Essential February '11

Essential viewing this February:
- The past few years have seen the magnificent Coen brothers more creative than ever and even though they have always been a big hit with the critics it is only with their last handful of pictures they have started to reach a large audience as well. This month sees the release of their first western which is True Grit, based on the successful novel by Charles Portis. As confident as ever, directors Joel and Ethan take on a new genre with great style and vision. Their ever trusted photographer Roger Deakins makes the most out of every single frame and the film looks absolutely incredible. Leading men Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon play their parts with the skill and enthusiasm you would expect, but the highest praise has to go to newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. With a confidence and presence I have never before seen in a teenage actor, she is simply a revelation. The film is wonderfully put together, and accompanied by Carter Burwell’s soothing score, it is one of the finest westerns to come out of Hollywood since Costner’s Dances With Wolves (1990) or Eastwood’s Unforgiven (1992).

- After a spell in Hollywood with 21 Grams (2003) and Babel (2006), Mexican born director Alejandro González Iñárritu heads to Spain and Barcelona with this months Biutiful. Featuring a powerhouse performance from Javier Bardem, it is a more delicate and somber film than Iñárritu’s previous outings. He relies much on Bardem, who delivers a nuanced and detailed performance which is both stirring and heartbreaking. The film takes its time, and the story is not short on heavy material or brutal reality so this is not for the faint hearted or impatient viewer. But if you are willing to take it all in and manage to stand alongside Bardem all the way through, you will realize that something has changed inside of you when the credits roll. Like a quiet drug, Iñárritu manages to pull off what every good film is supposed to; you will feel different when the lights come on.

- Another great film which makes a tremendous impact with fairly few means this month is Winter’s Bone. Only the second feature from director Debra Granik, this is a simple story told in a sober and honest fashion. Set in the bleak Ozark Mountains where nothing much changes but the seasons, the film is beautifully shot and features two stellar performances from Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes, who both rightfully got noticed by the Academy. This is a strong tale that does not shy away from confrontation, and the result is a realistic and impressive achievement which will be hard to shake.

Essential listening this February:
- Mogwai returns this month with their impressive seventh studio album. The wonderfully titled Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will is a strong addition to their catalogue without challenging themselves too much perhaps. The format is still the same and the songs are as usual not the most accessible material you’ll come across, but the instrumental quality is never in doubt. The Scottish band delivers more great industrial rock, this time with heavier riffs and beautiful set-ups. The sound is epic without ever being pompous and there is an emotional core that is impossible to ignore. A solid release.

- Two years ago, Norwegian singer/songwriter Stein Torleif Bjella arrived from nowhere and received some of the strongest reviews of the year. But where his debut album came as a big surprise, the sequel Vonde Visu arrived this month to massive expectations. And it’s very nice to hear that it not only meets these, but also comes very close to matching his masterful debut. The approach is the same, the songs simply crafted but the true magic of Bjella lies in his lyrics. Moving from poetic to hilarious and downright heartbreaking, it is impossible to not be affected by his genuinely original voice. Vonde Visu will certainly stand as one of the finest albums to rise from these Nordic shores this year.

- After nearly a decade with mixed reviews and falling success, combined with the conflicts between its two main players, it seemed inevitable that Oasis would eventually split up. But when it happened, lead singer Liam Gallagher was quick to say that he would soon return and this month his new outfit Beady Eye release their first album. The title is Different Gear, Still Speeding and although it might vary a little too much in quality from song to song, there is enough in here to make it worth a listen. With the other members of the band also carrying a history from Oasis, it was never expected that this would stray too far away from that familiar recipe. With 13 tracks, the album may have benefitted from a little trimming but the final impression is still that this album has much to offer and will probably grow stronger through repeated visits.
And the cool and catchy first single, Bring The Light, represents the album well.

Photograph # 10

"a worker's hands"
/FAMILY/