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!