...still surprising nonetheless.

I never met Bob but from everything that I've read, the one thing that I will take with me about him is that he was an actor's director. That's why name talent would work for less than their going rate to take part in his projects. The actor was king in his book... and as he said about his film Gosford Park with such a star studded cast, "I'm just there to turn the lights on".

Well said. RIP Mr. Altman.