Screening Log

This new site feature is a collective effort to summarize our viewing habits. Occasionally, you will find titles here that are coming to a theater near you, in addition to films viewed on television, and even films viewed in piecemeal. The screening log is archived each month; to view past entries select a month in the menu below.


July 2006 activity

Total Log Entries: 71

Total Comments: 23


Full Archive



A Prairie Home Companion / USA / 2006

Altman’s latest effort is delightfully charming for the most part, specifically while one can appreciate his elegant camera work, his deft handling of another surplus of acting talent, and his polished compositions. Just to behold the sparkle of all those perfectly placed mirrors feels like a cinematic luxury. Altman has always been a rather showy director, mixing the bustle of movement with all that overlapping dialogue, but A Prairie Home Companion feels just as natural as his most cherished films as it settles into a relaxed flow almost immediately. While wandering through Garrison Keillor’s ol’ fashioned and slightly eccentric programming, it’s obvious that Altman is preoccupied with making an elegant exit as a peaceful fascination with death and finale quickly immerges. It’s also refreshing to watch Keillor and Altman essentially acknowledge that their time may have passed (I probably couldn’t stand Keillor’s voice for much longer than 100 minutes), but remain hopeful that their unique efforts can forever be appreciated. Unfortunately, the only real misstep is the awkward performance of Virginia Madsen (she appears to be playing every old man’s fantasy of what the Angel of Death might look like), who delivers her dialogue so awkwardly that it makes her entire character feel superfluous. Still, the film’s flaws are minor and they never really hinder one’s ability to appreciate Altman’s talents.

by Chiranjit Goswami | Source: Picturehouse 35mm Print
18 Jul 2006 5:43 PM | Submit Comment


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