Last week I DVR’d A Prairie Home Companion. I’ve long been a fan of the weekly radio show and I was looking forward to seeing it portrayed in the cinema.

And it was good. Not great, but good.

The plot is simple: A Prairie Home Companion has been bought out by developer (played by Tommy Lee Jones) with no interest in keeping the show. The scene unfolds on the last performance.

The rest of the details aren’t really neccessary to the review. Suffice it to say, the story is about as long and unweildy and without point as an average Garrison Keiler narrative, but a delight.

My only complaints with the movie are stylistic and also some content that seemed missing. For instance, there is no tale from Lake Wobegon. This is very surprising given that this is the staple of the radio show. There is also no advertisement for ketchup, which never cease to be my favorite.

Another interesting note is the almost non-existent role Sue Scott plays. Given her importance on the radio show, I would have expected her to have equal importance in the movie.

I was also very surprised by Lindsay Lohan’s presence in the movie. However, I must admit, she does a very good job. Her part is more low key, but played very genuinely. Kevin Kline steals the show as Guy Noir.

Lastly, the camera left some to be desired. During the actual performance the audience is rarely shown. The camera is so often fixed on the stage itself that you feel clausterphobic. Seeing an audience reaction to a performance help everyone enjoy it more. It’s the difference in watching a comedy by yourself instead of with a group. You’re going to laugh less and miss more.

Anyway, it’s a good movie. It has all of the heart of the radio program. You really get a feel for the fluid, improvisational way Garrison Keiler approaches radio.

I went to see Vacancy at the dollar theater tonight with Melanie and Brad. I had relatively low expectations.  The trailer seemed formulaic at best.

But there were a couple of reasons to see this movie:

1. Luke Wilson. He’s a good enough actor who just can’t buy a good role.
2. It only costs $1.

Vacany is a decent thriller. It relies on formulas that mostly work, but strays far enough from cliches to stay interesting. The acting is decent, and the premise is more original. As this is not a full review, I’ll summarize.

1. The antagonists are not a “happy couple” with a beautiful child or honeymooners. They’re a couple whose relationship is on the rocks. Why? Their kid died in an accident. This gave their characters more depth even standard lack of character development in horror films.
2. The plot is reasonble, while twisted. It’s unlikely. Maybe impossible. But not ridiculous.
3. The build up was well paced. No over the top “fooled ya!” “mood setting” distractions.
4. The lead protagonist is well cast. He isn’t creepy for the sake of being creepy. He’s just…creepy.
5. The struggle between the antagonists and protagonists is well timed and consistently intense. It doesn’t build to nothing, it isn’t overly graphic to the point of ruining the suspsense. It isn’t a roller coaster ride of emotions.
6. There aren’t gaping plot holes or decisions so terrible on the part of the heroes that you start cheering for the enemy.
7. Doesn’t over use “someone’s watching you” camera angles.
8. It adds some interesting updates to the Bates Motel, psycho setting.
9. There is some redemption in the relationships on screen.
10. The finale does not rely on feats of super human strength or girl power. (Though there is some.)
11. The title, lighting, and over all directing style is very much in the style of Alfred Hitchcock.

Anyway, I recommend seeing it. There are so many bad horror films out there, I think anytime one comes along that does some things right, it should be recognized.

7/10 stars.