When Robert Altman died last November, Hollywood lost one of its very great filmmakers. While not all of his work is masterpieces, he left behind an impressive repertoire, which he rounded out beautifully with "Robert Altman`s Last Radio Show".
The popular live radio revue "A Prairie Home Companion" presents its final performance. While on stage announcer GK (Garrison Keller) jokes around, talks commercials, and presents the musicians, backstage people talk about old times, settle unfinished scores, or arrange to meet for one last booty call. For most people, time has stood still here, modernity has been successfully stopped - until today. But the makers of the show don't want to go quietly: together with their popular guest musicians they want to let it rip once more. The stars of the evening include the Johnson Sisters (Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin) and the cowboy duo Dusty and Lefty (Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly), who want to give the show a worthy send-off. But the appearance of an angel of death (Virginia Madsen) ensures that a tearful farewell must be said, and not just on stage.
In 1974, Garrison Keller created the show "A Prairie Home Companion", which has since become a staple American institution. The blend of originality and tradition, its simplicity and innocence, which set the Radio Revue apart from all other programs, is what makes it so beloved by its loyal listeners, who include Robert Altman's wife. So in reality, there is no question of an end to the show, which is always recorded in front of a large live audience. But Keller, who also wrote the screenplay for the film and takes on the role he also holds on the radio show, wanted to tell a story about saying goodbye to traditions, to cherished habits, by depicting the fictional end of "A Prairie Home Companion" that hits viewers right in the heart and puts a wistful smile on their faces - and he more than succeeded, not least thanks to Altman's loving direction.
Most impressive, of course, is the cast Altman was able to assemble in front of the camera for this adaptation of Keller's screenplay. Acting as well as singing, greats like Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin and John C. Reilly are convincing, and you can see in every second the great joy with which they were at work. This was probably also achieved by the fact that many of the staff, actors and musicians of the original show are also part of the ensemble of the film and thus a very loose, relaxed atmosphere was created, which is also transferred to the audience. The film's humor is rather quiet, subtle, and just wonderful as a result.
The only problem with the film is that it is fully American (here in a very positive sense). This starts with the opening monologue by security chief Guy Noir (Kevin Kline), delivered in the best Philip Marlowe manner, which makes it clear that the people who put their heart and commitment into the show are closely tied to American traditions - in Guy's case, film noir. Even the music, a mix of bluegrass country, gospel and traditionals, might seem rather alien to most in this country. In addition, the long opening sequence, in which the protagonists are introduced, is a bit chaotic and unwieldy staged - but only at first glance. Seen in the overall context, this scene is simply wonderful - as is the entire film, as long as you manage to get involved in this world, which is somewhat alien to us.
Of course, Altman's death gives the film a bittersweet aftertaste, which makes the ending in particular a real goosebump moment. So "Robert Altman`s Last Radio Show"is not only simply a beautiful film, but also a tongue-in-cheek farewell to a great man of American cinema who will be noticeably missed, and not just in the film landscape. Absolutely worth seeing!
Original title: A Prairie Home Companion
Directed by Robert Altman
Length: approx. 105 min.
FSK: n/a.
17th + 20th May 2007
Harmony
Thu + Sun 11.45
