So… were you upset that you thought the movie was going that way, or that it didn’t go that way? :dubious: 
For what it’s worth, I thought that scene was one of the more heartbreaking bits in the entire movie, with the woman slowly coming to the realization that the man she loves is dead.
Having the dead guy pass gas about five times just added to the poignancy.
That isn’t a plain old fart joke so much as it is an example of both how death is around us and we don’t know it and also how difficult it is for most people to look it in the face.
I think if you don’t catch this major thematic element - or if you’re just not the sort of person who thinks about death that way, then the movie will be painful to watch (especially with Lohan, who I agree was terrible almost without exception). But if you are, then the movie will simply be painful (but cathartic) to watch.
I would allow that if you aren’t a regular listener of the show, the vague and shallow spirituality of Asphodel[sup][/sup] is annoying. It’s something of a fault but on the other hand the show itself is so clearly close to a church service without being one, so that’s consistent with it. Garrison Keillor is definitely not making light-hearted entertainment with his show; note that he wrote this screenplay and it is without a doubt the sort of story he would (and often enough does, if you listen closely to the ‘News’) tell. While it is unmistakably directed by Altman, this film doesn’t feel as much like an Altman film as it does a Keillor film captured by Altman.
[sup][/sup]not being a real Hebrew name, her name is kind of clever (asphodel being the flower of Persephone which grows in Hades).
I don’t really remember the last scene of the people performing a reunion show. It would make sense that you didn’t see guy because he doesn’t perform. Was Lindsey there? I always that maybe Asphodel had just claimed LL in the parking lot.
What really disappointed me about the movie was that it was the radio show. I’ve seen the radio show. I wanted a “Lake Woebegone” movie and I thought Altman would be a great choice for that.
Did you notice how ‘Lake Woebegone’ wasn’t used in the film? No ‘News From’ segment. And Garrison was GK.
I think this is to save those characters for another film.
I didn’t think that was a reunion show at the end, but just the very end of the show that they were performing throughout the movie. Everyone was wearing the same clothes, from what I remember. And the set was the same (the house facade, the band’s setup, etc). And I do believe that Lohan was singing with the rest of them in the ending scene, which the “future”, business-oriented Lohan wouldn’t be likely to do.
I liked it. What I thought was gonna be PBS-level boring, what my grandparents would like, was made far more interesting by being pretty much entirely about death.
I’ve listened to the radio show off and on for a long time, and I really liked the movie, YMMV
At least it wasn’t so bad that you had to walk out!
I missed this thread when it came up first. My wife and I saw the movie when it was released. We enjoy the radio program and have been to see it live a couple of times. Our response to the movie was “Meh. And, what was with the angel?” I guess I’m glad I saw it, but if I never see it again, that’ll be OK.
I’m glad this thread got revived. We just watched it on Saturday.
My 1.999… cents: You have to forget that it is a PHC movie. That’s just a title. It’s a Altman film with Keillor writing. Forget you ever heard or have seen the real PHC. Then you can enjoy the movie.
I liked it somewhat. But …
Altman and I go way back. I saw MAS*H in the theater. I love his use of realistic dialog. The overlapping talking for example. But this was too much. There are limits to what a person can pick out from three people talking at once on different topics.
Lohan. Wrong actress, wrong style, wrong voice.
GK’s dark side (show must go on, etc.) Okaaay.
Tomlin. I was lead to believe that she sang well in the movie. Pardon me?
The good:
I hate Streep. Hate, hate, hate. Okay, so she can sing. She can sing well. Head about to asplode. (Note: I saw her character as lusting after GK, not the other way around at all. GK seemed to be indifferent and then some to her.) I had seen the PBS 4th of July show where she was pretty good, but this was even better. Ah, postproduction.
The Lefty and Dusty bad joke song. I am so ashamed. I just kept laughing harder and harder. It came out of nowhere for me. They seemed completely useless characters up until then. And the jokes really are awful. But the setting and the interaction with the soundman and the stage manager was wonderful. (So the movie peaked too early for me.)
The maybe:
I loved the Kevin Kline old-style detective lingo parts. Really great stuff. But it didn’t fit into this movie. Keillor should be allowed to do an old style Sam Spade detective movie.
As to the ending in the diner.
The angel wasn’t coming for a person, she was coming for the concept. Lohan’s character had just gotten power of attorney from her mother. The tour bus was clearly going to be pulled out from under them. There is never going to be tour. The show is dead in all forms.
(And I wish Keillor would lay off the Norwegian bachelor farmer jokes. I have a soft spot for Norwegian bachelor farmers. Wait. That didn’t come out right…)
Well, maybe I should try this movie again, now that I’m no longer feverish. I see lots of folks who love the radio show also liked the movie and I do love the show. (Except for the music. I just can’t get into that. I hate gospel music. And ol’ timey stuff too. Actually, why DO I love the show again?)
Are you from or in Minnesota? I have to say that one thing the show did do to me was to make me miss Minnesota. I lived in Minneapolis for two years and I swear I knew every single one of those people…
The characters, that is. Not the actors.
No. I live in the south. But in SPIRIT, I think I’m a misplaced northerner. I always say, “When I die, I’m going to Minnesota.” I love the cold, I love winter, I go into a deep depression every April, knowing that summer is not far off.
Guy Noir maybe?
I am familiar with the radio show and was looking forward to watching the movie on DVD. I feel angry that the time I wasted watching this self indulgent piece of…I don’t even know what to call it.
Does Lilly Tomlin and Meryl Streep think that we want to watch and listen to them sing over and over? This movie had one song after another with stupid, uninteresting, annoying banter inbetween. The filming of people putting on a radio show does not make for a good movie. I was expecting a lot more behind the scenes with the radio actors acting like real people rather than their annoying characters. Within 3 minutes, the Johnson sisters or whatever were drilling holes into my head. The angel walking around semi comotose giving these horrific lines in this drug stupored voice and manner was so bad, I could barely stand to listen. The whole angel of death plotline was so incredibly cheesey- Garrison Kiellor having Meryl Streep be in love with him- ugg, Lindsey Lohan singing- ugg, Kevin Kline dressing and talking like Guy Nior- ugg- People talking to the angel and having stupid conversations like “Hmm, what is in this ham salad sandwich- I remember it, it was called meey, maa, meeoyo”- this is one of the dumbest things ever put onto film.
But then again, a lot of people liked it