Essential January

Essential viewing this January:
- "The Wrestler" is a surprising change of pace for director Darren Aronofsky. The creator of "Requiem For A Dream" and "The Fountain" returns with a surprisingly sober and subtle tale of an ageing wrestler. With a handheld camera pointed at Mickey Rurke, delivering his finest performance to date, Aronofosky shows us how vulnerable and lonely even the strongest man can be when his life has gone off course for too long. Heartfelt brilliance. And the song in the end by Springsteen, well that's just the cherry on top.
- "Slumdog Millionaire" is doing well this awards season, and rightly so. It's been a refreshing amount of good movies in the nominations across America this year. This is the new film by Danny Boyle, and it might just be his best yet. A love story set around the strangest of storylines; a gameshow. Energetic, colorful and amazingly entertaining, this is the sweetest and most breathtaking film of the season, and a strong candidate for the best film of the year. And we've only just started!
- "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is as different from these two as anything. Woody Allen’s latest is a smart and well-written story about coincidental love. Allen moves away from his traditional New York, and recently London, to sunny Spain and delivers an irresistible comedy with top performances from Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. But the biggest laugh is probably from Allen himself, who has fooled everyone and made a highly unromantic romantic comedy. Well done.

Essential listening this January:
- “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand” is the title of the highly anticipated third album from the classy Scottish rockers. At first encounter it might sound simplistic and a bit unsatisfying considering it’s been three years since their last outing, but after a few runs this album proves itself both clever and catchy and a perfect soundtrack for dark nights at the club. Proof that it is possible to try something different, but maintain the same cool.
- Bruce Springsteen is back with “Working On A Dream”. A bit more country and acoustic than his later records, and while The Boss is still a romantic there is enough solid rock songs here to keep the dream alive. Terrific lyrics as always and when he has the worlds tightest band behind him there really isn't anyone better around.
- One of the most wonderful things about "Slumdog Millionaire" was its soundtrack. Composer A.R. Rahman goes both high and low and the score shifts from explosive fun to delicious and romantic tunes. Original and exotic, this music will surely be used in every single American commercial on TV this year.