The Player: Production Analysis

1
The Player Production Analysis

• Director Robert Altman
• Biography (1925- )
• Critical Reputation
• Often considered an eccentric genius by observers
• Regularly referred to as one of the great
  contemporary American directors, even the United
  States single most ambitious auteur,by critics
  and film scholars, particularly in terms of his
  productions of the 1970s, which won numerous
  awards
• After quiet period in 1980s, Altmans reputation
  was revived by Tanner 88, which showed on cable
  as a limited series.

2
The Player Production Analysis

• Historical Context
• Renewed interest in independent films as
  alternative to blockbuster releases
• Political/Religious calls for return to family
  values
• Industry Context
• Altmans reputation low with studio execs, but
  high with actors
• Appeal of comeback as promotional ploy
• Comic expose of movie industry, critical, but
  ultimately positive
• Tale of the Tape
• Grosses 22 million in US (budget 8 million)
• Altman awarded John Cassavetes Award, Best
  Director at Cannes Film Festival, as well as Best
  Director awards from the NY Film Critics Circle,
  Boston Society of Film Critics and Chicago Film
  Critics Association Award.

3
Robert Altmans Style

• Strong concern with characterization
• Avoids formal introduction to characters
• Plot subordinated to character interaction
• Use of overlapping dialogue
• Improvisational style of acting
• Subversion of genre expections
• Use of open spaces between scenes
• Melancholy subtext beneath surface comedy