"A Prairie Home Companion" (2006 release; 105 min.) is a big screen adaptation of the weekly radio show hosted by Garison Keillor, and at that time arguably NPR's most popular or certainly most treasured variety show. As the movie opens, we meet Guy Noir, who is the head of security for the Fitzgerald, the St. Paul theater where A Prairie Home Companion takes place each week (when it is not touring). Noir informs us in a voice-over that the theater has been bought by a no-good Texan and that tonight's performance is likely the very last. Meanwhile the cast is getting ready for tonight's show, as we get to know the host Garrison Keillor and a slew of others, including the Johnston Sisters. At this point we are 10 min. into the movie...
Couple of comments: this turned out to be the very last film directed by Robert Altman. Except for a few fleeting scenes reminding us of "Nashville", this really doesn't feel like an Altman movie at all. Instead, this is Garrison Keillor's film. He not only stars, but also wrote the script, including the lyrics of most songs performed. As a longtime fan myself of the NPR show, and having attended the live broadcast in person when the show has made stops in Cincinnati (where I live, and which was a regular stop for the show for years), I found this film to be a curious mix. When it sticks to bringing the live show, it works quite well, but when it veers into the fictional side story, it feels forced and frankly misplaced. Here is the "lady in the white trench coat" (turns out she's an angel), there is Guy Noir supervising security, etc. The film sports an all-star case, way too many to name. The best of the bunch are the Johnston Sisters, played by Lily Tomlin and, even better, Meryl Streep who shows us what a terrific singer she is. However, the presence of Lindsay Logan (playing Meryl Streep's daughter) is completely unnecessary and frankly annoying. The best aspect of the film is clearly the music, with its wonderful mix of country, bluegrass, americana, folk, jazz, and gospel.
As mentioned, I was a longtime fan of the NPR show and never bothered to see this when it was released in 2006. Then just the other day it was listed on Showtime, and curiosity got the better of me and I finally watched it. Of course a lot has changed since 2006. Keillor retired from the show in 2016 and then a year later was cut from any further ties to the show and NPR altogether (due to #MeToo allegations). The show was renamed but never flourished again like in the ol' days, and finally bit the dust altogether earlier this year. Meanwhile, "A Prairie Home Companion" (the film) is a bit of an oddity, although certainly worth checking out, mostly for the music and Meryl Streep's outstanding performance.
Couple of comments: this turned out to be the very last film directed by Robert Altman. Except for a few fleeting scenes reminding us of "Nashville", this really doesn't feel like an Altman movie at all. Instead, this is Garrison Keillor's film. He not only stars, but also wrote the script, including the lyrics of most songs performed. As a longtime fan myself of the NPR show, and having attended the live broadcast in person when the show has made stops in Cincinnati (where I live, and which was a regular stop for the show for years), I found this film to be a curious mix. When it sticks to bringing the live show, it works quite well, but when it veers into the fictional side story, it feels forced and frankly misplaced. Here is the "lady in the white trench coat" (turns out she's an angel), there is Guy Noir supervising security, etc. The film sports an all-star case, way too many to name. The best of the bunch are the Johnston Sisters, played by Lily Tomlin and, even better, Meryl Streep who shows us what a terrific singer she is. However, the presence of Lindsay Logan (playing Meryl Streep's daughter) is completely unnecessary and frankly annoying. The best aspect of the film is clearly the music, with its wonderful mix of country, bluegrass, americana, folk, jazz, and gospel.
As mentioned, I was a longtime fan of the NPR show and never bothered to see this when it was released in 2006. Then just the other day it was listed on Showtime, and curiosity got the better of me and I finally watched it. Of course a lot has changed since 2006. Keillor retired from the show in 2016 and then a year later was cut from any further ties to the show and NPR altogether (due to #MeToo allegations). The show was renamed but never flourished again like in the ol' days, and finally bit the dust altogether earlier this year. Meanwhile, "A Prairie Home Companion" (the film) is a bit of an oddity, although certainly worth checking out, mostly for the music and Meryl Streep's outstanding performance.