A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

	Director: Robert Altman	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama/Musical NORWEGIAN TITLE A Prairie Home Companion RUNNING TIME 105 minutes
	Producer: Robert Altman Wren Arthur Joshua Astrachan Tony Judge David Levy
	Screenwriter: Garrison Keillor

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Dusty	Woody Harrelson	½
Axeman	Tommy Lee Jones	-
GK	Garrison Keillor
Guy Noir	Kevin Kline	½
Lola Johnson	Lindsay Lohan
Dangerous Woman	Virginia Madsen	½
Lefty	John C. Reilly
Molly	Maya Rudolph	-
Yolanda Johnson	Meryl Streep
Rhonda Johnson	Loly Tomlin
Chuck	L. Q. Jones	-

Review

This talky, amusing film makes for a worthy swansong for a legendary filmmaker. Centered around Garrison Keillor's real-life radio show of the same name, A Prairie Home Companion is all about tribute and nostalgia – which in retrospect seems very appropriate. The film has time for the things modern entertainment cuts past, and Altman and his ensemble cast present it with warmth and gentle humour. Combining Keillor's (more or less) real-life persona and staff with some pleasant characterizations from Hollywood stars (notably Reilly and Streep/Tomlin as two colourful sisters) works well, and the film is at its best when Altman crosscuts between his different characters as they alternate between performing their vaudeville numbers and chit-chatting about the little things in life. Where A Prairie Home Companion doesn't quite work, however, is in the inclusion of its noir mystery. The Virginia Madsen character is too much symbolism, and her scenes feel out of place. A Prairie Home Companion is by no means Robert Altman at his best, but it is an enjoyable little film that might attract some new viewers to the vast catalogue he leaves behind.