A Prairie Home Companion

[altivo]

We went this afternoon to celebrate our 24th anniversary together by seeing A Prairie Home Companion. Had to drive 30 miles to find a theatre with a matinee showing, and we were two out of an audience of three. I suppose it will be out on DVD quickly.

That is not a reflection on the quality of the film, which is very high. It is rather a reflection on the potential audience. Those of us who have listened to the "News from Lake Wobegon" for the past 30+ years are sure to see and enjoy it. Alas, it is probably wasted on a younger audience, for the most part. You have to love the campy, folksy style and the mad improvisations that Garrison Keillor has made famous, and it helps to have a healthy dose of nostalgia about live radio entertainment (that isn't a sports event), old theaters, and the midwest in general. We both loved it.

Some have said it is a film about death that deals with the subject cheerfully. I would say instead that it is a film about optimism and living life philosophically that happens to touch on death, love, passion, depression, and soulless powerbrokers in about equal parts. Written by Keillor himself, it has all the character of his early novels, particularly WLT, the account of an early live radio station that operated out of the back of a lunch counter (the call letters stood for "with lettuce and tomato") and in fact, the radio station that originates the broadcast during the film is WLT.

We see the final performance of Keillor's live radio variety show, as the theater and radio station have been purchased by a Texas mega-corporation that has decided to demolish the theater and put a parking lot in its place. Stellar performances by Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep, as the singing Johnson sisters, allow them to literally steal the show even though Keillor is brilliant playing himself and Kevin Kline is cast perfectly as Guy Noire, the forever short on cash private eye.

The film is worth seeing just for the music, which is all excellent and was in fact recorded live in the theatre, not dubbed in a studio. Radio fans will particularly enjoy the harried backstage managers and the hilarious performance by the sound effects man when he is called upon to back up a duct tape commercial in which Keillor adlibs continuously when the stage manager drops the script on the floor and fails to recover it in time. The familiar sponsors are almost all there: Guy's Shoes (made from genuine pigskin, they may squeak but they don't sweat), Powdermilk Biscuits (of course), Be-bop-a-re-ba frozen rhubarb and frozen rhubarb pies, and so forth. (I missed the Fearmonger Shop, though, and Bertha's Kitty Boutique.)

Missing? No monologue. But in a sense, the entire filmscript is one of Keillor's rambling monologues, with asides and digressions, reminiscences, tall tales, and philosophical remarks about life and living.

If you like Garrison Keillor's writing or his radio broadcasts, you should see this. As a matter of fact, if you can slow down and appreciate a film that isn't about blowing stuff up or shooting people, you should probably see it (even if you dislike Keillor.) Certainly, two of our friends who dislike the radio show were so taken with the interplay of characters and the humor of the film that they now hear the radio broadcast in a new light.

Rating: 4 of 5 possible apples

Comments

[lobowolf.livejournal.com]

I'm going to see it this weekend. I've been a big fan of A Prarie Home Companinon for at least 20 years, so it's really a no-brainer. However, it is rather an acquired taste; and I doubt in the world of shiny bling-bling that the show or Keillor is all that popular with the younger generation. (Radio? What's radio??)

But hey, the show or the movie isn't for everyone; nor did it ever portray itself to be that way.

(P.S. I won a Garrison Keillor look-alike contest 20 years ago when I was 19...not so much because I really look like him, but because it was an NPR fundraising event and there just weren't that many people to choose from)

*wanders on down to the Sidetrack Tap for a cold one*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

We would have liked to stop at the Chatterbox Cafe for supper afterward, but that wasn't an option and we had to settle for Walker Brothers Pancake House. I think you'll enjoy the film. I need to get the DVD when it comes out because the backdrop scenery is so wonderfully full of stuff that calls for minute examination. I'm sure the private jokes abound. Dressing rooms, green rooms, offices just loaded with posters, books, papers, and other memorabilia of 30 years of live radio broadcasts.

[kamodragon.livejournal.com]

I have actually been listening to "News from Lake Wobegon" with Garrison Keillor since I was a very young boy and I have fond memories of sitting around the radio listening to the skits and news. Most people my age have no idea who he is or the show itself but I grew up with public radio.. It has been about 8 years since I have really listened to the show so seeing the movie (when it is out on DVD) will probably bring back lots of memories.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

If you can see it in the theater, do. The large screen makes a contribution, especially in the scenes of the actual show being broadcast.

[animist.livejournal.com]

Quick note before bed time... We saw it last weekend, and loved it! What a fun movie. Our first date was to see "The Rhubarb Tour" live in Louisville. So it was nice seeing the movie a year later!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I sorta figured you'd appreciate it. :)

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Happy number 24, you two!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It doesn't seem like it's been that long really, except that I'm getting gray and he's getting shiny. ;p

[trail-horse.livejournal.com]

My Dad loved the radio show so I sort of grew up with it and came to enjoy it myself. I started listening to it on my own when I was in Oklahoma. But when I moved back to this part of California, much to my dismay, there was no public radio station so I haven't heard the show in several years. I was really suprised to see there was a movie coming out. I'll have to see it eventually.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite Keillor quote of all time was back when he used to read messages from the audience, and he ad libbed something about a couple from St. Louis and how "They like living in St. Louis because you don't have to have a lifestyle." That's the way I feel about Lake Wobegon.

If you have any affection for the old PHC, see the film. I think you'll enjoy it. The jokes are bit more risky than on the radio, but otherwise I think it's like a real peek behind the scenes.

[kakoukorakos.livejournal.com]

I grew up hearing a lot of the PHC stories too, hard to believe it's been around so long. I don't like all of the new, I miss some of the old, but Keillor still hasn't lost his touch.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree, it has changed over the 30 odd years since he started. We quit listening regularly when he moved to New York City and suddenly it just wasn't about the midwest and the prairie any more. I can't get into big city angst and strain, and the show was pervaded with that. It even took over his monologues and skits. I think it's better now that he's back in St. Paul, but he lost us there and we only tune in occasionally these days.

The film is more as if, when they lost their first theatre home in St. Paul (I've forgotten, but I think it was The Globe and they eventually moved to The World?) that had just been the end of it. Of course that didn't happen in reality, but it's very believable for the way Keillor would have dealt with it. I'm not at all the type who gets sniffly in movies, but this one had a couple of moments all right. No spoilers from me, you'll have to see it. ;)

[pioneer11.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this one is something I'll see. One of my private, almost
guilty, pleasures, has been Home Companion. Guilty because only
ooooold guys are supposed to like it. XD

And good for you for going 24.

*Keifer Sutherland shows up and applauds but then runs off to catch
bad guys*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

See it. One of the surprises is about old vs. young.