Essential June

Essential viewing this June:
- "The Hangover" is the biggest comedy hit of the summer stateside, and rightly so. A terrific cast (mostly unknown faces, wisely), a hilarious script with clever and original set ups and the best one-liners since last years "Superbad". It's hard to believe it actually comes with a heart too, but it truly does. The best comedy of the year so far.
- Everyone was waiting for it, but no one really had any real expectations that it would be any good. After all, it was from the director of the "Charlie's Angels" movies. That makes "Terminator Salvation" this months pleasant surprise. This fresh but darker look at the billion dollar franchise is certainly worth the attention, and even though it is certainly flawed it still delivers in volume. Gritty and hard hitting, with a strong cast and a stand out performance from Sam Worthington, this just might show the series can live on even without it's original star.
- A romantic comedy about people in their fifties? Please, Hollywood would never go for it. True. So director Joel Hopkins went to London to make it. "Last Chance Harvey" is a wonderful film with great performances from its two leads Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. If you take away the "age" factor, it might not be the most original romance of the year, but for some reason a romantic comedy starring the likes of Hoffman and Thompson will always make more of an impact than say Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. Thankfully.

Essential listening this June:
It is impossible to write about music at the end of June 2009 without writing about Michael Jackson. I will not claim that I've listened to his music frequently for the past ten years, but growing up in the 80's and 90's it is impossible to say he has not played any part of my musical life. So for the music bit this month, my three favorite Michael Jackson songs:
- "Off The Wall" ("Off The Wall", 1979). It's hard to label this track. It can be called pop, disco or r'n'b, it doesn't matter. It's a wonderful song, from the man's best album in my opinion. His vocal abilities peaked around this time and going back to it today it still sounds amazingly fresh.
- "Greatest Show On Earth" ("Ben", 1973). A rare song, one of the last ones to be recorded before his voiced changed as he grew older. An upbeat and catchy motown tribute. A wonderful sound that could have suited him well also on his later records.
- "Billie Jean" ("Thriller", 1983). Arguably his biggest hit. The somewhat bizarre chorus and catchy beat will fill up dancefloors for ages to come. A true testament to Jackson's great understanding of pop music.