Essential July '16

ESSENTIAL VIEWING THIS MONTH:

After the tremendous success of his previous film Boyhood two years ago, writer and director Richard Linklater has returned to his more informal and lighthearted roots with his new film EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! A wonderfully charming and fun story about a group of baseball players getting ready for college, while fighting of the temptations that campus life has to offer. Centered around newcomer Blake Jenner, and featuring one of the most loveable ensembles of the year with all unknown actors, it is as simple as it is brilliant. Playing on little else than the magic of the years in between being teenagers and adults, it is filled with endless amounts of heart and soul – and a refreshingly somber and delightful energy.

The story of Tarzan has proven a tricky pony to successfully handle by Hollywood. From the early days of Johnny Weissmuller in the 30s to Disney’s animated attempt in the late 90s, none of the films about the lord of the apes has proven as classic as the tale itself. This might hopefully change with THE LEGEND OF TARZAN which hit theatres this month. Directed by David Yates, last seen helming the final three installments in the Harry Potter saga, it is a delightfully fun ride that does not take itself too serious, without taking anything away from its epic scale and set pieces. Alexander Skarsgård is not only physically impressive in the title role, but also carries the action and dramatic scenes well. He also creates one of the summer’s most surprising and enjoyable onscreen duos alongside Samuel L. Jackson, while Christoph Waltz provides fine support as his villainous self. Quite surprising, this might turn out to be the blockbuster hit of the summer.

Since ending the run of her majorly successful show 30 Rock three years ago Tina Fey has participated in a handful of movies, as well as co-creating the Netflix show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but her biggest and most personal move since then has to be WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT. Based on the book The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Baker (who Fey plays) and adapted by her 30 Rock associate Robert Carlock. Fey also produces, so it is clear that this is a story she’s been wanting to tell. Baker is one of a few female journalists doing wartime coverage in Afghanistan, making the dangers of the conflict itself just one of the challenges she has to overcome to make herself noted. Thankfully the film is rated R and comes packed with not only a realistic take on the war, but also the matter of sexism, delivered without holding anything back. Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Bad Santa, I Love You Phillip Morris) prove excellent choices to helm this, making it a memorable and very entertaining movie that sadly did not find the audience it deserves in the theatres.

ESSENTIAL LISTENING THIS MONTH:

It’s always exciting to hear a soundtrack before you actually see the film. Jeff and Michael Zimbalist’s PELÉ: BIRTH OF A LEGEND has yet to find distribution in these parts, but the soundtrack from composer A.R. RAHMAN is already available. Having first discovered Rahman when he provided the score for Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, it’s been a treat to take in his film music work over the past years, including 127 Hours (2010) and Million Dollar Arm (2014) to name a few. His latest soundtrack is filled with more exciting tunes stuffed with energy, emotion and elegance. A story such as this seems a perfect fit for his style of composing, and if the film itself can carry the joy and beauty of Rahman’s music it should be an equally exciting treat.

A lot can be said about NEIL YOUNG’s releases over the past decade. While some have been worthwhile and further proof of the man’s brilliance, some have been utter pointless and completely irrelevant to his impressive discography. It’s difficult just yet to decide where his latest release lands, this month’s EARTH. It’s a compilation record, a live album featuring thirteen songs from previous albums. The connection is that all the tracks are, as Young himself puts it, “songs about living here on our planet together”. This means you get the odd nature sound, rainstorm or bird chirp. An important antidote to a world gone mad, or itself madness? Decide for yourself, but with hard-hitting and glorious live versions of After the Gold Rush, Western Hero and Vampire Blues to name a few, it’s hard to turn down.

After steadily releasing a new album almost every year since his debut twenty years ago, LARS WINNERBÄCK has slowed down his impressive production rate over the past years. This month’s GRANIT OCH MÖRAN is his first album in three years – following his acclaimed Hosianna from 2013. Lately, Winnerbäck has slowly stepped out of his comfortable singer/songwriter and quiet pop alibi and created several tunes that could easily have filled the set list of any big stadium show from the likes of Springsteen or Fogerty. However, the core of the songs has always had a melancholic touch, but this has changed a bit with his new album. This seems to be a happier, more lighthearted singer who churns out tunes with confidence and great vigor. It suits him, and should fall in good grace with this fans when he takes to the stage for another upcoming tour this fall.
Enjoy the title track, and its lyric video here.