A Prairie Home Companion Review

[puppetmaker]

Peter and I went and saw "A Prairie Home Companion: the Movie" yesterday. What a delightful movie over all. Altman has again pulled some very solid performances from some great actors. The banter between Lilly Tomlin and Meryl Streep is worth the price of admission. But wait there is more! You also get Garrison Keeler as GK. Lindsey Lohan plays the angsty daughter of Meryl Streep. Woody Harrelson and John C. Reily as a set of trail weary cowboys with probably the funniest song in the entire film. Then there is Kevin Kline as Guy Noir where he proves who REALLY should have played the lead in the latest Pink Panther film. The capper is Virginia Madsen who is billed as "Dangerous Woman". We also get the Radio show regulars on screen doing what they do best.

I went into the film having heard "Prairie Home Companion" on the radio on Saturday nights for years. Peter knew the basics and who Garrison Keeler was. Didn't really matter if you were familiar with the material or not. There were in-jokes that were for the radio audience but there is enough there for you to sort out who is who if you don't know. It is worth the current price of admission especially if you are a fan of the radio program or Robert Altman's body of work.

I am grateful I saw this on a large Screen because there is a lot going on in the corners.

Comments

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

Damn! There is no way it will ever run down here in Podunksville.

Which is a shame because I am a huge fan of the show (saw it live in 2003) and I really want to see the movie.

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

I've been a fan of PHC since the late 70s, when my parents made it a family tradition to sit on the living room floor (Papa and me) or couch (Mama) and play board games or do crafty stuff while listening to the show. There'd be hell to pay if anyone dared to call during "It's been a quiet week in Lake Wobegone..." I remember the ill-fated change to "American Radio Company" in the 80s. So glad they changed back. And I'm sad I keep missing out on chances to see the live show at Town Hall. One of these days!

Saturday afternoon's Bob Edwards show (http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bobedwards) had a segment with Garrison Keillor and Robert Altman, and they played some clips. The Streep/Tomlin banter sounds terribly Minnesotan, but then Streep is an accent chameleon, right? I'm a little apprehensive about Dusty and Lefty being brought to life, as it were--but I'll take my chances, especially given your positive review. Thanks for reassuring me. :-)