Short Cuts (1993) - The Criterion Collection

Synopsis

The visions of two great American artists merge in Short Cuts, maverick director Robert Altman’s kaleidoscopic adaptation of Raymond Carver short stories. Epic in scale yet meticulously observed, the film interweaves the lives of twenty-two characters struggling to find solace and meaning in contemporary Los Angeles. The extraordinary ensemble cast includes Tim Robbins, Julianne Moore, Robert Downey, Jr., Jack Lemmon, and Jennifer Jason Leigh; all giving fearless performances in one of Altman’s most compassionate creations.

Cast

Ann Finnigan	Andie MacDowell
Howard Finnigan	Bruce Davison
Paul Finnigan	Jack Lemmon
Casey Finnigan	Zane Cassidy
Marian Wyman	Julianne Moore
Dr. Ralph Wyman	Matthew Modine
Claire Kane	Anne Archer
Stuart Kane	Fred Ward
Bill Bush	Robert Downey Jr.
Gene Shepard	Tim Robbins
Earl Piggot	Tom Waits
Betty Weathers	Frances McDormand
Doreen Piggot	Lily Tomlin
Sherri Shepard	Madeleine Stowe
Lois Kaiser	Jennifer Jason Leigh
Jerry Kaiser	Chris Penn
Honey Bush	Lili Taylor
Stormy Weathers	Peter Gallagher
Tess Trainer	Annie Ross
Zoe Trainer	Lori Singer
Andy Bitkower	Lyle Lovett
Gordon Johnson	Buck Henry
Vern Miller	Huey Lewis

Credits

Director	Robert Altman
Producer	Cary Brokaw
Screenplay	Robert Altman and Frank Barhydt
Based on the writings of	Raymond Carver
Cinematography	Walt Lloyd
Editing	Geraldine Peroni and Suzy Elmiger
Production Design	Stephen Altman
Costumes	John Hay
Music	Mark Isham
Music producer	Hal Wilner
Associate producers	Mike Kaplan and David Levy
Executive producer	Scott Bushnell

Disc Features

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET:

Restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by editor Geraldine Peroni and approved by director Robert Altman
Isolated music track
English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
Video conversation between Robert Altman and Tim Robbins
Luck, Trust and Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver Country, a feature-length documentary on the making of Short Cuts
To Write and Keep Kind, a PBS documentary on the life of Raymond Carver
A segment from BBC Television’s Moving Pictures tracing the development of the screenplay
One-hour 1983 audio interview with Carver, conducted for the American Audio Prose Library
Original demo recordings of the Doc Pomus–Mac Rebennack songs, performed by Dr. John
Deleted scenes
A look inside the marketing of Short Cuts
PLUS: An essay by film critic Michael Wilmington

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