(born 1923) Brilliant, sarcastic director whose films have etched an acid vision of modern America at war (M*A*S*H, 1970), on crime sprees (Thieves Like Us, 1973), in Sunbelt aspirations (Brewster McCloud, 1971) or in a quest for fitness (Health, 1979). These films alternated with complicated lyrical works and smaller films linked closely to theater; Altman also faced some big-budget problems. After a lengthy hiatus, Altman’s caustic wit reemerged with The Player (1992), satirizing Hollywood itself.