Howdy, gang:
I went to see A Prairie Home Companion yesterday afternoon in Pflugerville, accompanied by my mother and my sister. This was the first theatrical release since Brokeback Mountain to which I was really looking forward, and I found it wonderfully entertaining and moving. Of the last three films I have seen theatrically (the other two being The Da Vinci Code and X-Men: The Last Stand), this was by far the best.
The ensemble cast was pitch-perfect to an actor, including Garrison Keillor, who was essentially playing himself, and who also contributed the screenplay. Set almost entirely within the confines of Saint Paul's Fitzgerald Theatre, the warmly toned cinematography contributed to the cozy and nostalgic world of the beloved radio show signing off for its last broadcast, while the gracefully mobile camera invested every screen moment with an engaging vitality. The soundtrack was no less dynamic, with director Robert Altman's signature use of multiple, overlapping conversations creating a dense aural atmosphere brimming with humor and verve. Just as infectious were the many wonderful musical numbers, with the actors singing in their own voices--Meryl Streep and Lindsay Lohan proved themselves to be remarkably strong singers.
The character that I think moved me most was the Dangerous Woman, played so exquisitely by Virginia Madsen. Some reviewers have disliked this character, finding the element that she introduces to the story to be unconvincing, but I found her lines to be infused with a rare beauty that moved me profoundly, and no one could have played her better than Madsen, with her sweet, soothing speaking voice.
This film is a real treat, and represents the kind of quality entertainment that can still issue from the world of American mainstream filmmaking. No fan of Robert Altman or Garrison Keillor's radio show will want to miss this one.
Cheers,
Scott
