Elliott Gould and George Segal ascend to the pantheon of iconic 70s two-time loser buddies in Robert Altman's hidden gem California Split. Laid back Bill (Segal) is a casual gambler haunting LA poker dens when he makes the acquaintance of live-wire style icon Charlie (Gould). After a few drinks and a mugging the pair discover that together their individual bad luck has transformed into an unbelievable hot streak. They embark on a rapid climb from fleapit racetracks to the (comparative) glamour of the Reno casinos, but as the stakes get higher Charlie's compulsive betting threatens to send them crashing back down to earth.

Hangovers, chainsmoking, bruises, Budweiser and Froot Loops for breakfast— Altman paints a picture of the America that can be found slumped over a craps table at two in the morning. His signature command of complex audio layering has arguably never been better, with a dense fog of muttering and half-heard conversations that flows around the chaotic leads as they're propelled along by nervous energy. Gould and Segal's instant-BFFs chemistry is palpable and at times Gould (a compulsive gambler in real life) seems not so much to be acting as living, with a manic gleam in his eye that's a little too real. California Split is hilarious, tragic and an essential watch for those who dig on Altman's unique wavelength.