A Prairie Home Companion
for risque humor.
Reviewed by: Jonathan Rodriguez
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Music Comedy |
| Length: | 1 hr. 45 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2006 |
| USA Release: |
June 9, 2006 (wide) |
| Featuring | Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Garrison Keillor, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan |
| Director |
Robert Altman |
| Producer | William Pohlad, John Penotti, Fisher Stevens |
| Distributor | Picturehouse Films |
“Radio like you’ve never seen it before.”
In order to prepare to go see Robert Altman’s latest film, “A Prairie Home Companion,” I thought I would revisit one of his best films, “Gosford Park”. The reason I love “Gosford Park” so much is that the film takes a plethora of characters, gives them an interesting setting, but somehow keeps us at a distance. The film never involves us; we feel more like a fly on the wall at a big dinner party of self-absorbed rich people. But that is exactly what the film needed. We didn’t need to be involved to enjoy the film. Had we been given characters we could relate to, or empathize with, the film would have taken on an entirely different tone, and no doubt wouldn’t have worked as well. It was no doubt difficult for Altman to create an ensemble world where we weren’t supposed to connect with the characters or even like them for that matter, but I suppose that’s why he is considered one of our very best directors. I say all this to say that “A Prairie Home Companion” is even better than “Gosford Park”, but for the entirely opposite reason.
The minute the film starts, and as we are slowly introduced to all the colorful characters, we warm up to them; we like them instantaneously, without having much reason to. Maybe it’s the setting, or maybe it’s the actors playing them, but whatever the reason, Altman has worked his ensemble magic again.
“A Prairie Home Companion” doesn’t have much in terms of plot, which is also something we come to expect from Altman. There is, of course, a loose plot; one assembled primarily to give the numerous characters some reason to be together, but then lets them go from there.
The film opens on what appears to be the final night of “A Prairie Home Companion”, a long running radio variety show that also plays to a packed house nightly in their St. Paul theater. Before seeing the film, I was entirely unaware of the fact that this is an actual radio show, created by Garrison Keillor (who perfectly plays the show’s host GK and wrote the script), with fictional elements thrown into the movie to make it interesting. The radio show features a colorful cast of regulars including the Johnson sisters Yolanda and Rhonda (Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin), singing trail hands Dusty and Lefty (Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly), crooner L.Q. Jones (Chuck Akers), and others. We also get the backstage pass, where we meet the folks behind the scenes and get to watch the performers gear up for the final show.
The film is narrated by Guy Noir (Kevin Kline), a bumbling, out of work private eye making bills meet as the show’s stage security guy. He becomes entranced by a mysterious woman (Virginia Madsen) wandering around backstage, and seems intent on wooing her despite the fact that he doesn’t know who she is, or why she is even back with the performers, and doesn’t seem to realize that it is his job to keep her from wandering around. Tommy Lee Jones plays the Axeman, the Texas businessman who bought the theater and plans on turning it into a parking lot. All of this is a setup that allows the actors to sort of roam free, without the constraints of a heavy plot, and gives us the chance to sit back and enjoy the show.
The film is rated PG-13, for what the MPA calls “Risqué Humor,” and that is really the only way to describe it. There are numerous sexually-related jokes peppered throughout the film, as well as crude jokes near the end in Dusty and Lefty’s final song, appropriately titled “Bad Jokes.” There isn’t a whole lot in terms of language, although there is a few uses of God’s name in vain. There is little actual sexual content, although one of the characters is seen in his room, getting ready for a tryst with the show’s Lunch Lady. The major problem that I, and most people who will see the film, had is the inappropriate humor. The jokes will offend people, and should warrant some caution for those planning on seeing the film. Fortunately, most children and teenagers will have little interest in the film.
When all is said and done, I loved “A Prairie Home Companion.” It’s funny, at times hilarious, sweet without being condescending to it’s simple characters, and completely original. I am not the type who looks forward to the big budget releases, in fact I have still not seen “MI.3,” “The Da Vinci Code,” or any of the others. I look forward to originality and creativity, and that’s exactly what “A Prairie Home Companion” delivers.
Violence: Minor / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Moderate
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
Excellent! / 5
The singing was great, and the plot was interesting especially how the director Robert Altman did the different camera views and moved it quite fast paced.
The only part that was a little annoying was the “Bad Jokes” Song that the cowboys do toward the end. That probably could have been done more tastefully.
Another thing that some people may have a bit of a problem with is the suicide poem, which I personally thought was hilarious.
I would recommend this movie for any one looking to get a good laugh out of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Average / 4
Offensive / 4
Average / 3
Average / 3
Offensive / 3
Average / 5
Average / 5
The best films are never about just one thing, and “A Prairie Home Companion” is a perfect example. You could look at it as a love letter to the radio program, or an ode to actors and the camaraderie among them, or as it was described as a fable about endings and beginnings. Or as another exercise in overheard casual conversations. Or as a story about how seemingly isolated pasts lead a group of people to a given place.
There were true, heartfelt connections between this group of people and I liked how they all shared their stories with each other. It’s fascinating to hear a person tell you about where they’ve come from. All of the acting is great, as expected—just look at the cast list. Garrison Keillor, too, fit in perfectly, and I loved the musical performances… alive and very well done. How about Meryl Streep. I guess that shouldn’t really surprise me, though.
The film’s plot is basically that this is the last show, because they’re being bought out by a Texas corporation. Why a Texas corporation would buy a Minnesota, I am not quite sure. Acting as our guide is Guy Noir (a character on the radio show, here used as a private eye turned security guard), played by Kevin Kline in a kind of amazing performance. He does the 40’s private eye thing, incorporates slapstick, does a lot of comedy and is just pitch perfect.
Lastly, there is a sort of Biblical undertone to the entire thing. Virginia Madsen plays, I think, an angel who comes to help the cast. But help them how? God doesn’t always give us what we want, but He does send something our way to ease the transitions into our disappointments. There are many Gospel songs, all well performed.
I loved everything about the film. I loved the characters, the humor, the atmosphere, the look, everything. There is a little bit of sexual humor, but even it is more tame than any romantic comedy out in the last ten years.
Robert Altman is one of my favorite directors, and the more I think about it, the more I think “A Prairie Home Companion” is one of his best films.
My Ratings: Good / 5