I grew up listening to Garrison Keillor, so was somewhat predisposed to like this one, though tonal inconsistencies made it difficult to warm up to at times. Altman plunges the viewer in to the behind-the-scenes world of Keillor’s eponymous radio show, and while it’s fun to watch the uniformly talented cast (yes, even Lindsay Lohan) play off each other, certain plot devices and characters come across as ham-handed. Some of Keillor’s radio trademarks (e.g. his sound-effects man) come alive onscreen, while others (e.g. Guy Noir, as incarnated by Kevin Kline) fall flat given the lack of proper context. While there’s pleny of technical skill on display, I found myself longing for the rich characterizations and deep undercurrent of feelings that could be found in Nashville. That said, given the current crop of movies in theaters now, this one felt like a breath of fresh air.
by Beth Gilligan | Source: Picturehouse 35mm print
13 Jun 2006 11:21 PM | Submit Comment