Essential February

Essential viewing:
- With Oscars for Sean Penn and Best Original Screenplay under its belt, "Milk" is finally getting the attention it lacked when it first came out. The gong was well deserved for Penn, but the supporting cast is also terrific, with stand out turns from James Franco and Josh Brolin. Director Gus van Sant is direct in style and keeps focus on the human aspect, instead of opting for the political getaway. Wonderfully put together and thought provoking, it certainly is worthy of all its recent praise.
- "Role Models" is another comedy featuring members of the so-called "Brat Pack" Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott. Deliciously ridiculous and well packed with laughs, it also features one of the best child performances in ages by newcomer Bobb'e J. Thompson. It's a joy to hear him dish out his lines. "You're white, so you're Ben Affleck." Priceless.
- With both "Entourage" and "Californication" on hiatus, the only thing really worth watching on TV these days is "30 Rock". Well into its third season, it is still fresh and original. Although it is now packed with stars, the real punch still lies in the writing. Tina Fey is becoming more and more like the female Larry David, and her scripts are by far the best thing on the tube since David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Essential listening:
- The Airborne Toxic Event is a young American band who deliver catchy indie rock tunes with a touch of melancholy. There are plenty of bands who offer that, but the difference here lies in the quality of each single song. Great lyrics and terrific arrangements. Their debut album is not released in Europe until mid-March, but for now the wonderful tracks available on their MySpace site should be plenty sufficient.
- The Whitest Boy Alive is the new project by norwegian wunderkind Erlend Øye, from Kings of Convenience. After the success of the first album "Dreams", the follow up, "Rules", is now just around the corner. Having gotten a taste of it at a concert last week I can assure you it is still catchy electro folk rock tunes with firm beats and a mellow party atmosphere. Hard to dismiss and even harder to dislike. Surely another hit with the critics and fans alike.
- After their incredible concert in Oslo a few weeks ago I've been revisiting some of the classic Ac/Dc records. And "Who Made Who" is still the best rock album ever made. Simple as that.

Shoot To Thrill

A few nights ago Ac/Dc kicked off their European tour with the first concert ever to be held at Oslo's brand new Telenor Arena. I was there and it was a smashing reminder of what a great rock show should be.
After making my way through the awful traffic and long lines outside the arena I found myself inside and ready to take in a concert I had been looking forward to for a very long time. Ac/Dc was one of the first hard rock bands I ever listened to, after my brother had introduced me to them with their "Ac/Dc Live" album in 1992. They have been on my list of "must-see" bands ever since and earlier this week the pleasure was all mine. My expectations were unreasonably high and yet I walked away from it thinking that what I just saw could just be the finest live performance from a hard rock band I had ever seen. With founder and front man Angus Young pushing sixty and lead singer Brian Johnson having already crossed that bar a few years ago, it is nothing short of astonishing the amount of energy and professionalism they put into their performance. Their approach is simply to deliver a no-nonsense show where the main point is to keep the audience involved and satisfied. No unnecessary chitchat between songs, no long pauses to drink beer and no foolish attempts to screw with the formula that has worked wonders thus far. With the exception of the awesome "rock 'n roll train" displayed on center stage there is simply a drumset, three guitars, a few extra microphones and plenty of room for Young and Johnson to run around. With most of the stage crowded with huge loudspeakers and amplifiers, it is all about music and it is all about rock & roll.
The concert was a terrific statement on what great rock shows are all about and should serve as a lesson to all other bands. Most who's main concern is image, wardrobe, appearance and egoistic vanity.
Classy and old school. Respect your elders. Because Ac/Dc is still the best and biggest there is.

Ac/Dc at Telenor Arena February 18, 2009.

Cph

I spent the weekend in Copenhagen and everytime I go there I am reminded what a great place it is. I lived there a few years ago and was sad to leave, but I've been back there several times since. When I first moved there it was a bit frightening since it was the biggest city I had ever lived in. But it didn't take too long for it to feel like a place I had known forever. There is something very suiting about the place and it is very simple to feel at ease. As soon as you arrive you feel comfortable and welcome. There is always less to worry about when you're in Copenhagen. I have lived in quite a few places in my life, but Copenhagen is still the closest I am to a home away from home.

These are a few photos from Studiestrædet/Larsbjørnstrædet, one of my favorite places in town.

Fargo Film Festival

My latest film "En Hjelpende Hånd" ("A Helping Hand") has been announced in the official selection of the Fargo Film Festival in the US. It will be screened alongside seven other films in the Narrative Shorts programme. The festival takes place in Fargo, North Dakota from March 3-7.
It is the second time I've been featured at this festival. My previous film "Alene" ("Alone") won the award for Best Student Film at the 2007 edition. The festival is fairly small and it is known for its focus on independent productions and discovering new filmmakers. It is a popular festival with a large audience and a very cool profile. I am very excited to have a film of mine screened there once again.
You can check out more about the festival at their website www.fargofilmfestival.org

"Late"

a hundred stories from a single voice
feel a tender handshake with a fake touch
leave the water running and the lights on
have a drink and say nothing is over yet

will a broken body rise back up
does anyone pretend it is going to last
trust the liar or pay the millionaire
a dull knife can still leave a scar

lost lovers or prostitution
an unfinished game but still a winner
early morning or late last night
love only works when it hurts somebody else