Robert Altman dead.

Robert Altman is dead.

When I was insanely infatuated with Paul Thomas Anderson (which wasn't too long ago, mind you), I was forced to find out more about Robert Altman. The names were always connected based on PT Anderson's inspirations coming greatly from Altman. I viewed an Altman double feature of The Long Goodbye and California Split. I thoroughly enjoyed The Long Goodbye, though I must admit that by the time California Split rolled around I was dozing off for most of the film. I loved The Player. And I made an effort to watch A Prairie Home Companion upon its arrival this past summer. Not a very thorough run in with the acclaimed director, but he was always on my list of "who I've got to check out." In fact, I remember missing another double feature that included Nashville, one of his most talked about films and one I've been dying to check out. I was very let down.

In honor of the death of a director I wish I had known more, I'm moving Nashville to the top of my Netflix queue. I'm sure as my knowledge of his filmography increases I'll feel worse and worse as I realize what a loss this was.