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Short Cuts

Play trailer Poster for Short Cuts R 1993 3h 9m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 59 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Many loosely connected characters cross paths in this film, based on the stories of Raymond Carver. Waitress Doreen Piggot (Lily Tomlin) accidentally runs into a boy with her car. Soon after walking away, the child lapses into a coma. While at the hospital, the boy's grandfather (Jack Lemmon) tells his son, Howard (Bruce Davison), about his past affairs. Meanwhile, a baker (Lyle Lovett) starts harassing the family when they fail to pick up the boy's birthday cake.
Short Cuts

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Robert Altman's ensemble drama deftly integrates its disparate characters and episodes into a funny, poignant, emotionally satisfying whole.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 04/07/2016
It's a funny/scary vision, with a manic edge -- which is why, when you come down from the high of the filmmaking, you may be left with the taste of ashes in your mouth. Altman's artistry can make you happy even when his art offers cold comfort. Go to Full Review
Angie Errigo Empire Magazine 02/27/2008
4/5
Cool, clever and complex, Altman succeeds in bringing out the best from a highly talented cast. Go to Full Review
Todd McCarthy Variety 02/27/2008
As the grand ringmaster, it's here that Altman passes the baton to his actors , whose behavioral insights are critical to the film's success. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 16
4/4
Rarely has a slice-of-life film been so delicious to consume. Go to Full Review
Andrew Collins Radio Times 03/16/2024
5/5
An impeccable ensemble cast including Tom Waits, Tim Robbins, Chris Penn, Jack Lemmon, Andie MacDowell, Lily Tomlin and Julianne Moore give authentic life to incidental players in an ongoing melodrama that speaks loudly of the modern malaise. Go to Full Review
Zita Short InSession Film 02/07/2023
B
It has the ability to generate thoughtful conversation between viewers. If you sit down and watch this with a good friend, you’ll probably both come out of it with very different observations. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 22 Funny in 3 hours and 9 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $6,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more john h Jun 1 An over-extended runtime with the expected ensemble casting in an Altman film. The moments are satirical, becoming a sentimental piece of Altman's dark humor. Short Cuts can be pointed out for having some similarities with the 1999 Paul Thomas Anderson drama Magnolia, though they are different thematically. One look at this film and it may get you interested in forty straight minutes, but one look away and you will zone out for the next twenty or so minutes. The film bluntly asks the viewer to sit down and watch rather than do a crossword puzzle or run errands simultaneously. See more Jacob B Mar 3 If, like me, you’re an Altman fan, this film is one of his very best…certainly the best film of his since “Nashville”. Altman does the cinematic equivalent of pointillism: at first it’s separate and seemingly disparate tales that do in the end come together in the mind to paint a complete and vibrant and truly authentic picture. Just as “Nashville” was a snap shot of America in the mid 1970’s , so is this film a snap shot of us twenty years later; and both still relevant. See more Baby N @nfitzpatrick90 12/08/2024 Easily Robert Altman’s most vividly incredible films. The way he interweaves so many stories and relatable and complex characters is almost hard to understand how he accomplished this. One of my all time favorite films and inspired the likes of PTA and Wes Anderson. See more Michael M 08/04/2024 Certain things are masterfully done, such as the cinematography and the acting. Other things are goofy - such as all the nude scenes, I didn't see the point of it, I could have done without seeing Huey Lewis' penis. The stories themselves - meh. I guess that's not the fault of the director, but rather the writer whose stories this was based on. Every character in this film has got issues, for most of them its due to a lack of integrity - bitter, cheating people; self-absorbed people who don't care about anyone. The only character who seemed decent was Andie MacDowell, yet a tragedy befell her, a worse tragedy than what befell the other slimy characters ...what's the point of that? Well, obviously the point that they're making is either the absurdity of life or the absurdity of the shallow people in the film. Either way this type of message is very one-sided and fails because it doesn't show the other side. See more Petros T 10/02/2023 Despite its big runtime, "Short Cuts" is engaging from beginning to end. Thematically-wise, it's dense and layered, and it boasts great performances from its incredible ensemble cast. Its biggest achievement is the way all the different stories and characters are balanced and interconnected. Even though they don't all receive the same attention, they remain interesting and realistic throughout and they play their part in the - hilarious, upsetting and thought-provoking - grand scheme of things. See more Read all reviews
Short Cuts

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Movie Info

Synopsis Many loosely connected characters cross paths in this film, based on the stories of Raymond Carver. Waitress Doreen Piggot (Lily Tomlin) accidentally runs into a boy with her car. Soon after walking away, the child lapses into a coma. While at the hospital, the boy's grandfather (Jack Lemmon) tells his son, Howard (Bruce Davison), about his past affairs. Meanwhile, a baker (Lyle Lovett) starts harassing the family when they fail to pick up the boy's birthday cake.
Director
Robert Altman
Producer
Cary Brokaw
Screenwriter
Robert Altman, Frank Barhydt
Distributor
Argentina Video Home, Artificial Eye
Production Co
Fine Line Features, Avenue Pictures Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 1, 1993, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Dec 17, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.1M
Runtime
3h 9m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo