Essential viewing this year:
1. The Tree of Life
Only the fifth movie in a career stretching across four decades, this picture by director Terrence Malick was perhaps bound to be an event no matter the outcome. But the result is without question the most powerful and emotional piece of filmmaking you will see this year. It is certainly an acquired taste, but patience goes a long way and in the end the reward is heartbreakingly satisfying. The art of cinema does not get more true than this.
2. Biutiful
Another powerful picture with one of the years best on-camera performances. Javier Bardem delivers what will stand as another milestone in his already overwhelming career, in Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu's fascinating and disturbing voyage into the human soul.
3. Drive
The critics favourite picture of the year. Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn has created one of the years most original and memorable films, with a superbly played down performance from Ryan Gosling. This movie also features one of the finest soundtracks of 2011. In a word: cool.
4. The Trip
Overlooked by far too many according to this writer. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon play themselves brilliantly in this wonderful and hilarious road trip gem. A change of pace for director Michael Winterbottom, with a surprisingly strong emotional punch at the end. A guaranteed cult classic.
5. Midnight in Paris
Perhaps not quite worthy a top five position, but for a Woody Allen fan this was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. The 76 year old director is on great form and delivers his best picture in ages. A subtle turn from Owen Wilson fits Allen's formula perfectly and the result is funny, curious and simply magical.
Top three runners up: 127 Hours - Win Win - Buck
Essential listening this year:
1. Beirut - The Rip Tide
The fourth album from Zach Condon's band is perhaps their most accesible yet, but who says that's a bad thing when it is as beautiful as this. With a modest nine tracks this album is an absolute joy from start to finish. Stylish, poetic, quiet and simply magnificent.
2. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
A delightful kick in the teeth with the necessary tounge-in-cheek attitude that has been missing from every other British band the past five years. Short, sweet and fun as hell.
3. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
The self titled second album from Justin Vernon's company is such a rarity as a superior follow-up. An album that was born to stir the heart and seems relentless in doing so despite the endless number of plays it is exposed to.
4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong
The band that knocked this writer to his knees with their 2009 debut returned with another impressive record this year. It does not have the same initial impact as its predecessor, but this is as refreshing and harmonic as any good indie album can be expected to be.
5. The Horrible Crowes – Elsie
A side project from The Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon and guitar tech Ian Perkins that turned out to be a fully fledged rock album. It does not stray too far away from their original sound, but the Crowes seem to be in possession of a touch more blues and soul than the Gaslight. A genuine American rock record with a clear tip of the hat to the likes of Springsteen and Petty.
Top three runners up: The Decemberists: The King is Dead - Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O - Explosions in the Sky: Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Things to die for in the new year?
Viewing: The Dark Knight Rises, The Master, Trance
Listening: The new Springsteen album. That's it.
Roll on 2012!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Essential December '11
Essential viewing this December:
One of this years strongest and most powerful films has to be We Need To Talk About Kevin. Tilda Swinton is the mother who struggles coming to terms with the inconceivable actions of her son while we also follow the challenging first years of Kevin's life. John C. Reilly provides solid support as the husband, but this is Swinton's show. Turning in her strongest performance to date she is by far the most obvious winner of any award to be handed out over the next couple of months. This is a hard watch and at times almost too much to take, but a cleverly written script and Lynne Ramsays confident direction makes this an essential piece of independent cinema. You won't be able to shake it for weeks.
Another terrific American indie of the season is Martha Marcy May Marlene. The feature film debut from director Sean Durkin requires both patience and a strong stomach, but there is no questioning the quality of the craft behind it. This is an original and, at times, frightening look at humanity and relationships that is guaranteed to put Durkin on the radar of every big time producer in Hollywood. A superb central performance from Elizabeth Olsen and a tremendous supporting role from John Hawkes, who over the last few years has become one of the most convincing character actors of his generation working today. A very impressive film.
Director Mark Pellington has in the opinion of this writer created some of Hollywoods most overlooked pictures over the past decade or so. Arlington Road (1999), The Mothman Prophecies (2002) and Henry Poole Is Here (2008) were all terrific movies with strong characters and a hard edge. His latest, I Melt With You, is no exception. Starring a quartet of interesting, but perhaps variable actors, he has managed to get the best out of every single man and frame. A male audience will certainly find this more relateable, but this should provide an interesting view for anyone. Glenn Porters script may loose its head a bit in the final act but ultimately it does not change the fact that I Melt With You is one of the most fascinating films of the year.
Essential listening this December:
December has never been a month filled with a variety of strong releases but if you look hard enough you should be able to find one or two. Or three. Vidar Busk has been one of Norways leading rock guitar musicians for about fifteen years now. Through various of his own bands he has released several strong records with perhaps 2001's Venus, Texas as the highlight so far. With this months Troublecaster he is paying tribute to his beloved America with a collection of both his own and other peoples music. Anchored in rock & roll, blues and country rockabilly this record is engaging enough to require several visits, and a refreshing sound in an otherwise caroling and soft pop influenced month.
Last month this writer called the final release from R.E.M. the must-have compilation of the year, but the christmas month may have found a serious challenger in Calexico. The album Selections From Road Atlas 1998 - 2011 features sixteen terrific tracks from the Arizona band who have created an almost unique sound in their indie-like country music. They call this an alternative best of album themselves, and the selections form the album nicely as you get both their uptempo and more mellow tracks, all driven by guitar and that delicious soft drum. Lovely indeed.
With Brothers, The Black Keys were responsible for one of the finest albums of last year. And this months El Camino seems to pick up exactly were its older brother left off. With eleven tracks, four less than Brothers, this naturally has a more compact feeling to it but the main elements are still intact even though the strong hint of soul that shaped last years album is a bit abscent here. However, El Camino is filled with solid and straightforward rock tracks that are bound to menace several car radios and rock bars around the globe the coming months. I also predict it will be a popular soundtrack when summer comes around. And as always, the boys know how to create a entertaining and classic video without spending, I don't know, a hundred bucks? Enjoy Lonely Boy!
One of this years strongest and most powerful films has to be We Need To Talk About Kevin. Tilda Swinton is the mother who struggles coming to terms with the inconceivable actions of her son while we also follow the challenging first years of Kevin's life. John C. Reilly provides solid support as the husband, but this is Swinton's show. Turning in her strongest performance to date she is by far the most obvious winner of any award to be handed out over the next couple of months. This is a hard watch and at times almost too much to take, but a cleverly written script and Lynne Ramsays confident direction makes this an essential piece of independent cinema. You won't be able to shake it for weeks.
Another terrific American indie of the season is Martha Marcy May Marlene. The feature film debut from director Sean Durkin requires both patience and a strong stomach, but there is no questioning the quality of the craft behind it. This is an original and, at times, frightening look at humanity and relationships that is guaranteed to put Durkin on the radar of every big time producer in Hollywood. A superb central performance from Elizabeth Olsen and a tremendous supporting role from John Hawkes, who over the last few years has become one of the most convincing character actors of his generation working today. A very impressive film.
Director Mark Pellington has in the opinion of this writer created some of Hollywoods most overlooked pictures over the past decade or so. Arlington Road (1999), The Mothman Prophecies (2002) and Henry Poole Is Here (2008) were all terrific movies with strong characters and a hard edge. His latest, I Melt With You, is no exception. Starring a quartet of interesting, but perhaps variable actors, he has managed to get the best out of every single man and frame. A male audience will certainly find this more relateable, but this should provide an interesting view for anyone. Glenn Porters script may loose its head a bit in the final act but ultimately it does not change the fact that I Melt With You is one of the most fascinating films of the year.
Essential listening this December:
December has never been a month filled with a variety of strong releases but if you look hard enough you should be able to find one or two. Or three. Vidar Busk has been one of Norways leading rock guitar musicians for about fifteen years now. Through various of his own bands he has released several strong records with perhaps 2001's Venus, Texas as the highlight so far. With this months Troublecaster he is paying tribute to his beloved America with a collection of both his own and other peoples music. Anchored in rock & roll, blues and country rockabilly this record is engaging enough to require several visits, and a refreshing sound in an otherwise caroling and soft pop influenced month.
Last month this writer called the final release from R.E.M. the must-have compilation of the year, but the christmas month may have found a serious challenger in Calexico. The album Selections From Road Atlas 1998 - 2011 features sixteen terrific tracks from the Arizona band who have created an almost unique sound in their indie-like country music. They call this an alternative best of album themselves, and the selections form the album nicely as you get both their uptempo and more mellow tracks, all driven by guitar and that delicious soft drum. Lovely indeed.
With Brothers, The Black Keys were responsible for one of the finest albums of last year. And this months El Camino seems to pick up exactly were its older brother left off. With eleven tracks, four less than Brothers, this naturally has a more compact feeling to it but the main elements are still intact even though the strong hint of soul that shaped last years album is a bit abscent here. However, El Camino is filled with solid and straightforward rock tracks that are bound to menace several car radios and rock bars around the globe the coming months. I also predict it will be a popular soundtrack when summer comes around. And as always, the boys know how to create a entertaining and classic video without spending, I don't know, a hundred bucks? Enjoy Lonely Boy!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
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