A Prairie Home Companion

When I saw the previews (and the reviews on here) I was expecting a funny and warm story about a radio show. I am sure many people would say that's what this film is, and maybe it is. Perhaps you have to be familiar with the actual radio program to fully appreciate this movie. I found it to have a very scattered feeling to it, and my friends agreed. Kevin Kline's character was so cheesily awful and over-played (no fault of Kline's - that's how it was written), and Garrison Keillor lacked likability or charm. Also, the woman in white was just completely unnecessary and made no sense. The only redeeming parts of this film were when Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly were on stage. Their singing was the best of the whole film; I was really impressed with their harmony. Also, the dirty jokes towards the end cracked us up (especially since it was the only bright spot of actual humor in the whole film). So, if you're an established fan of the radio show, this movie might be something you'll enjoy. If you've never heard the show, maybe not.

First off, I must confess that I have never heard the NPR show that this film is based on, and I am not a fan of this type of music (it reminded me of a country variety/Lawrence Welk show). The reason I went to see it was because of the stellar cast and the many rave reviews... how could I go wrong? Well! Five minutes into the film, I wanted to leave, but I kept thinking "this HAS to get better". It didn't. Save for a handful of good jokes, I found the movie to be quite torturous... the plot was virtually non-existent, and the glimmer of intrigue that it raised (I won't give any spoilers), was really anti-climactic. In my opinion, this was one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. Don't go see it unless you really, really like this type of music and are interested in the radio era that the film represents. So there, you've been warned!

This is a very sad movie. It is also Robert Altman's worst, which makes it sadder. A Prairie Home Companion is a wonderful radio show. At times I have thought that it would be a great program to export abroad, especially to those nations that do not like the US right now, to show another side to this nation, a more quiet, sedate, tranquil side, at times ironical, at times bordering on the tragic, and always resilient, as in the end of so many episodes of Lake Wobegon, "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and children are above-average." In effect, the only real challenge for this film would have been to visualize what a radio program can only do orally: in this case, the lengthy Lake Wobegone narratives which usually put closure to A Prairie Home Companion. It would have been so easy. All one needed to do was to focus on Garrison Keillor's face and engage in extreme close-ups, especially of his lips and eyes. The Lake Wobegon material, however, was precisely what was absent from this movie. Instead, one got multiple vignettes, the only thing Altman has ever managed to do in any of his films to date, wherein famous actors do their usual cameo roles, and badly in this case, except for Lily Tomlin, who was magnificent in a serious role. This is a very sad movie about a great radio show. For Altman, of course, it's simply business as usual.

Altman has created the anti-Hollywood, which I'm sure was not by accident. A true gem. It's a shame that this was not a more commercially successful vehicle. The ensemble cast is superb, without exception. Garrison Keillor has a face made for radio, but I understand why he has to play himself. Nice baritone, but those are weapons-grade eyebrows. Altman pokes fun at standard 21st century American movie fare, but mid-20th century radio gets lampooned pretty well too. The eponymous radio show, the state of Minnesota, and mindless belief all takes it in the slats. Even irony itself is not safe from Altman's watchful eye. It's deliciously subtle and, by starts, wonderfully bawdy. Paying attention pays dividends. Doing subtle right takes a lot of work. One of the sweet surprises is that people you knew could act can also sing: Merryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson (not a typo), Lindsey Lohan, and John C. Reilly croon. Where else could they strut such stuff? Underplaying their roles, never stealing a scene, letting the well-written script be the star. Kevin Kline was never better, not even in "Wanda". Al Gore's old roommate is heartlessly evil. I'm glad I watched it alone because I felt free to laugh out loud. That would have been out of character with the movie. It's unlikely you would only like this movie. You'll love it or run the other way. I didn't want it to end. Don't look for a sequel.

Saw it at SXSW!! Great ensemble piece. I must admit before seeing this movie I'd only heard of the legendary Prairie Home Companion. This fact didn't hinder me at all. Truly enjoyed and found it hilarious and endearing. The only real problem I found with this movie was the wooden performance by Virginia Madsen as the Dangerous Woman. Couldn't believe that Lindsey Lohann pulled this off and Kevin Kline was great. I was particularly struck with the beautiful cinematography---especially for a film that all takes place in one location. This is fresh Altman---one of his best.

I just saw this movie last weekend at the SXSW film festival. I thought it was a wonderfully funny film. I might be a little partial since she is one of my favorites, but Meryl Streep was superb! The rest of the cast-Lohan, Tomlin, Kline, Reilly, Madsen, Harrelson-were all great as well. The movie actually felt like a documentary almost because the dialogue and activity was so real. Kline's character is hilariously out of place and the dialogue between the other actors is a riot. The jokes were great and the whole movie was really funny. The whole theater clapped at the end of the film. This is definitely another Altman great, I just wish he had won a real Oscar and not the honorary one!

I am sure the die hards will hate my assessment, but the film is very thin. Unless you happen to enjoy Keeler's self conscious winking at the audience in a "shucks-aren't-I-amusing" kind of way the movie will fall flat. This is the intellectual equivalent of HeeHaw, just for a different demographic. The plot is hackneyed, and nothing much really happens. There is some increbibly fine acting, and the scene between Marylouise Burke, Virginia Madsen and L.Q. Jones is some of the best acting I have seen in many a day. It is amazingly moving. Lohan, Tomlin and Streep all comport themselves beautifully and take turns warbling in pleasant ways. Madsen's character is the most interesting thing on screen, and one wishes she had many more scenes. If this were the best film of the year, as one commentator suggests, this is a very weak year.

source: A Prairie Home Companion

If you like "A Prairie Home Companion" on radio don't expect to have the same experience while watching this film. It is boring and sometimes idiotic. It is however exactly like seeing a live radio show in the theater; also boring. Despite a strong cast there isn't anything here. One good scene, Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly are funny as Dusty and Lefty. I think the film would have been better with lesser known actors playing the characters. I expected too much from the assembled cast. The script is bad!

Hello, I've been an avid fan of Altman for some time so sitting through an early screening of A Prairie Home Companion was certainly a treat. I think this might be one of his most accessible movies of recent years(less dense than most). It's a lovely little story about an era ending for a certain group of people. It's a situation that I think everyone can relate to in some way. The music, even if it isn't of your taste, is wildly clever and amusing. The whole cast is brilliant (Including,surprisingly, Ms. Lohan who has one particular effective scene). And the direction of course is top-notch. I can't really say more about it than it's just really fun. I think is SHOULD be an Oscar contender on many levels (supporting actor/actress nominations could be spread all around) , but you know how the academy is about comedies. Just see it. Have fun. Laugh. And Enjoy.