Altman Page #8

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of "Gosford Park"

all the more remarkable is that Mr.

Altman is 76.

But the movie's cool assessment

of the human condition

implies the dispassionate overview of a man

who has seen it all.

The energy that crackles from the screen

suggests the clear sighted joie DE vivre

of an artist still deeply

engaged in the world.

I had done six... seven films

and I was so smug and proud of myself

because I thought none of these

films are alike and then,

ten... twelve films more.

I look at these things and I think,

hmmm, these really are all just

chapters of the same book.

They're just different chapters.

With "A Prairie Home Companion"

Bob was doing two things.

Returning to his youth when

he absolutely loved radio

and contemplating death.

He was joining both ends of the circle.

What are we doing?

You're on in the power milk segment

doing gold watch and chain with him.

We haven't done that for years.

Oh I'll pawn you my gold

watch and chain, love

And I'll pawn you my gold wedding ring

Excuse me;

I gotta get a head start on

getting pie eyed tonight.

I will pawn you this heart in my bosom J

Only say that you'll love me again

How about Red River Valley?

Fine, whatever you like.

Well this really isn't going

to be your last show, is it?

Every show's your last show.

Oh my god.

That's my philosophy.

Thank you, Plato.

Come and sit by my side if you love me

Do not hasten to bid me adieu

But remember the Red River Valley

And the one who has loved you

A lot of people are

wondering what you meant

with the end of the film when

the angel goes into the diner

and a lot of people go back and

forth about what it means,

what she was there for.

Well I felt it was about leaving

it open who was gonna die next.

Obviously, this film is

about death and, uh...

She was the angel of death and

she showed up for one of them

and um,

we just closed the film

before we told you which one.

Sort of like real life.

Death is the only ending that I know about.

People will come in and say oh,

does this have a happy ending?

And I say well, no.

But we can make a happy stopping place.

Right now, I'd like to toast you all,

Happy Thanksgiving.

Yeah!

Happy Thanksgiving!

And it's a turkey that has never

been genetically encoded.

Big Family gathering here tonight

and makes me very weepy.

He became very enamored of his family

in the last few years of his life.

We would have these get togethers

and I would catch him sitting in the corner

just looking at everybody

with that grin on his face.

It was like one of his movies.

Like he became aware that

he was in his own movie.

And he loved the cast.

What does it mean to you?

It's inspiration.

Live from Hollywood it's the

78th Annual Academy Awards.

Maverick filmmaker Robert Altman

has been nominated five times for an Oscar

without ever winning one.

Today, the Academy of Motion

Picture Arts and Sciences

is giving Altman a

lifetime achievement award

in recognition of a career

that has repeatedly reinvented the art form

and inspired filmmakers

and audiences alike.

Thank you.

No other filmmaker has gotten

a better shake than I have.

I'm very fortunate in my career.

I've never had to direct

a film I didn't choose.

I love filmmaking.

It has given me an entree to the

world and to the human condition

and for that I'm forever grateful.

Finally, I would like to thank my family,

which are all right there.

All of them.

For their love and support

through the years

and most importantly

I want to thank and applaud

my wife Kathryn Reed Altman,

without whom I wouldn't be here today.

I love you.

Thank you.

Oh, one more thing.

I'm here, I think, under false pretenses

and I think I have to

become straight with you,

uh, ten years ago... 11 years

ago I had a heart transplant.

A total heart transplant.

I got the heart of, I think,

a young woman who was

about in her late 30's.

And so by that kind of calculation,

you may be giving me this award too early

because I think I got about

40 years left on it.

And I intend to use it.

Thank you very much.

He was in preproduction on a film called.

"Hands on a Hard Body", scouting locations.

He'd been diagnosed with cancer

and he wanted to keep on working.

Chemo or no chemo.

It would have been his 40th movie.

One day, years and years

ago, just after the war,

Bob had nothing to do and

he went to a theater

in the middle of the

afternoon to see a movie.

Not a Hollywood movie, a British movie.

He said the main character

was not glamorous.

Not a babe, and at first he wondered

why he was even watching it.

But twenty minutes later he was in tears

and had fallen in love with her.

And it made him feel that

it wasn't just a movie.

Let's begin again

Let's start over from the start

Let's forget the time that

you nearly broke my heart

Everywhere we've been again

Let's begin

Again

Let's begin again; Let's

forget about our pride

Pay attention to the way we feel inside

Let's give love a spin again

Let's begin

Again

We gave love a chance one time

We gave up before

For love had really taken hold

So, please let's try once more

And begin again

This time try to make it last J

Let's begin again

Without worry of the past

Let's go through thick and thin again

And begin

Again

We gave love a chance one time

We gave up before

Before love had really taken hold

Please let's try once more

Let's begin again

This time try to make it last J

Let's begin again

With no worry of the past

Let's go through thick and thin again

Let's begin

Again

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