Though it’s been sitting on my shelves ever since it came out on DVD, I don’t think I’ve actually watched Robert Altman’s A Prairie Home Companion since it came out in 2006. That’s nothing against the film. It’s just something that happens — a lot more than it should. This is a fine film that not only serves as a pleasant fantasy version of what it’s like to work on the radio show of the title (in this case the show’s “final broadcast”), but serves as perhaps the best swan song any filmmaker ever had. It’s a film made by any 81-year-old director who is well aware of his rapidly approaching mortality (Altman would be dead a scant five months after the film came out) — and the film serves as a farewell. Indeed, the movie deals with the subject of death for a good deal of its running time. There’s an actual death in the film (with the observation that “there’s nothing tragic about the death of an old man”) and even an angel of death as a character. But it’s by no means gloomy and is as much about life as death. Plus, it’s very much an Altman picture with everything that means — multiple characters, multiple dramas, cross-talk, a genially meandering structure, etc. In its own way, it’s a perfect Altman film. And it now has an additional resonance by showcasing Lindsay Lohan at the point where it appeared she was on the threshold of a significant acting career.
Here’s my original review of the film: A Prairie Home Companion
The Hendersonville Film Society will show A Prairie Home Companion Sunday, July 28, at 2 p.m. in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.
This is in my top 25 films of the last 20 years list! I love it so much!
Ken, could you tell me what The Hendersonville Film Society is like? What’s the atmosphere of the Smoky Mountain Theatre?
You know, I don’t honestly know. I’ve never been there. Let me see if I can get someone who does know to answer you.
The Smoky Mountain Theater is located inside the main building of Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community which is located just behind the Epic Theaters in Hendersonville. They are in a shopping center across from the Blue Ridge Mall which is just off I-26 on U.S. 64 (Four Seasons Blvd).
It’s not a true theater but a multi-purpose auditorium with a large pull down screen. There are no rows of seats, just sit down chairs with arm rests. The movies are shown via a ceiling projector much like at the Carolina Cinema Lounge only the screen is slightly smaller. The atmosphere is extremely casual.
Incidentally, Garrison Keillor was just out at the Brevard Music Center last night (July 23). He did a 3 1/2 hour show to a large and enthusiastic audience.
Not a great film, but OK, certainly not a stinker. Very surprising that the same guy who made this, and other pretty good films, made the abominable “Popeye”.
But I guess we all have bad days.
Not everyone, of course, considers Popeye abominable.
Great! Thanks Chip!