Director Robert Altman’s final film, A Prairie Home Companion, was a meditation on endings and death, and seems, in hindsight, to be the last reflection of a man who knew he was close to the end. But Altman’s final note is by no means reflective of his entire symphony. In fact, Altman’s films have committed to no one genre (unless his trademark naturalism counts as a genre).
From The Delinquents to M*A*S*H to Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean to Popeye to Short Cuts, Altman churned out 50 years’ worth of diverse entertainment. He developed anti-Hollywood sentiments in the ’60s, and floundered because of it until he received the script for M*A*S*H in 1969. A searing wartime satire, the film was the first studio release to use an iteration of the word “fuck,” and, though it took place during the Korean War, clearly harbored anti-war sentiments during the Vietnam War.
Northampton’s Academy of Music is honoring the life and films of Altman in a four-day Tribute to Robert Altman. Ten Altman films will be screened on 35mm prints, including M*A*S*H, which will be shown twice. A reunion performance by The Feelies takes place after the film on the evening of the opening night party on Friday.
Oct. 10-13, opening night party at 5:30 p.m., films at various times, $30/entire tribute, $25/party, $7/individual film, (413) 587-1247, www.academyofmusictheatre.com.
