I love both Robert Altman and Prairie Home Companion and
when Katie and I recently sat down to watch the Altman film about this radio
show, I was expecting something truly great. And even though Altman's worst is
better than most people's best, it seemed tired, feeble, and sad; almost as if
it had something to say but didn't quite have the strength or energy with which
to say it. I came away feeling somewhat disappointed and a bit guilty for
feeling this way. From my perspective the film might have had the Altman touch
but it seemed as if he held back on sharing any of his energy, his life, his
soul. My God. How wrong could I be?
At a news conference in St. Paul, Minnesota (also attended by Keillor and many
of the movie's stars), when asked about "A Prairie Home Companion," Altman said,
"this film is about death."
Looking back I realize now how frighteningly masterful this prophetic film was.
In it a long running radio show ("The show had been on the air since Jesus was
in the 3rd grade" - Guy Noir) finally closes, someone on the set dies and the
conversation naturally revolves around endings and death:
Lola - What if you die some day?
Garrison - I will die.
Lola - Don't you want people to remember you?
Garrison - I don't want them to be told to remember me.
As an American audience, we've come to expect happy endings and when this one
never arrives, we are at a lost. In much the same way as we feel knowing there
will be no more films directed by Mr. Altman. This was his last. And my God, he
knew it too. And in every frame, in every shot, he was saying "good bye". What
brilliance. What heart. And I would add "what a loss" but as the "Dangerous
Woman" in A Prairie Home Companion reminds us:
"There is no tragedy in the death of an old man. Forgive him his shortcomings,
and thank him for all his love and care."
Thank you, Mr. Altman. Thank you.
MASH (1970), Brewster McCloud (1970), McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), The Long
Goodbye (1973), Nashville (1975), 3 Women (1977), A Wedding (1978), Popeye
(1980), Streamers (1983), Fool for Love (1985), Beyond Therapy (1987), Vincent
and Theo (1990), The Player (1992), Short Cuts (1993),Ready to Wear (1994),
Gosford Park (2001), A Prairie Home Companion (2006) [partial list]
Robert Altman was nominated five times by the Academy for Best Director but has
never won. No director ever got more nominations without winning though four
other men tied-- Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, Clarence Brown and King
Vidor.