Essential March '11

Essential viewing this March:
- Straight from its winning turn at this years Oscars arrives Inside Job, a documentary about the origin of the global financial crisis three years ago. The subject matter shouldn’t be enough to draw interest from the average film enthusiast, but this doc is equally entertaining and educational. Like with his first film, the successful No End In Sight (2007), director Charles Ferguson is not afraid of controversy and faces his interview objects head on, making more than one decide to withdraw. There is much analysis, numbers and organizations are tirelessly listed throughout, but Inside Job still manages to be one of the most compelling American docs in a long time.

- One of the strongest character dramas to come out of Hollywood so far this year is Rabbit Hole. Nicole Kidman and Aaaron Eckhart are the married couple struggling to find their feet, and each other, after the loss of their only son. Although the subject matter is dark there is a surprising touch of humor in David Lindsay-Abaire’s screenplay (based on his own play) and director John Cameron Mitchell balances the story well. Kidman is extraordinary, turning in her best performance in years while Eckhart plays off her well, but shines even more when he has the screen all to himself. A very strong and convincing film.

- Over the past ten years Philip Seymour Hoffman has established himself as one of the most credible actors of his generation, mainly through American independent films. So for his directorial debut it is no surprise that he has chosen the low key Jack Goes Boating, based on Robert Glaudini’s New York play. Hoffman plays the lead as a lonely limo driver who struggles to find his place in a new and unfamiliar relationship. With strong support from Amy Ryan and John Ortiz, Hoffman takes a moving and amusing look at the quiet discomfort within people relating to each other. Perhaps he doesn’t take any risks, but Hoffman proves to have a steady hand at story and a nice sense of timing which will make it exciting to see what he does next from behind the camera.

Essential listening this March:
- The release of a brand new R.E.M. record might not longer be the event it used to be, but their 15th studio album Collapse Into Now is a very strong effort and deserves attention never the less. A solid follow up to their previous Accelerate (2008) which was a comforting return to form after a few rather uninteresting outings. This album is also dominated by guitars, Michael Stipe’s ever depending voice and features some of the finest tracks the band has produced in many years. The overall quality suffers a bit due to a few dull pieces, but still Collapse Into Now could prove to be the bands finest hour since 1996’s New Adventures In Hi-Fi.

- When The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart appeared in 2009 with their self titled debut, this writer was overwhelmed and went on to list it as the third best album of the year! Two years later they are back with the sequel, aptly titled Belong. Like many following a first success the second record is bigger in both sound and ambition. But the goal is the same, to create irresistible straight forward pop tracks. And once again, they are successful. From the opening title track to the closing Strange, this is a delicious mix of guitar rock, dreamy pop, catchy riffs and seducing lyrics. In a word: sexy.

- After being listed as one of “the ones to watch” by endless music outlets, The Vaccines arrive with their debut this month, the wonderfully titled What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? This quartet from London plays loud rock with the occasional element of sweet punk. With eleven tracks ticking in at just over half an hour, this is fast and intense and should become a massive hit at festival stages over the coming summer. Drawing resemblances to other bands one could be tempted to say that this should do for The Vaccines what Is This It did for The Strokes, arriving exactly ten years after the Americans debut. Let’s hope the Brits prove more stabile and lingering.
Enjoy If You Wanna and start counting the days till the weather allows us to blast this from our car stereo with all the windows down!

Wintertime in Tromsø

Music: Savoy - Totally Hide
Reasons To Stay Indoors (2001) EMI Norsk A/S

Photograph # 11

"close call"
/AMATEUR/

"Last Call"

this night has no imagination
in dire need of some more education

tonight i'm gonna blow my cover
resurrect like some lost piece of art
every drink has a bitter taste
these promises won't make it through the night

this hole ain't deep enough for you and me
everything you say has a hangover
hurry home to a bed with one side
last call for any heartbeat in the house

there is always traffic in front of you
turning us on is enough to bore us
slow derail in every look you send
this home feels like a hotel

the kiss feels like murder but
you don't taste like the real thing