Oscar Snub

Prairie Home Companion premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, which is expanding to the point of being compared to Cannes, but the film, afterwards, only received mediocre press from American journalist. Although I have not seen any figures I am willing to say that the many people did not see it, despite relatively wide spread distribution and a very recognizable cast.

The first reason I consider it an Oscar snub is the most superficial and insignificant reason so I mention it first. If a Robert Altman film won best picture, or if he won best director it would be some Grade A television. Altman died this year and there is nothing that wins you fan-fare like kicking the bucket. So, I could foresee quite a moving TV moment when Altman is named best director and the auditorium goes black, the presenters leave the stage, the spotlight falls on an empty podium, a moment of silence, then a standing ovation for the departed (no pun intended).

But, forget the quality of the broadcast. This film was Altman's farewell note. It may sound cliche, but this film really reflected the professional life that Altman led, and it did so in a well-crafted allegoric way, much like Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries He was notoriously controlling and aloof, but was absorbed in his work.

Prairie Home Companion is about the last show, the last story, the last song, the last embrace of an author and his audience. Altman was known to be terribly hard to work with, terribly controlling, but no one can argue that he was terribly brilliant when he was on. He made some very forgettable movies and some that were unforgettable because they were so bad, but he was so prolific we should allow a few duds in between masterpieces. (McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Mash, The Player, Nashville, Gosford Park, and now Prairie)

The film is wildly entertaining, hilarious, and touching. Even if you are not a fan of the corn ball radio show the film will win you over.

I write this post with the utmost respect for the passing of a true auteur.

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