Garrison Keillor and Robert Altman bring a fictional account in the style of Keillor’s popular radio program to the airwaves, um or DVDwaves. This review is brought to you Powdermilk Biscuits, Rhubarb, and Norwegian and Lutheran technology.
The Prairie Home Companion radio show has been broadcasting for 30 years over the airwaves on WLT from the Fitzgerald Theater. Unfortunately, the company has been sold and the buyers are closing down the show and the theater to make room for a parking lot. Hardboiled, but out of work, detective Guy Noir (Kevin Kline) is handling security for the theater.
Tonight is the last show and the host of the show G. K. (Garrison Keillor, talk about typecasting) is not exactly feeling sentimental about the demise of the show. They’ve lined up a final show and the behind the scenes work is handled by Al (Tim Russell) - the stage manager, Donna (Sue Scott) – the makeup lady, Molly (Maya Rudolph) – the backstage coordinator, the lunch lady (Marylouise Burke), and the sound effects man (Tom Keith).
They’ve assembled a group of performers for the big final show. They include Yolanda (Meryl Streep) and Rhonda (Lily Tomlin) Johnson, aka the Johnson Sisters, who have Yolanda’s daughter Lola (Lindsey Lohan) along for the ride. Elderly singer and lothario Chuck Akers (L. Q. Jones) who’s romancing the Lunch Lady. Finally, there’s also the singing cowboy duo of Lefty (John C. Reilly) and Dusty (Woody Harrelson).
The show must go on, even if it is the last one. There’s a mysterious woman (Virginia Madsen) who’s wandering around backstage and may be an ethereal presence. Meanwhile the devilish fellow (Tommy Lee Jones) who’s there to ax the show has arrived to watch the final broadcast.
The Johnson Sisters
Prairie Home Companion is a movie that attempts to do the impossible, recreate the feel of Garrison Keillor’s iconic radio show. In my opinion it succeeds. It’s crafted with the finest Norwegian workmanship and is well suited to the style of Robert Altman (obviously a Lutheran). We’re treated to the style of Keillor’s show complete with musical performances, Keillor’s deadpan, sonorous delivery, and the commercial breaks for Powdermilk Biscuits, etc.
They use the musicians from the radio show and several cast members (Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Tom Keith) appear on the radio show. Altman’s style is used to great effect. Everyone is wired for sound and talk over one another and takes are done in one roving take. The results are….adequate (Altman’s highest praise for his actors). Surprisingly the actors do their own singing and are really quite good, in a folksy way. I mean, nobody is going to open at Carnegie Hall, but their styles suit the kind of folk singing that they’re called to do.
My favorite characters have to be Dusty and Lefty. They’re act include a number called “Bad Jokes” that is a hoot (especially how the stage manager reacts because he considers the song too raw for radio). I also thought special praise should be given to the legendary L. Q. Jones whose gravitas shines through in his role. The show is expertly cast and everyone shines in their parts. Except for G. K. I mean has he ever heard the guy that he’s supposed to be playing? Sheesh. Umm, what’s that? Oh, that’s the same guy? Well, I suppose that he’s adequate (insert rim-shot here).
A Prairie Home Companion is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and enhanced for 16x9 televisions. The back of the case says 1.85:1, but 2.35:1 is the correct aspect ratio and how the show is presented.
Bad Jokes
Special features are rather generous. The first section is called “Onstage at the Fitzgerald: A Music Companion.” It gathers together all ten musical performances, uninterrupted and totaling 24 minutes. The second part of this section gathers all six of the advertisements on the show and totals 5 minutes. Next is the documentary “Come Play with Us: A Feature Companion” and runs 49 minutes.
It has interviews with Garrison Keillor, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Virginia Madsen, Tommy Lee Jones, Lindsey Lohan, Marylouise Burke, Robert Altman, Sue Scott, Tim Russell, musician/bandleader Richard A Dworsky, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Kevin Kline, L. Q. Jones, Maya Rudolph, and singer Jearlyn Steele. This documentary is a fine one and starts with the radio show and moves onto the film.
There’s also a commentary with director Robert Altman and actor Kevin Kline. Next is a soundtrack preview. It’s not a commercial, but a text listing of the tracks and previews (which are really clips from the movie). Finally there’s the theatrical trailer and a collection of trailers for other New Line DVDs.
In my opinion, the movie captures the spirit of the radio show. Fans of the show will enjoy seeing what potentially happens when the show is presented in front of a live studio audience (for those of us who can’t get to Minnesota). I greatly enjoyed the movie, especially Keillor’s deadpan delivery.
Sing, sing, sing
A Prairie Home Companion is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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