Altman’s final film imagines the final performance of the eponymous live radio show were its Mid-West theatre about to be demolished. The delicious script is by Garrison Keillor, who is the compère just as for the real-life show. The cast, including Meryl Streep, Lindsay Lohan, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson and Kevin Kline, becomes a typical Altman community, and with Tommy Lee Jones as the slightly Bergmanesque Axeman, “representing the investors”, it’s tempting to believe Altman saw this as his swansong. “What a lovely film this is, so gentle and whimsical, so simple and profound” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). (105 mins)
Dir: Robert Altman, USA 2006
Comments
“A brilliant start to the season!”
“Terrific start to the season. I loved it!”
“A good start – definitely a filme noire [sic].”
“A pleasantly wacky start to the season.”
“Altman bows out, still at the top of his game! Perfect casting.”
“Wonderful – loved every minute.”
“Loved it! Don’t know if I laughed or cried more!”
“Funny, sad, wacky – altogether great.”
“Brilliant in so many different ways; scary, funny and touching. A really amazing film – I’ve never seen anything like it. A sad lesson in the penalties of not adapting (to change), alas.”
“Just as inspired as Lake Woebegone.”
“Cliched, hammy, touching, poignant and funny.”
“Wonderful nostalgia: GK was amazing! Very funny (even) in the presence of Death.”
“Very attractive to watch, especially the faces (of the characters). Lots of lovely individual performances.”
“A gem of a film but a wimp of an angel.”
“All good fun and jolly good company.”
“So bad it was brilliant – I loved every minute.”
“I loved the bad jokes.”
“I thought GK specialised in a wry but sympathetic treatment of mid-West naivety but (and this was really scary) uncovering the darkness underneath. Something of Noises Off, (combined) with some J.B. Priestley?”
“The start was very confusing – I nearly decided to walk out. Some catchy tunes.”
“Nice film – shame about the ‘music’.”
“Some good jokes, some fun stories but dire and mawkish music. Not really a fitting swansong.”
“Tedious muddle not quite rescued by some hilarious moments.”