Best Picture

by Scott Hall

Mark Tarner, a.k.a. M T Head, and I just had a good go around about which of some very good 2009 movies is the best one. The problem is we haven't seen the same movies. Mark's vote goes to "Avatar", for new standards it set as an incredible viewing experience - standards far beyond anything yet. Mark saw it in 3-D. I saw it in 2-D. "Avatar" isn't my choice. I didn't think the visual experience overcame an ordinary story and uninteresting characters.

Of the ones I've seen, I prefer "The Hurt Locker", Crazy Heart", "Inglourious Basterds", and "Into The Air". "The Hurt Locker" is tense and gut-wrenching, depressing, well-written and acted. Jeff Bridges nails the main character in "Crazy Heart". I don't like most of Quentin Tarentino's movies, but I like "Inglourious Basterds" more every time I think about it. Haven't seen "Precious", but believe Mo'nique deserved the Oscar from just the one scene I've seen.

Another problem with these lists is there are so many great independent gems we'll never get to... What's on your list?

What's New on KAXE

Seasick Steve ... "Man From Another Time"
The Chieftains feat. Ry Cooder ... "San Patricio"
The Tisdales ... "Out With the New"
The Bird and the Bee ... "Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1"
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars ... "Rise & Shine"
Loudon Wainwright III ... "10 Songs for the New Depression"
Brother Ali ... "Us"
Read more on the Currents Playlist...

More Variety Than A Chinese Buffet

Cindy Davis was in to host music On the River (see side image of Cindy performing the "Frozen Swimmer") - it had been many years since she came in on a weekday to serenade the Northland (and beyond). From St. Peter and in the middle of a loooong migration to Backus, she played an excellent mix of music including April Stevens, Broken Bells, MN's Gary Louris & more. Volunteers from all over MN make the variety mix so amazing; over 80% of our music programming is done by volunteers! If you're interested in learning to be a programmer on KAXE, we have classes coming up - read more here!

Do you hear what I hear? Sounds: favorites and LEAST favorites

Coming up this Saturday on Between You and Me we're going to be talking about sounds. We are surrounded by sounds every day - alarm clocks, cell phones, Scott Hall's voice, owls, dogs, grinding teeth, crying babies....

These sounds can have a remarkable affect on our moods and behaviors. So what are your favorites? We've heard from folks on facebook and they've told us some of their favorites:

thunder
drums
a screen door slamming
tent stakes being pounded into the ground
rain on a tin roof
chorus frogs
applause
whitefish flopping on the ice

and some of their LEAST favorites:

sound through a hotel wall
"Your Body is a Wonderland" by John Mayer
slurping table manners
emergency vehicles
crying
awakening to the sound of batwings

What sounds remind you of something? What sounds do you wish you would NEVER hear again?

The Dead Set

Kick off your shoes, or put on your dancing shoes... longtime KAXE volunteer Steve Ross is in with The Dead Set starting tonight at 8 featuring music and news of the Grateful Dead and related bands. Plus, Dead Head Cheese - call in with the correct answer to win a fabulous prize!!! Steve will be playing from the newly remastered series of recordings from the deads achive. Being Phil Lesh's birthday next week he'll also play some Phil and Friends. The last hour is Grateful Dead Road Trips, The Wall of Sound!!

Crazy Heart and After You on Realgoodwords

by Heidi Holtan

There's a sense of ownership sometimes, when you read a book before you see the movie. There is something in reading the words on a page and creating an image in your mind of the characters that makes you feel like you really know them. You develop a relationship with them. That's probably why more often than not, the movie does NOT live up to the book. From what I've heard from others, Crazy Heart is NOT like that. (Yes, it's true, Crazy Heart hasn't made it to northern Minnesota yet!)

Thomas Cobb published his first novel in 1987. "Crazy Heart" got great critical acclaim and was even optioned for a movie by Chuck Barris (of The Gong Show). But that movie never happened (Chuck went off sailing on his yacht instead) and the book went out of print in the early 1990s.

Flash forward to last Sunday night at the Academy Awards ceremony. Jeff Bridges takes home the Oscar for the character Thomas Cobb created, Bad Blake. And "The Weary Kind" won for best song.

I had the chance to talk with Thomas Cobb about the resurgence of Bad Blake in his life and where the story originally came from. Tune in for our conversation this week (Wednesday evening from 6-7 and Sunday morning from 9-10).

I'll also talk with Julie Buxbaum about her novel "After You" - the story of how Ellie steps into her best friend Lucy's life after she is stabbed to death. One of the things I like most about this novel is how books and stories and words can heal. Ellie reads "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett with Lucy's young daughter Sophie as a form of comfort. Could I see Julia Roberts playing the role of Ellie in the movie version of After You? No way!

What movie version of a favorite book didn't quite live up to your standards?

CrazyGoodWords

Tonight on Realgoodwords Heidi talks with Thomas Cobb, the author of the novel "Crazy Heart," the book that the movie starring Jeff Bridges is based on... Realgoodwords - every Wednesday night from 6-7 and Sunday mornings from 9-10. A place for those who read, write & appreciate the written word. Are you an author? Know of a book you think would be good for Realgoodwords? Email or send us a copy of your book!