Essential February '10

Essential viewing this February:
- The return of Martin Scorsese is always a big occasion in my house and his new feature Shutter Island is a thrill from the very first frame. Based on the book by Dennis Lehane, the film shows the director at his most intense since Bringing Out The Dead (1999). Once again teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio, who turns in his most impressive performance in years, this is surprisingly disturbing and will haunt you longer than you'd ever dared to expect.
- Director John Hillcoat's previous outing The Proposition (2005) was one of the finest pictures of the past decade and it is a genuine excitment about going to see another one of his movies. This time it is called The Road and he is proving once again that he is indeed a masterful filmmaker. This too is based on a book, by author Cormac McCarthy, and it will probably be one of the stand out pictures of this year. Visually it is simply breathtaking, without once exceeding the necessary imagery required to serve the story. At the centre walks Viggo Mortensen, in his most powerful and impressive work to date. Stripped to the bone he is hardly recognizable due to the massive weight loss, but the raw emotion in every line of his weary face is bound to have a warm impact on even the coldest soul. An amazing experience.
- It is strange to be affected by a film that appears to be unoriginal and familiar territory all the way through, but still Crazy Heart remains an emotional punch and enjoyable film throughout. Much of this is due to the terrific performance by Jeff Bridges, which will bag him his first Oscar next weekend. Both the film and music is produced by T Bone Burnett, also responsible for classic soundtracks such as O' Brother, Where Art Thou and Walk The Line. The debut of writer / director Scott Cooper is an impressive one that thanks to a superb central performance will without a doubt provide new opportunities for everyone involved.

Essential listening this February:
- The first album from norwegian act Navigators most notably marks the return of Trond Andreassen, frontman of the now disolved Ricochets, one of the most acclaimed norwegian rock bands of the past decade. This time around there is a bit more country and few more ballads, but the quality of the songs are nothing shy of anything that would appear on a Ricochets album. Andreassen is still in dire need of an English lesson, but that has now become part of the charm of this ferocious voice and in a time when Norway certainly could do with a strong rock band on a major label, the album The Straight And Narrow is a most welcome return.
- Ain't No Grave is the sixth and final chapter in Johnny Cash's American Recordings series. And a worthy conclusion it certainly is, needless to say for both sentimental and nostalgic reasons. But the production is solid and the selection of songs is both interesting and compelling. It would be unreasonable to expect anything like the first two or three installments of the series, but nevertheless this is a unique collection, and certainly enough to keep the fans of the genre and the man himself happy. Or sad I suppose, because if the version of Kris Kristofferson's For The Good Times does not bring a tiny tear to your eye, well then maybe all hope is lost.
- The second album from singer/songwriter Ingrid Olava is another norwegian treat this month. Produced by Frode Jacobsen, member of the already legendary band Madrugada, The Guest is a strong follow up to her debut album that arrived two years ago. With plenty of melancholy, soft piano and heartfelt lyrics there is enough here to entitle Olava's lovely voice to an ever bigger audience this time around.

"Melanie"

melanie comes home early every night
writes a poem to pass the time
thinking everything is empty
she feels things turning worse

melanie wants to save the world
a busted bulb that needs to shine
the view is different from down here
she feels a natural thorn in her side

melanie puts on her favorite song
a brand new stranger in every room
human nature with a fading thirst
she didn't see it coming now it's gone

melanie turns off the light
she dreams to save her life