A Prairie Home Companion
I have been listening to the radio show A Prairie Home Companion since the early '80s and, since moving to the upper midwest in the mid-'80s, have come to understand and appreciate the show more and more. (That's for another post.) I was thrilled when I heard last year that Garrison Keillor was writing a movie for PHC. I was even more thrilled to know that Robert Altman was directing. Then came the cast list including Lily Tomlin, Meryl Streep, John C. Reilley, Woddy Harrelson, Kevin Kline and Tommie Lee Jones and I was thrilled.

Last June the news in the Twin Cities was filled with the filming of the movie at the Fitzgerald Theater and Mickey's Diner in St. Paul. It was fun to watch.

Went to see the movie today. It was worth the wait- and was every bit as wonderful as I hoped it would be. Streep and Tomlin were pure chemistry alive on the screen. Harrelson and Reilley were comedy alive. Kevin Kline was remarkable as Guy Noir. And on it goes. It was a truly heart-warming, yet slightly off-kilter story that you would expect from Garrison and directed by Altman. It had energy and awe and fun and a certain uncertain darkness.

It was also fun to see the regulars of PHC in the flesh- Tom Keith, Tim Russel, Rich Dworsky, Sue Scott, and Prudence Johnson. The music was pure PHC. And Garrison was pure, wonderful, off-kilter Garrison.

I hope you go and see it. It is a charm and worth more than one viewing. I'm ready to reserve my copy of the DVD.