The Axeman Cometh

Yesterday, I was able to view A Prairie Home Companion...the movie.  It's a fictional account of the real radio show I've listened to for years.  Now, that may seem odd coming from an almost 30 year old, but I'm not the common type of 30 year old. 

Today's music sucks and has done so for years.  Now, I may be in a minority with that kind of opinion, however, I like my music to enhance my life as it plays in the background.  I don't want to listen to some spoiled Hollywood brat complain about their love life, rap about gunning down other dumb punks, or anything that is produced for the sole purpose of making some wanna-be rocker a millionaire. 

That's why I listen to public radio.  I like to be informed about the world via NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered as well as listen to the great music and stories found on your local public radio station.  This brings me to Saturdays around 5pm when you can hear a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion.  The show, produced by Garrison Keillor, is full of fun, easy music, old time radio skits, and great storytelling and it has been airing in some shape or form for 32 some years.  I listened to the show quite often in high school during uneventful Saturdays. 

Now if you didn't know anything about PHC before now, you may not enjoy the movie as much (especially if you are limited to watching crappy John Woo style movies).  If you can enjoy good music and creative storytelling, the film was good.  If you are a PHC fan, the film was great.  Shot in the very same theater the show is now recorded, you get a good idea what it's like backstage during a real show.  Unlike the real world, fortunately, this one is the last as the parent radio station is purchased by a Texas conglomerate that will tear down the theater after the show.  The Axeman, as he's called, is sent to the show to make sure it's their last one. 

There are many other substories in the movie which keep you actively involved, however, as the show goes on with song after song, it feels like a normal Saturday afternoon listening to the show on your home radio.  In fact, the bad joke song sung by Dusty and Lefty is worth the price of admission.  Thankfully, A Prairie Home Companion has received great reviews despite what I thought at first was a strange ending.  I will be anxious to watch it again when it comes to DVD.  Until then I'll have to make sure I'm near a radio this Saturday.  I will also have to get up to Minnesota sometime to actually see the show live before the "real" axeman arrives.