Essential January '12

ESSENTIAL VIEWING THIS JANUARY:
Director Alexander Payne has become one of the safest bets in Hollywood when it comes to producing heartwarming entertainment with an original comic touch. Films such as Election (1999), About Schmidt (2002) and his unquestionable masterpiece Sideways (2004) are all to be considered classics, and this month he returns with The Descendants, his first feature film in seven years. And it has been well worth the wait. Based on Kaui Hart Hemmings' novel, it is set in Hawaii where a never better George Clooney plays a father of two daughters, struggling to reconnect after their mother is struck by an eventually fatal accident. It’s hard to imagine an American filmmaker better than Payne to tell simple, yet complex and moving stories about family, love and loss. And his latest film is yet another triumph.

One of the most fascinating films of the season is Steve McQueen’s Shame, only his second feature. Starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, it is an intense, scary and intimate look at addiction and relationships. McQueen gets another standout performance from Fassbender (who also starred in his debut, 2008’s Hunger), who is completely fearless in his naked (often literally) and honest portrait of Brandon. Mulligan provides solid support, and deserves more screen time as his sister Sissy, who arrives for an unexpected visit. But this is Fassbender’s film, and although this at times is both challenging and painful viewing, there is no denying its quality and humanity.

Ayrton Senna was the world’s leading Formula 1 driver before he died in a crash aged just 34. The documentary Senna, by Asif Kapadia is perhaps the finest documentary to arrive in all of last year. The film is mainly old archive footage of Senna, his family and competitors, and the usual interview subjects in this type of films are limited to voiceovers only, which is a brilliant strike of genius. The camera very rarely leaves Senna for long, and by doing so Kapadia creates a strong and personal portrait of a man who was very reluctant in letting anyone see behind his sports persona. Thrilling, educational and ultimately very moving, this film has a strong claim as one of the best documentaries on any sports individual ever created. A truly sublime experience.

ESSENTIAL LISTENING THIS JANUARY:
Kurt Vile’s Smoke Ring For My Halo actually came out last year, but this month a terrific deluxe edition featuring his EP So Outta Reach also finds its way to the shelves. The album itself is a lovely little gem flooded with licks and lines clearly inspired by heroes such as Petty or Cohen. Rock and pop comes together in a lovely mix of tracks that come easy to the ear, but still manages to carry a substantial weight through sound and lyrics. A wonderful edition of the singers second album, which will hopefully earn him more praise and a pathway to a larger audience.

January is often a slow month when it comes to new releases, so when allowed to enter a deluxe edition, an anniversary one must certainly fit right in. This month marks the 40th year since The Doors masterful L.A. Woman record. And this edition comes packed with alternate and unfamiliar versions of the albums top tracks, certifying its position as the bands most accomplished album. Classics such as Love Her Madly, Riders on the Storm and the audacious title track make the original album a must have for any music buff, and this anniversary edition an equally obligatory release for the proper fans of the outfit. They really don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Vidar Vang has been one of Norway’s best kept secrets when it comes to the male singer / songwriter genre. And even though he this month releases his sixth album he still has a limited audience within his own country. The reasons may be to illusive to get into, but it is certainly not due to a lack of quality in his music. His new album Sidewalk Silhouettes is an acoustic record, with a few old numbers included. At first listen it comes across as a bit, in lack of a better word unnecessary, as his previous albums possibly served the material even better. But after another handful of run-throughs, the album finds its place surprisingly quick. Produced by guitar virtuoso Cato Salsa, this album is a stripped down and simplistic record, but in spite of the limitations to Vang’s voice, and the return of familiar tracks, this is both heartfelt and well made in every single way.
Check out one of the new tracks, Already Gone.