While helicopters overhead spray against a Medfly infestation, a group of peoples' lives in Los Angeles intersect, some casually, some to more lasting effect. While they go out to concerts and jazz clubs and even have their pools cleaned, these same folks also lie, drink, and cheat. Death itself seems never to be far away. A look at human life and American culture with over 20 lives interweaving.

MPAA rating: Not rated.

DVD; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.

Closed-captioned.

Andie McDowell, Bruce Davison, Julianne Moore, Matthew Modine, Anne Archer, Fred Ward, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Penn, Lili Taylor, Robert Downey, Jr., Madeleine Stowe, Tim Robbins, Lily Tomlin, Tom Waits, Frances McDormand, Peter Gallagher, Annie Ross, Lori Singer, Jack Lemmon, Lyle Lovett, Buck Henry, Huey Lewis.

Director of photography, Walt Lloyd ; art director, Jerry Fleming ; editors, Geraldine Peroni, Suzy Elmiger ; music, Gavin Friday, Mark Isham ; costume designer, John Hay ; production designer, Stephen Altman.

Originally released as a motion picture in 1993.

Based on short stories written by Raymond Carver.

Special features: new high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound; isolated music track; "Reflections on 'Short cuts'", a new 25-min. videotaped conversation with Robert Altman and Tim Robbins; "Luck, trust, and ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver County": a 90-min. documentary on the making of 'Short cuts'; segment from BBC television's "Moving Pictures" tracing the development of Raymond Carver's short story "Jerry and Molly and Sam" for the film; a 50-min. audio interview with Raymond Carver; deleted scenes; a look inside the marketing of 'Short cuts', featuring trailers and more than sixty print advertising campaigns.

Golden Globes, USA, 1994: Special Award - Best Ensemble Cast.