Review of A Prairie Home Companion (2006) by Nicholas V — 20 Sep 2007

It's obvious to everyone here that I love the films of Robert Altman, and I was absolutely sad to hear of his death back during the fall. It is great that I finally got to see his final film, and it is a wonderful film that made me feel happy as it ended.

Inspired by Garrison Keilor's real-life live radio show, it is the fictional story of the final broadcast of the show as the cast, crew, and security await the arrival of the Axeman (Tommy Lee Jones) who will be in charge of tearing down the theater they perform in.

As the night progesses, we meet the singers, including Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly as country singers who love to push the limits of the censors, and Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin as a pair of singers who love old standards.

There's also Streep's daughter Lola (Lindsey Lohan) who is obssessed with death and suicide. Then there is the security officer Guy Noir (Kevin Kline) who is haunted by a woman in a white trenchcoat (Virginia Madsen) who may or may not be dangerous.

It's a shame that there will never be another Altman film ever again, as this film was a wonderful way for him to go out. The songs are delightful, the perfomances are wonderfully perfect, and it ends on a very unexpectedly happy note that I didn't see coming.

After it ended, it was hard to get rid of the feeling that it left me with, which was a great one. And oh yes, the film's dry humor will be the thing that will make you laugh quite a lot. It's one of 2006's best films!