of the threads weaved into the rug. The climax of it doesn’t work however. Maybe it doesn’t really work in the story and I am connecting dots in my head that aren’t really there.

I dunno.

However, even with my nitpicking- I liked this movie. I dig characters interweaving, big city that is really a small city everyone just wanting to be loved man, just loved- stories. . .

And Altman catches Carver’s soul in this. Parts are wonderful. Inspired. The clown cop scene. (Note to self. Add Tim Robbins to celebrity crush/fuck list.)

And it makes me want to sit down to the computer and write this play that has been kicking around my synapses for the last year.

If I didn’t have to go to work in the A of the M, I might start it now.

All I know about it? There is an Elvis Impersonator. And a cannibal.

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