Upcoming Treats # 2

Summer is as always the season for huge Hollywood blockbusters, but there are other American films on the horizon that should be just as exciting as any Iron Man, Robin Hood, A-Team or whatever vampire themed teenage franchise being released this month. So with that in mind, here are five upcoming treats that should be well worth a look upon arrival over the next few months.

- Inception is the new film from Christopher Nolan, the brilliant British director who has risen to fame through the latest Batman installments. And even though the budget for his latest flick still looks decent, the themes and the ensemble cast of character actors could seem more like his first films such as Memento (2000) or Insomnia (2002). This is Nolan's first feature where he is the sole screenwriter and he still wants to be original and push the envelope while never letting the story suffer. Every single teaser and trailer looks incredible and I can honestly say I can not remember being this excited about a movie since... well... ever.
http://inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com/

- Even though many directors working today started out making music videos there are not that many that have actually established themselves as serious filmmakers. One man who is looking to do just that is Anton Corbijn. This Dutch director has made memorable videos for bands such as Metallica and U2, but it was his 2007 biopic of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, Control, that really caught the eye of audiences and major production studios as well. This September sees the release of his newest film The American, starring George Clooney as the lone assasin out on that one last job. Sure, you may have heard that tagline before but with Corbijns sober and seductive style and George Clooney in a played down and attention shy part, this could prove to become one of the finest films of the year. With the cool retro style classic poster (see above) and a great trailer there is no reason to fear the arrival of cold autumn.
http://focusfeatures.com/film/the_american/

- Michael Winterbottom's latest The Killer Inside Me has already raised some eyebrows on its journey through various film festivals around the US and Europe. Based on the controversial novel by Jim Thompson it is a dark and gritty character piece with a rumoured very strong leading performance from Casey Affleck. There are scenes of violence and abuse that have been talked much about, but underneath there should be a chilling and interesting drama. Winterbottom has never feared the use of extremes to achieve an emotional reaction from his audience and though this certainly seems to be no different, there looks to be a rewarding experience for those who can stand to take it all in.
http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/the-killer-inside-me

- After the smash hits Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, there was only a matter of time before Brit director Edgar Wright would be calling his shots in Hollywoodland. His first American feature Scott Pilgrim vs The World should offer more of Wright's clever and dry humour, filled with intense photography and snappy editing. The trailers have been more and more revealing and the latest one makes this look just as much as a video game as an actual movie, but Wright has earned the right to be given the benefit of the doubt. And the fact that it stars the always brilliant Michael Cera just adds to the already rapidly growing excitment.
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/universal/scottpilgrimvstheworld/

- A film that has been hard to read from its trailer is The Adjustment Bureau. The directorial debut of George Nolfi stars Matt Damon, which is no surprise considering Nolfi has served as screenwriter on films such as Ocean's Twelve and The Bourne Ultimatum. It looks and sounds interesting enough, with a touch of surreal reality and a romance at the core. Based on a short story by sci-fi guru Phillip K. Dick it is bound to have enough qualities to keep you tuned in, but it is a dangerous line between sci-fi and love story to walk, in particular for a first time director. But it is intriguing enough to earn some attention, and with a Matt Damon who can do no wrong with his career apparently, we're willing to give it a try.
http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/

Essential May '10

Essential viewing this May:
- The long overdue arrival of director Miguel Arteta's new film is the highlight of this month. Based on the novel by C.D. Payne, Youth In Revolt is the story of troubled teen Nick Twisp, who in order to impress the girl next door creates his own alter ego, the dangerously cool Francois Dillinger. A delicious and filthy comedy with a terrific central performance from Michael Cera, who is cruising along nicely on the road to becoming Hollywoods official prince of deadpan comedy. And when you get Steve Buscemi and The Hangover's Zach Galiafianakis as the designated father figures, what more could you possibly ask for.
- The Messenger is a strong and well acted drama about two American soliders whos job it is to inform families of the death of their sons and daughters serving overseas. It is an impressive film from a first time director, Oren Moverman and stars Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson. The photography and editing is gritty and sober in style and a tight script secures a nice pace throughout. Foster is convincing, but it is Harrelson who impresses the most with one of his best performances in years (he along with the screenplay received a well deserved Oscar nomination earlier this year) and makes this a challenging and rewarding viewing.
- For something completely different we have the spectacle that is the new Ridley Scott picture. The director of Gladiator, Black Hawk Down and Kingdom of Heaven returns to the summer blockbuster with his version of Robin Hood. Reuniting with Russell Crowe (it's their fifth collaboration in just ten years), Scott does fall short in some areas but this is a great comeback compared to last years disappointing Body Of Lies. In spite of its running time (it clocks in just shy of two and a half hours) the script feels trimmed and the film moves along nicely, with Scott making sure we don't get too much of a history lesson on the way to each battlefield. Crowe is in usual hero mode, but it is the supporting cast who gives you most value. Cate Blanchett is wonderful as the stiff lipped Lady Marion, but the finest thing in here is a breakout performance from Oscar Isaac as the snotty Prince John, guaranteed to send him head first into major Hollywood spotlights. A decent film, which does its best to cover its lack of charm with roaring battles and magnificent photography. It just manages.

Essential listening this May:
- One of the musical highlights of this year as far as I'm concerned is the release of The National's new album. The title is High Violet and regardless of my already well known admiration for this New York group, I am certain it will stand as one of 2010's finest albums. Despite achieving some fame through their third outing Alligator (2005) it was the 2007 release of Boxer that really got the eyes and ears of audiences and critics alike. So even though this is the bands fifth studio album there is an unquestionable pressure on them to deliver. And they do, in spades. From the haunting opening Terrible Love through the ten tracks that follow, this is an absolute rock solid piece of work. Every song is filled to the rim with wall to wall beats and accompaniments yet it never feels excessive, you simply want to succumb to every note that floats out. The first single Bloodbuzz Ohio (along with its beautiful and amusing video) is a stroke of genius and best of all, there is plenty more where it came from. Right now there is quite simply nothing better out there than The National.
- Another quality rock album on an independent label this month is Brothers, the sixth album from The Black Keys. Produced by the band themselves there is a wide variety and much to take in (the album has fifteen tracks) but the overall quality is very strong. The style is quite simplistic, but underneath every key you feel there is a massive roar waiting to explode! Soaked in blues and jammed full of soul it is a terrific listen and should be a rattling experience live.
- The Hold Steady is another great rock band that have actually been around for quite some time, but never really made it into my record shelves. But their latest album, with the instant classic title Heaven Is Whenever, made an impact from the very first runthrough. Their fifth album has strong references to the likes of say Springsteen or Tom Petty and there is a classic rock feel throughout. With well written lyrics and great riffs and solos it does more than enough to keep you jamming along for the forty plus minutes it has on offer. Could very well become the rock soundtrack of the summer.

"Control"

stranded here but you can't tell
knowing this won't be an easy sell
losing touch while saving face
soaked in bourbon a kiss with grace

get this day under control
forever with a need to be alone
always taking it just too far
listening to bowie in a crashing car

disposable emotion is hard to miss
there's enough blood to bleed through this
a shattered house built in sand
i'd feel better if i could see your hands

Helium

Went for pizza with my nephews last week.
Everything's more fun with helium.

For a written transcript please contact the website.

Vote For The Lovers!

As part of their farewell tour, norwegian band a-ha are giving out several grants to support young and promising new norwegian acts. Each one is worth 1 million kroner and in order to find out what is moving around in the northern part of Norway, they have acquired the help of newspaper Nordlys and its readers. The readers are requested to suggest names for the band to consider and the newspaper have also started a poll on their website to see which ones are the most popular.
I have nominated my friends The Considerate Lovers, a terrific rock band from my hometown of Tromsø. And if you have a minute I would like to encourage you to visit the Nordlys website and throw another vote their way. The poll has been open for a few weeks, but I actually just got around to dropping their name in, so we've got some catching up to do!
Go to www.nordlys.no, scroll down a bit to find a banner on the right side that says "a-ha stipendet", click on the tag for The Considerate Lovers and you're done!
Thanks a bunch!

Essential April '10

Essential viewing this April:
- The unlikely pairing of Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor should be enough to make any moviegoer curious. Add that I Love You, Phillip Morris is the directorial debut from the writers of already cult classic Bad Santa (2003) and regardless of the result, you should have one of the most interesting comedies of the year so far. And indeed it is. Bold, rude and egdy, it is almost everything you wanted it to be. The plot runs a bit on fumes towards the end, but by that time you will already have laughed, flinched and looked discreetly towards the theatre floor in awkward embarrasment so many times that it should feel overwhelmingly satisfying. Carrey delivers his best performance since Man On The Moon (1999), and it's not often that a film with an A-list Hollywood star arrives in Europe before home (it is still struggling to find an American distributor). But when it does it is usually for one or two reasons; it is truly awful, or a bit too much to handle for the Twilight or say, J.Lo's New Adventure loving audience. Thankfully, it's the second one.
- Five years after the success of Danish drama Brødre by Susanne Bier, the American remake arrives. Directed by Jim Sheridan, Brothers can not carry the same punch as the original, but it is still strong enough filmmaking to make a, however soft, genuine impact. A superbly cast trio with Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire make the most of their generously split parts and the result is both moving and thought provoking. It may have benefitted from a more confronting director (an Oliver Stone or Todd Field) to make it a rightfully harder experience to watch, but this is still worth both a look and a mention.
- Terry Gilliam's latest The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus did not live long in theatres and was mainly noticed for being Heath Ledger's final performance (he passed away mid-production and major script alterations had to be made) but it deserves to find an appreciative audience on DVD. Gilliam is still wonderfully original and a master at making the most out of limited resources. The film does well with both its humourous and dramatic plotlines and the pure desire to be challenging in story as well as visually makes this a successful affair. As for Ledger's final performance, it is simply another reminder at the massive talent that was gone far too soon.

Essential listening this April:
- British rock band Doves have been at it for more than a decade now and decided it is time for a look back. Yours truly have never been a big fan of compilations and greatest hits collections, but after five terrific releases the band is certainly desevering of such an album. The Places Between features music from their debut, and arguably still finest hour, Lost Souls (2000) up until last years Kingdom of Rust and it is a cracking collection of tracks. If you're unfamilliar with the band it will definitely leave you craving more and even if you know their whole catalogue, compiled together it is a wonderful statement of the bands consistent quality. If you're smart, you'll spring a little extra for the limited edition with both a bonus disc and DVD. Oh, how spoiled we have become!
- She & Him is an American pop duo featuring Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Their second album, simply titled Volume Two is one of the most charming and seductive records to come across the great seas in a long time. Uncomplicated in a most positive way, it is equally playful and impressive. With the stupidly addictive single In The Sun already growing in radio spins, it could become a sleeper hit record.
- Having read stories about Roky Erickson and his, should we say medically fascinating life, it is indeed slightly surreal that in the year 2010 he is releasing a brand new album. And adding to the surprise of his return he has got American indie favorites Okkervil River along for the ride. The title is True Love Cast Out All Evil and hearing the themes running through the songs it is a fitting one. Love, death and everything in between, having seen it all Erickson still sings with an impressive energy and belts out tunes that will both stir and touch your nostalgic rock loving heart.

"Gone"

what is a dream that does not come true
whatever good there was has gone away
the loss of faith is the loss of a smile
love has a way of seeking revenge

the ice is drawing towards the middle
you wanna talk about this or everything else
an empty photo album in a quiet house
this place will not remember us

this lifeboat is getting crowded
but no one says a word
save your breath for something important
it's too early to say your prayers

another day is almost here
i'll save you a seat next to me

Easter # 2

In the wintertime, especially at easter, there is no place more beautiful than back home. Up north.

My favorite part about coming to our house in Faksfjord, after about a three hour drive from Tromsø, is coming over that last hilltop and looking down on that beautiful white house sitting on top of this quiet fjord, surrounded by the snow covered mountains. Nothing in this world looks more peaceful.

One of the best things about going home on vacation is as always seeing my three young nephews again. And as always we had a terrific time. So here, back by popular demand, is the youngest one.
One year later. Same kid. Same hill. Same result.

Essential March '10

Essential viewing this March:
- One of the most exciting young filmmakers working in America today is Wes Anderson. Previous films of his include Rushmore, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and his greatest triumph so far, The Royal Tenenbaums. Now he is back and with a brand new bag indeed. Attempting his luck at animation Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of his most interesting pictures to date. Now that the entire industry of feature animation films mainly are computer generated it is surprisingly refreshing to see a film made with models and puppets again. Based on the book by Roald Dahl the story is well known, but the script is original and the poppy dialogue works well whether it is spoken by the mad farmers or Mr. Fox himself. A wonderful picture that brings back an old label that is rarely used right anymore: a great family film.
- Hans Petter Moland is one of Norways most acclaimed filmmakers though his work rarely manages to fill the theatres for a long degree of time. That might change this year with his new film En Ganske Snill Mann (A Somewhat Gentle Man). As usual Moland is collecting rave reviews with this dark and grim comedy. Stellan Skarsgård is in top form as leading man Ulrik, just released from prison and trying to pick up the pieces he never knew how to put together in the first place. Surrounded by a great ensemble you’re always in good company, but it gets a bit too crowded towards the end and some of the great ideas are worn out a bit too soon. A filthy pleasure that might have benefitted from knowing when to stop.
- The work of director Werner Herzog rarely gets a long life in cinemas and that is again the case this time around with his new feature Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Considered a remake of Abel Ferrara’s classic from 1993, the part of the questionable officer is played by Nicolas Cage this time. And this is Cage back to the form that made him a cult hero in his early work. Completely out of control and unafraid he is an absolute thrill to watch. The mood of the picture is great and the photography makes you feel the humidity of the south on your skin as you take it all in. It is definitely an acquired taste, but if you’re willing to be a respectful and quiet viewer, though sometimes it might require discipline, you’re in for a great piece of off road entertainment.

Essential listening this March:
- Gluecifer was a terrific Norwegian rock band who retired a few years ago and one of the members was Captain Poon, the guitar virtuoso who went on to form a new band of his own, Bloodlights. After their self titled debut in 2007 they are now back with their sophomore outing, Simple Pleasures and in my opinion it is something as rare as a better second coming. The recipe is quite simple and straight forward rock & roll, but most of the songs hit their target dead on and all together it is a very enjoyable mix of tracks that serves any listener looking to have a good time well.
- One of the most overlooked British pop bands of the past few years, Thirteen Senses, finally return with their third album. Well, close enough. It has not yet hit stores, but you can hear it in its entirety on their website, thirteensenses.com. After their successful debut in 2005, they failed to reach an equal audience with their second record two years later. But with their latest effort, Crystal Sounds, they might be able to bring some of the old believers back. Wisely, they are going for quality over quantity with a modest nine track album, and each one is a delight. Wonderful arrangements, light beats and well written lyrics add up to a very pleasurable sound that hopefully locates many pop loving hearts this year.
- Vidar Vang is one of Norways finest singer / songwriters, a label that is becoming more and more vast and insignificant, but this man can still rightly claim such a title. His fourth studio album Sleepless Songs is a terrific achievement and like before he visits many departments. There are strong rock songs, mellow pop tracks and a good piece of country. His strongest work still remains 2002’s Rodeo, but give this beauty a few weeks on your iPod and it might be able to pick a fight with its superior older brother soon enough.

Bonzo

Meet Bonzo. He's two.

After knowing him for three days, here's what I've learned:

Despite being a dog, he is useless at getting the newspaper.
Not a big fan of stairs.
He needs to say hello to everyone he meets.
It is impossible not to laugh when he snorts inwards.
His grandmother was the half sister of my previous dog's mother.
He loves food, but does not eat crumbs.
He's a great listener.
Does not understand the difference between 'your bed' and 'my bed'.
He prefers company.

"Weary"

there are no other options after this
it's hard to make sense in the cold
alone outside the drugstore window
there are no miracles here

was it worth the seduction this time
a lonesome look in the opposite direction
with eyes that expect too much
a map of your hometown is useless here

an empty house with a hallway full of shoes
a panel of enemies to set you straight
the world slowly turns while we wait
an address can not lead you home

a ghostly shape in the mirror
still digging at rock bottom
please driver, count this money one more time
your cold body cross my weary bones

as i come clean i feel the pain
i felt you the most when you were slowing down

Oscar Time

This coming Sunday the annual Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are held in Los Angeles, CA. When the nominations were announced in January it became clear that unfortunately this was not going to be a year with many surprises. And even more than usual I felt that far too many films of last year were shamelessly overlooked. There were no nominations of any kind for terrific films such as The Road, Synecdoche, New York or Moon to name a few, and once again the Academy showed that comedy has no place in their prestigious company, leaving titles such as The Hangover and (500) Days of Summer without any recognition at all. As expected there was plenty of attention for Avatar (which surely will sweep the board in all the technical categories), Inglourious Basterds (a sure thing for supporting actor and an outsider for Tarantino's screenplay), Up In The Air, The Hurt Locker (although people probably didn't expect a whopping nine nominations) and Precious.
So here are the ones I think will walk away with the statue from the major categories, and then who I think deserve it, or who may deserve it more (because I actually do agree with the Academy in some categories - shame!).

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Who deserved it more: Moon
Best Leading Actress: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Who deserved it more: Carey Mulligan, An Education
Best Leading Actor: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Who may have deserved it more: Sam Rockwell, Moon
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, Precious
Who deserved it more: Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Who may have deserved it more: Tom Noonan, Synecdoche, New York
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Who deserved it more: Duncan Jones, Moon
Best Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Who deserved it more: Nathan Parker, Moon
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up In The Air
Who may have deserved it more: Joe Penhall, The Road

So there you have it; my Oscar picks.
Lord knows I've been wrong before.

Essential February '10

Essential viewing this February:
- The return of Martin Scorsese is always a big occasion in my house and his new feature Shutter Island is a thrill from the very first frame. Based on the book by Dennis Lehane, the film shows the director at his most intense since Bringing Out The Dead (1999). Once again teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio, who turns in his most impressive performance in years, this is surprisingly disturbing and will haunt you longer than you'd ever dared to expect.
- Director John Hillcoat's previous outing The Proposition (2005) was one of the finest pictures of the past decade and it is a genuine excitment about going to see another one of his movies. This time it is called The Road and he is proving once again that he is indeed a masterful filmmaker. This too is based on a book, by author Cormac McCarthy, and it will probably be one of the stand out pictures of this year. Visually it is simply breathtaking, without once exceeding the necessary imagery required to serve the story. At the centre walks Viggo Mortensen, in his most powerful and impressive work to date. Stripped to the bone he is hardly recognizable due to the massive weight loss, but the raw emotion in every line of his weary face is bound to have a warm impact on even the coldest soul. An amazing experience.
- It is strange to be affected by a film that appears to be unoriginal and familiar territory all the way through, but still Crazy Heart remains an emotional punch and enjoyable film throughout. Much of this is due to the terrific performance by Jeff Bridges, which will bag him his first Oscar next weekend. Both the film and music is produced by T Bone Burnett, also responsible for classic soundtracks such as O' Brother, Where Art Thou and Walk The Line. The debut of writer / director Scott Cooper is an impressive one that thanks to a superb central performance will without a doubt provide new opportunities for everyone involved.

Essential listening this February:
- The first album from norwegian act Navigators most notably marks the return of Trond Andreassen, frontman of the now disolved Ricochets, one of the most acclaimed norwegian rock bands of the past decade. This time around there is a bit more country and few more ballads, but the quality of the songs are nothing shy of anything that would appear on a Ricochets album. Andreassen is still in dire need of an English lesson, but that has now become part of the charm of this ferocious voice and in a time when Norway certainly could do with a strong rock band on a major label, the album The Straight And Narrow is a most welcome return.
- Ain't No Grave is the sixth and final chapter in Johnny Cash's American Recordings series. And a worthy conclusion it certainly is, needless to say for both sentimental and nostalgic reasons. But the production is solid and the selection of songs is both interesting and compelling. It would be unreasonable to expect anything like the first two or three installments of the series, but nevertheless this is a unique collection, and certainly enough to keep the fans of the genre and the man himself happy. Or sad I suppose, because if the version of Kris Kristofferson's For The Good Times does not bring a tiny tear to your eye, well then maybe all hope is lost.
- The second album from singer/songwriter Ingrid Olava is another norwegian treat this month. Produced by Frode Jacobsen, member of the already legendary band Madrugada, The Guest is a strong follow up to her debut album that arrived two years ago. With plenty of melancholy, soft piano and heartfelt lyrics there is enough here to entitle Olava's lovely voice to an ever bigger audience this time around.

"Melanie"

melanie comes home early every night
writes a poem to pass the time
thinking everything is empty
she feels things turning worse

melanie wants to save the world
a busted bulb that needs to shine
the view is different from down here
she feels a natural thorn in her side

melanie puts on her favorite song
a brand new stranger in every room
human nature with a fading thirst
she didn't see it coming now it's gone

melanie turns off the light
she dreams to save her life

Essential January '10

Essential viewing this January:
- Already a regular at award ceremonies across America, Jason Reitman's third feature Up In The Air is certainly worthy of the attention. On the surface a slick movie with plenty of pace, but there is more here than what you're first lead to believe. The story of a man who spends most of his days flying cross country, hired by corporations to fire expired employees may strike a bigger nerve stateside than here, but there is a raw emotion underneath that is unmistakeable. The mood and honest reality of human relationships makes this a truly engaging film with a wonderful performance from George Clooney, who seems to be growing comfortably into a modern Cary Grant - a genuine movie star.
- Something very different would be Cold Souls by french director Sophie Barthes. Paul Giamatti stars as, erm, Paul Giamatti in this wonderfully original and hilarious picture. Moving between New York and St. Petersburg there is a great flow and brilliant mix of absolute absurdity and heartwrenching emotion. The desire to be original and owning a fresh view on things makes Barthes' a unique filmmaker and certainly one to watch.
- Big Fan, the directorial debut of Robert Siegel, writer of last years brilliant The Wrestler, has earned nice reviews and an impressive debut it is. A surprising and moving performance by comedian Patton Oswalt, playing an obsessive football fan in New York. Rough and slightly brutal, it is an interesting look at how different the world can feel for someone on the outside rather than on the inside of a stadium. A minor gem and a wonderful surprise, Siegel could grow to become a solid voice in independent film.

Essential listening this January:
- Another film that should be mentioned this month is Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are, and one of the best things about it is its soundtrack. With music by Karen O, from Yeah Yeah Yeahs it is a delight that can be enjoyed just as much after the end credits have rolled by. A wonderful collection of tracks with almost childlike sounds, accompanied by her soft and beautiful voice. It brings across the same message and feeling that the film provides and simply makes you want to climb to the top of a tree and hum along to it. Lovely indeed.
- About a year ago I proclaimed that Vampire Weekend had created the finest album of 2008, so it is not only a joy but also a relief to say that their follow up Contra does not disappoint. Stylistic not much has changed from their self titled debut and the objective reamins the same; to create terrific and enjoyable pop songs. From the delicious first single Cousins to the very final title track this is a great album and it is comforting to know that they will probably find an even bigger audience this time around.
- Another soundtrack has caught my ear this month, before the film has even come out. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis provided the score for John Hillcoats previous film, the brilliant The Proposition and have come together once more, this time for The Road. The songs are craftly put together with strong instrumentals and cold atmospheric moods. Like any strong soundtrack should, it stands confident and strong on its own. It might require more than one listen, but it is disturbing and poetic enough to keep you tuned in.

"No Reward"

every time the phone rings hold your breath
a beat of the drum that no one can hear
could this be the last sacrifice
there is no reward in keeping quiet

cold feet from the long walk home
can't tell if it's night with the curtains closed
an open window makes you want to travel
arms will never hold in this hard weather

nothing you say can ever be private
if you're alone grab somebody and scream
cover me just through the worst part
i thought i heard a cry in the background

in this short time it has become
the most beautiful thing i've seen

Scorsese

Last week Martin Scorsese was presented with the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille award by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The award is given for outstanding contribution to the entertainment field and is presented at the annual Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood, CA. Previous recipients include Alfred Hitchcock, Warren Beatty, Anthony Hopkins and Steven Spielberg (which Scorsese actually presented) to name a few and it has been a while since there has been a more worthy recipient.
Since his first feature film Who’s That Knocking At My Door in 1967 up to his most recent Shutter Island (out later this year), Scorsese has been one of the most respected and successful filmmakers working in America. He is one of a few directors working today who still manage to create films as solid pieces of art while never losing an ounce of entertainment value. His catalogue of films is nothing less than astonishing featuring titles such as Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Age of Innocence, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York and The Departed, just to name a couple. And to this day, the release of a new Martin Scorsese picture is still an event in the circles of cinema lovers.
There is a brutal honesty in the work of Scorsese. Although his films are always highly entertaining and skillfully put together, they are not always easy to watch. Whether it be scenes between family, or a gruesome piece of violence, Scorsese never backs down. What needs to be said will be said and what needs to be done will be done. Having gone through the business of getting films made for decades now, Scorsese has seen both the beauty and brutality of the industry. He will tell you as much as anyone just starting out, that getting films made is certainly not easy. And most times, no matter what any director will tell you, sacrifices have to be made. However, Scorsese just might be the exception. Where others may have been forced to scrap or cancel scenes, this director was not going to let anything tamper with his art. A now infamous story from the set of Taxi Driver (1976) comes to mind. It is the middle of the night in downtown New York and the crew is getting ready to shoot a pivotal scene where Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle has an uneasy encounter with a customer in the backseat of his cab. Parked outside an apartment building they are going to have a conversation about what goes on behind those windows. It is crucial to Bickle’s view on the human race and the filth that he feels walks the streets of his city. But time is of the essence and the sun will soon be rising, so let’s get going. There is just one problem. The actor playing the customer is missing. Or rather, he never showed up. The crew wants to go home and the producers say they will just have to cut the whole scene from the film. But that is not an option for the director. This scene is key for the entire film he says, and he is not looking to make any compromises. Determined to his vision of what the film needs to be, Scorsese sees no other option than to slip on the actors costume and climb into the backseat of the taxi. Roll the cameras and the director is now speaking some of the most incredible dialogue in the entire film. If you didn’t know Scorsese you would not know that this wasn’t a professional actor, but a director who would not back down and settle for anything less than what was in the story. And looking at it now, it is one of the stand-out performances in a film that had more than its share of challenges and complications. Read Geoffrey Macnab's brilliant The Making of Taxi Driver to get an idea.
Another great example of Scorsese’s loyalty to story and performance can be found in Casino (1995). In a scene between husband and wife Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone, he does something that would be considered “unthinkable” for any other filmmaker. He allows the audience to see a mistake.
The scene is very emotional and Stone is lying down on the bed crying with De Niro talking to her from behind. The camera is very close on the actors and the intensity is high. This is a difficult scene to get through, in particular for Stone so Scorsese wants to be intimate and make sure he catches everything. The scene plays out well and it is very powerful stuff. The actors are really into it and Scorsese is happy to get what he hoped for and more. But then suddenly, the camera bumps into the side of the bed, dropping down several inches, putting the actors out of frame, before recovering and getting back into shot. Any other director would immediately stop and yell out “Cut!” so loud the camera operator would without a doubt start soiling himself. But Scorsese lets it roll and refuses to go for another take when the scene is done. He got exactly what he wanted in that one. The actors where phenomenal and the emotion was real. That is what was important. There was no way Scorsese was going to sacrifice the genuine emotion of the story and his characters for a mere technical slip. That is another testament to the man’s pure desire for art and storytelling.

Martin Scorsese remains one of the finest filmmakers around and a true inspiration for any young director who wants to establish himself in the industry. With his unquestionable abilities as a filmmaker and his true intentions as an artist he is a force like no other working behind the camera.

Here is the montage that was shown at the Golden Globe ceremony, when receiving the Cecil B. DeMille award for his outstanding work. If this doesn’t get under your skin, you have to ask yourself if you really do like movies.

Great Video

Who says if you're a big band you need a million dollars to make a great music video?

Simply brilliant.

"Drive"

blazing headlights shine through the snow
frozen trees under a full moon
a broken down car lies on the side of the road
from up here the sea looks calm

another hour ‘til the light disappears
your right foot feels heavier by the minute
the water on these windows will freeze
choose a different road this time

over the mountain and across the river
on the other side you will still shine brightly
clean sheets still wrapped in plastic
the color of the ceiling will have changed since last

it is less dramatic with the door open
if this isn’t home tell me what it is
the power is out in this cold house
drive away again tonight

there is an empty building in every city
there is a drifter walking on every road

Essential 2009

Time now for the second annual look at the best things to come out of the ending year. So here, in my opinion, the best of 2009:

Viewing:
1. Moon, directed by Duncan Jones.
An amazingly impressive achievement with a cracking performance from the brilliant Sam Rockwell. This is delicious brain food and a joy to watch. Wonderful cinematography and one of the years best musical scores from Clint Mansell. A massive triumph for everyone involved. The best picture of the year.
2. Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle.
May seem like a ghost from last year, but it didn't actually come out until January. A blast of a movie, both exciting and moving with some of the best camerawork I've ever seen. Wonderfully put together and endlessly watchable. For once, Oscar got it right.
3. Synecdoche, New York, directed by Charlie Kaufman.
The directorial debut of Kaufman is a true delight. Both challenging and extremely funny it simply grows with every viewing. Featuring a stellar performance from the always wonderul Philip Seymour Hoffman, it is one of the most original and fascinating films in years.
4. The Hangover, directed by Todd Phillips.
The best comedy of the decade? It is certainly a strong contender. A wild and enormously entertaining ride, the real brilliance here lies in the casting. With a terrific ensemble and a nonstop riot of laughs it is hands down the best comedy of the year. And Tiger Snooze wins Best Song at the Oscars. Wanna bet?
5. (500) Days of Summer, directed by Marc Webb.
This is a wonderful picture with one of the finest couples in the terrific Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Accompanied by the best soundtrack of the year and a great sense of informal style, the feature debut by Webb deserves to find a large audience.
Top three runners up: The Wrestler - Che: Part II - I Love You, Man.

Listening:
1. Soulsavers - Broken.
The most beautiful record of the year with vocal contributions from Mark Lanegan and several others. This album is a brilliant collection of both rock, country and Americana with great poetic lyrics. A complete record that is guaranteed to have an impact on you.
2. The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event.
The debut album of a great New York rock band. Filled with catchy tunes and wonderful arrangements it is a brilliant first effort. It will be very exciting to see what they can do with their next one. And the single Sometime Around Midnight has a strong claim to the finest pop song of the year.
3. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.
Another New York band, another debut. This is the coolest pop song album in a long time. A great sound and extremely addictive tracks make this one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. It manages to remain fresh after endless plays and after their brilliant EP Higher Than The Stars I have a feeling that their follow up album could prove even better.
4. Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream.
It is incredibly satisfying that after forty years in the business this legend is still able to produce strong albums. Practically a sequel to his previous album Magic there is much in here to enjoy. The title track itself is not one of the strongest on the album but there is more quality and heart on this record than almost anything else that comes out these days. A solid and impressive production.
5. Brendan Benson - My Old, Familliar Friend.
After a spell with Jack White in The Raconteurs it is good to have Benson back out on his own. This album is a wonderful surprise after the slightly disappointing previous The Alternative To Love. Great arrangements, lyrics and riffs and a firm confirmation of Bensons abilities as a songwriter. Still pisses me off that he cancelled his November gig in Oslo though.
Top three runners up: Arctic Monkeys - Florence & The Machine - Washington.

Bring it, 2010.

Happy X-mas

Merry christmas everyone!
A time to eat, drink and sleep. In no particular order.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEZWtohobaE

Classic.

Essential December '09

Essential viewing this December:
- No Country For Old Men (2007) turned out to be the Coen brothers’ biggest success, both with critics and audiences. And it was clear that after such a serious affair they wanted to turn things around a bit and return to their more off-beat comedy roots. And where last years flawed but entertaining Burn After Reading didn’t quite live up to our expectations, their latest effort A Serious Man most certainly does. Set in the 60’s Midwest, with not a single A-list star in sight, they are definitely returning home with this truly wonderful picture. Their dark humour, which has now become impossible to compare to anything other than their own, shines through in an otherwise sad story. A terrific turn from the unknown Michael Stuhlbarg leads the way through their delicious movie universe, resulting in a both moving and highly watchable fable. Always original, always enjoyable and with a final shot that will leave you gasping - who needs stars in front of the camera?
- Twelve years have passed since director James Cameron had his previous film in the theatres. All those years, and probably many more, have gone into preparing for this months Avatar. A film he himself says "would be impossible to make until now" and that certainly is worth the hype. The effects are of course state of the art and it is impressive to see how photo realistic nearly everything in here seems. The problem with CGI characters have always been the lack of emotion, but here all the great acting on display is shining well on through. It is not without flaws; the running time could certainly be pulled back, the second act moves a bit slow and in parts looses the story in order to show off the groundbreaking effects. Which is a shame because the story is both thrilling and at times very engaging. A feast for the eyes and there is definitely more to come now that the technical stage has been set. In fact, you have never seen anything like this before.
- I’ve already decided that one of my new year resolutions will be to watch more documentaries in 2010. I haven’t seen enough this year, but the finest one so far is easily The Cove, by Louie Psihoyos. Even though nothing comes easily when watching this gutwrenching movie about the illegal slaughter of dolphins in Japan. The message is clear and the film itself is an impressive piece of work. With an even mix of interviews, facts, set ups and amazing footage it is simply brilliantly put together. A must see for docu fans and also recommended for those who like to put their hearts and minds through something harder than just another night at the movies.

Essential listening this December:
- Thirty Seconds To Mars return with This Is War, their third album in seven years. In other words, they are not generous with material but they have managed to put out yet another impressive record. Keeping in style with their sophmore album A Beautiful Lie, they have simply grown bigger and smoother over the years, but not necessarily in a bad way. The arrangments lie thicker and the scale of each single song is bigger than ever, but it suits the band well. And despite being a great actor, lead singer Jared Leto should simply quit Hollywood all together. That way maybe we could get a Thirty Seconds album every year, wouldn’t that be something!
- One of the finest indie albums of the year so far might prove to be Lungs, the debut of british Florence & The Machine. Lead singer and writer Florence Welch provides a great voice to a wonderful mix of tracks, from upbeat pop to somber folk tunes. It is both original and interesting and is one of those records that sort of fit every occasion. Sounding like the love child of P.J. Harvey and Nick Cave it will be very exciting to see what Welch does next.
- In the spirit of the season, why not throw in a christmas album. An absolute favorite of mine has always been Aimee Mann, and her first and only christmas record One More Drifter In The Snow from last year is great. A few classics but also some of her own original music make a nice compilation that manages to move away from the traditional christmas album format, and even though you will hear both sleighbells and christmas harmonicas this is easily an album that could be enjoyed all year round. But to make the most of it, be sure to listen to it now! So baste the turkey, put another log on the fire, and come and be merry with Aimee.

"Rails"

a line of treason in the dirty snow
hear the train with no final destination
a church on a railroad in the darkest night
nothing to hide but still no windows

make an offer for these old stories
useless wheels and broken down engines
familiar music from the next room
a trophy for your troubles tonight

there's no shine without me
there's no noise without me

stripped down to the bone
these crimes outside the city
change it for better or worse
the last page is always torn out

can you tell the difference
can you tell us apart

Essential November '09

Essential viewing this November:
- Director Steven Soderbergh has been truly efficient these past few years and this month he even has two films coming out in Europe, one being The Girlfriend Experience and the other is the wonderful The Informant! starring Matt Damon. It's exciting and thrilling, but mainly very very funny. A great atmosphere and colourful style with an unbelievable performance from Damon, turning out his finest performance in years.
- One of the finest independent films to come out this year is (500) Days of Summer by director Marc Webb. An original and quirky tale of two young lovers, played by the equally great Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Great chemistry between the leads, plenty of laughs and hands down the coolest soundtrack of the year. Simply delicious.
- Being one of the most anticipated films this season for yours truly it is endlessly satisfying to say that Duncan Jones' Moon does not disappoint. A stunning sci-fi flick with great cinematography and a haunting score from Clint Mansell, this is candy for both the eyes and mind. Starring Sam Rockwell in his best performance to date, which hopefully will earn him some attention this awards season.

Essential listening this November:
- After being draped in the tabloids regarding anything except his music lately it is a joy to be reminded what John Mayer really is; a brilliant songwriter. Battle Studies is his fourth studio album and it is terrific. Filled with great pop songs with a touch of both blues and jazz it is a pleasure from start to finish. Would make an excellent christmas present for anyone who claims to like music.
- Greatest Hits albums are lame. So what could be even more lame? Recommending a greatest hits album! But in the case of Foo Fighters' first compilation (not counting the accoustic Skin And Bones record) the package is just too good to resist. Spanning from their debut nearly fifteen years ago up to last years Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace the sheer quality of every single song is simply top class. A truly terrific mix of tracks showcasing the best of the best from one of the most stable and enjoyable American bands of the past two decades.
- Kent's new album Röd is not the success one might have hoped for, but in a slow month for studio releases it does enough to earn a mention. Loyal to their sound and style they are not out to recruit new fans but simply keep the ones they have happy. And there is enough stuff in here to do just that. The quality of each song is surprisingly variable, but here and there a great one pops out. Cut in half it would have made a terrific EP.

A Hero Will Rise

This thing is kinda funny.

http://www.tackfilm.se/?id=1259163458578RA58

It's in swedish, but you get the idea.

You're welcome, world.

Copenhagen Video

Last month I spent a weekend in Copenhagen and had a great time. On my first night there I played poker with some friends, including Anders and Kristian, who work together on various video productions in Denmark. That night Anders was testing out a new camera and have now put together a cool little segment they call Canon 7d test shoot. Here it is.


Photographed by Anders Nettli
Music: Ryan Adams - To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)

You can also check out Kristian’s website www.usesunscreen.dk and more of his videoes here: http://vimeo.com/kristianfoldager

Many Views

The music video I did for The Considerate Lovers this summer now has more than 700 views on YouTube. Thanks for watching!

The feedback on the video has been very good and later this month the band is releasing their new single on 7" vinyl so look out for that!

If you still haven't seen the video you can check it out here:

Essential October

Essential viewing this October:
- The Soloist is the true story of a former student at the Julliard music academy who now lives on the streets of Los Angeles. Based on the book by Steve Lopez, here played by Robert Downey, jr. it also features Jamie Foxx as the troubled genius. On paper it's this years clearest chaser of Oscar glory, but there's more to this picture than just that. The two central performances are great, top marks going to Downey, jr. surprisingly. There is a clean-cut and sober style that suits the story well accompanied with beautiful music. A real joy also is the cinematography which really does make L.A. look like the city of angels.
- Something completely different would be Observe and Report. A moronic and filthy comedy with a terrific performance from Seth Rogen. Definitely not for everyone but if you're willing to leave your good taste at the door, there is much fun to enjoy here. And director Jody Hill shold be resptected for assisting in bringing the old balls out comedy back to Hollywood.
- This past decade has not been Woody Allen's best years, but there is still some excitement to be found in his new movies. This time it is called Whatever Works and Allen has handed the acting duties over to, my favorite comedy writer, Larry David. It is certainly an acquired taste but Allen's straightforward and simplistic style, and genuine love of storytelling is bound to make you smile. With great dialogue and terrific performances all around (it is a true delight to catch David outside his more comfortable and usual TV format) with a hilarious turn from the always wonderful Patricia Clarkson.

Essential listening this October:
- British indie rockers Editors return with their third album In This Light And On This Evening and it is a real gem. A bit more electronic and dancefloor friendly than their previous outings but the quality of the songs is still stellar. Proving their worth and still willing to go new ways they are one of the more exciting bands the brits have produced in a while. And I suspect this album will only grow with each listen.
- The frontman of Madrugada, the now disolved legendary norwegian rock band, Sivert Høyem has turned out his third solo album, and this time it is finally his main project. To call it a departure from his previous work (both with Madrugada and on his own) would be an overstatement, but there is still much to collect from his musical abilities. The title of the album is Moon Landing and even though it will not send you all the way there, it is certainly strong enough to keep you satisfied as winter creeps closer by the minute.
- The idea of a second Wolfmother album seemed hopeless for a long time as the band split up a few years ago due to the classic "irreconcilable differences" problem. But one of the original three founding members has stuck around and replaced his lost friends positions around the stage, and the result is Cosmic Egg. Not nearly as good as their self titled 2005 debut, but sticking to vintage rock & roll recipes there is plenty here to enjoy. Still in the spirit of Led Zeppelin and 70's style riffs you'll struggle to find a more respectful album to the rock genre. In a word: fun.

"Last Greeting"

gone away but still not there
a beaten in door left halfway open
don't know what happens tonight
but got a plan for tomorrow

slowly not surely getting to where we are going
the last greeting is a smile in the dark
don't leave it here
torn to the very last seam

young but old enough to complain
where were you last night
the floor in this house is worn down to the dirt
someone should have said something by now

Muse: The Experience

Last night I went to see Muse perform in Oslo Spektrum, and what a performance it was! The whole concert took me a bit by surprise and in the end it turned out to be one of the best live shows I have ever been to.
Even though I've always liked the band I will fall into the category of a moderate fan. I own a few of their albums, not all of them. I had never seen them live before and I've never been close to becoming a die hard fan. Last nights show just might change that. What made the concert so good wasn't that they played all my favorite songs or that the audience was fantastic or anything like that. And Muse isn't the worlds greatest band either. But the show they put on was just so complete and whole hearted that it was impossible not to be impressed by the band's effort.
A common problem when you go to see big bands perform is that you're left wondering where the money went. Far too many bands and artists have the idea that a concert is simply plowing through a setlist of 15 or 20 songs, showing off their newest stuff mixed with something they know the audience will appreciate. And then take a bow and walk off stage, adding the numbers up and thinking about how much money they earned tonight. Watching Muse last night, there was no question where the money went. It was all up there. On stage in front of you. Ready to be taken in by the excited audience. Which is only fair. After all, we paid for it.
The stage had three massive platforms which went up and down as the band performed, the lights were overwhelming and flying everywhere and even though at first one might think it was simply too much, there was still a feeling that every beam of light had some purpose for the show. And with part of the illuminations being controlled by the bands frontman Matt Bellamy himself, you understand that with Muse nothing is ever "too much." And for the first time in a long time, the venue which is infamous for its poor sound, managed to roar out every tone pitch perfect, adding to the list of positive surprises. With the occasional shower of confetti or balloons, the audience never left the bands side.
Just shy of two hours the show came to an end. Walking out into the chilly autumn night it was impossible to feel cold. Because what made the concert one of the best in ages was that Muse wasn't simply out to impress you with their best songs. They didn't wanna score points just by playing for a long time, ensuring that the die hard fans were happy. Nor did they come simply to promote their new album and play mainly new stuff. They didn't set out just to play a decent concert. They didn't want to perform a "great live show." They wanted to offer an experience. And every rock concert or live show should be just that: an experience.

Muse at Oslo Spektrum - October 25, 2009

Photograph by Monica Strømdahl, Aftenposten

Time and Love

Today is my parents wedding day anniversairy. They have been together for a long time and I am often reminded of how blessed I am to call them my Mom and Dad.
These days there are not many people who manage to stay together for as long as my parents have. It's not always a lack of love or affection that is the problem, but being able to live in the same house and spend every day together can sometimes just be too complicated. Love is not always enough. But my parents have lived together since long before I was born and I am very proud that they have been able to take such good care of not only each other, but our entire family.

I have always been a big fan of Bruce Springsteen and his music has played a big part in my adult life. Not only does he record great music, but he has always been one of my favorite writers of song lyrics. He has a great way with words which is both poetic and lyrical. Recently I watched an interview where he talked about the songs on his new album which came out earlier this year. For those of us who know his music, it has become clear on the albums of recent years that he is very aware of the fact that he is growing older. And he is very appreciative of love and the people around him. In this interview he was asked how he felt about growing older, himself having been married for nearly twenty years. This is what he said:

There seems to be a transcendence of time in love, and I believe that there is. I carry a lot of people with me that aren't here anymore. The normal markers of the day, over the month, over the year... those are very fearsome markers. As you get older particularly. In the presence of love, and someone you care about, they loose some of their fearsome powers. And instead you're marking time by light, and the way it plays on a persons face at any given moment. That's your awareness of time over the course of that day.

Tonight my parents have been married for 35 years.

Where The Wild Things Are

I can't wait for this movie.

Essential September

Essential viewing this September:
- Steven Soderbergh's two films about Ernesto 'Che' Guevara didn't last long in the theatres, but might even be better off served as a double bill DVD, because you'll want to stay fresh throughout both as there is much to appreciate. Quite surprisingly, it works perfect as a history lesson as well as a solid piece of cinematic entertainment. Where Part I shows Guevara addressing the UN accompanied by flashbacks of his battles against Cuban dictatorship, Part II moves more slowly, just like the man himself, through the Bolivian jungle. The result is a wonderful journey. More poetic than political, more moving than lecturing and with a towering performance from Benicio del Toro.
- This September sees two classics return to American television screens. First up is Curb Your Enthusiasm. Having reached season seven it is still razor sharp, deliciously politically incorrect and with more laugh out loud moments than any other comedy series at the moment. Larry David is slowly becoming this decade's savior of American comedy.
- The other pleasant return comes from David Duchovny and Californication. The new season has just kicked off stateside and the first two episodes show it has remained fresh into its now third year. Nicely set up with a new turn of events, the writing is phenomenal and features the best dialogue around. With the main characters now firmly settled in, it allows for even more outrageous spectacle. And Duchovny is using anything available to him in seeing to that his Hank Moody is loudly casting a shadow over Fox Mulder on his way to becoming the leading man's new signature creation.

Essential listening this September:
- Pearl Jam end their three year silence with Backspacer. The new album comes as a nice surprise after some rather anonymous releases. Still proud to sport the sound of Seattle grunge, there are also more low-key and tuned down performances among the eleven tracks on the record. A straightforward and stripped down old rock album, which is always welcome on my stereo.
- After the break-up with her band The Licks, Juliette Lewis is now out on her own. But not to worry, she has found help in the competent hands of The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez Lopez and proves in fact that she still knows best. The result is a mixture of tracks, some fast some slow, but the overall impression is that there is more heart on display here than on her previous two albums. Filled with energy, anger and pain Lewis is a breath of fresh air among other glossy and company shaped artists. As she screms in the albums title track Terra Incognita "You gotta love what you live and give what you love before you get it back."
- Danish Baby Woodrose has almost become a veteran in the circles of scandinavian rock music. Their sixth album, simply titled Baby Woodrose is a return to the psychedelic tunes of their last outing "Chasing Rainbows", but there is also plenty of classic style rock tracks. Their sound has grown unique over the years and it is a joy to observe these self chosen outcasts who are more than happy to play in their own corner of the sandbox. To be played loud and in good company.

Mirror Discovery

The other morning I knocked my foot into the doorstep on my way to the bathroom. Overwhelmed with pain, I bit my teeth together in order to stop myself from waking the neighbours with the worst pieces of profanity they would have ever heard. That’s when it happened. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and saw something quite disturbing. As I was clinching my teeth together, a small number of peculiar lines were coming out in my skin on both sides of my face, just out of the corners of my eyes. I had never noticed them before. They also seemed to appear just as strong when I smiled. It was truly strange.
Later I asked a friend what he thought they might be. Rather uninterested he replied; “They’re wrinkles.” Still confused, I returned home and got out an old dusted down dictionary. “Wrinkles... wrinkles... wrinkles” I whispered to myself while anxiously flipping the pages. And there it was... "Wrinkles; a small furrow or crease in the skin, esp. of the face, as from aging or frowning.” Both intrigued and uneasy I remember what I had seen in the mirror. It happened when I was frowning, sure. But also when I smiled or simply clinched my teeth...

I had a birthday last week.

"No Sleep"

drawn to the light and
killed by the heat
drowning in excess with
expectations to meet
another language
i can not understand
smoke too thick to find the
talent beneath the ground

broken politics and
years of more negotiating
wake up to this dear
a temporary way of living
fear is on the right side
someone drive the getaway car
if ready to listen
to a stringless guitar

it can only cover so much
your electric rain
all is for nothing and
not all is to gain
fight to keep all the
salted wounds tended
there is no need to know
just how it all ended

no sleep 'til morning
no sleep tonight

Interview With A Navaho

A few years ago while attending the European Film College in Denmark, a large group of students were assigned to work on a project that would become a one hour TV programme. The show would be aired on Danish television and the topic of the show was the idea of "time". The title was "It's About Time" and it would feature sketches, musical segments and panel discussions on the topic of "time". A committee was established to decide and select what was to be screened on the show.
After learning from somewhere a fascinating fact about how the Navaho Indian tribes do not believe in the idea of time, a friend and I pitched an idea to the committee about one of these Indians going on an American talkshow.
For some reason it was not selected to be part of the programme.

Essential August

Essential viewing:
- Quentin Tarantino is back with his long awaited WWII fable Inglourious Basterds. Not the nonstop bloodshed many might expect, even though it certainly has its share of that too, as always with Tarantino the action here lies within the dialogue. From its dazzling opening to its gunblazing finish this picture is filled with treasures. A great cast with Christoph Waltz stealing the whole movie from under Brad Pitt's feet. The third act might be a bit weak and we don't get the massive payoff we feel we deserve, but this is still a great return to form for Tarantino, after the disappointing Death Proof (2007).
- Michael Mann returns to crime, this time in 1930's America with his new film Public Enemies. Johnny Depp plays John Dillinger and even though the story is hardly original it is an interesting study of an era where criminals were considered heroes for fighting against the bankrupt government. The style might throw you off at first (the entire film is shot on an ultra high resolution format) and you might reap more rewards upon a second viewing, but Mann once again proves himself a master of the medium.
- I Love You, Man is one of the best comedies of the year so far. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are becoming best buddies in this sharp and informal flick and they have enough appeal between them to make you laugh all the way through. It is director John Hamburg's fourth film and easily his best one yet.

Essential listening:
- Broken is the new album from Soulsavers, the English band with strong ties to singer/songwriter Mark Lanegan. Lanegan features on several tracks on this album too alongside other contributors such as Richard Hawley and Mike Patton. A raw and lovely mixture of rock, country and (obviously?) soul. With autumn approaching this is the perfect soundtrack for long walks in the dark. And everything else actually.
- After dabbling with fellow rockmate Jack White with The Raconteurs, Brendan Benson is back on his own with his first solo album in four years, and boy is it good! My Old, Familiar Friend might be his strongest outing yet. A wonderful collection of pop and rock songs with terrific lyrics. It is obvious that after his spell with The Raconteurs, Benson has been missing the opportunity to release his own brand of catchy tunes with playful riffs and headnodding beats. One of the finest albums of the year so far.
- Arctic Monkeys return to the spotlight with "the difficult third album". The title is Humbug and might be a gutpunch to the expectations themselves. However, they have nothing to fear because they are still doing their job well. Having turned to Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme for producing duties, there is still enough rock to go around, but also a surprising amount of more old style popular tracks. The Sheffield quartet has deliverd a strong album and might be demanding to be taken a bit more serious after establishing themselves as the favorite band of urban rock teenagers. Appearantly there is more to these punks than meets the eye.

Summer Song

Summer is coming to an end and everyday life is back to normal for most people by now. I had a great summer. I spent most of it up north with my family and also got to see some old friends. The best part though is always to see my three young nephews again. I got to hang out with them quite a bit and here is one of my favorite moments from this summer. I'm with the youngest one here, who has just turned seven. He's having a swim in my uncle's pool (which is built in on the cliff by the occean, how cool is that!) and is enjoying a song. Unaware I'm filming him with my phone, he's carrying out one of his signature tracks "I Believe I Can Fly". I love how when he forgets the words he just hums along or better yet just switches to norwegian!
Guaranteed to make your day.

Upcoming Treats

One of the few things that is positive with summer coming to an end is that autumn is the high season for the release of new quality films! After a summer packed with the usual blockbusters and franchise movies there are certainly plenty of really exciting ones to look forward to. Here are some of the ones I really can't wait to feast my eyes on:
- "Where The Wild Things Are" is the new movie by Spike Jonze, the director of the truly brilliant "Being John Malkovich" (1999) and "Adaptation" (2002). Based on the book by Maurice Sendak, it is an adventure movie for kids but surely the rest of us will find plenty in it too. From the look of the trailer this really could be something special. Check out Trailer 1.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/wherethewildthingsare/
- "Moon" is a modern day sci-fi with another lead role for the wonderful Sam Rockwell. Directed by brit Duncan Jones, it looks to be something very deep and psychological with a thrilling atmosphere. Could very well be the finest thing to happen to sci-fi since "2001".
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/moon/
- My comic heroes Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant are currently shooting their first feature film together "Cemetery Junction". The creators of already legendary shows "The Office" and "Extras" are looking for a change of tone here, but I am sure it will still be one of the finest films of next year. Okay, so the trailer doesn't actually have any footage of the film in it, but if the movie itself is anywhere near as hilarious as this it should be a real kicker!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-ESq-Z8Vqc
- After his gigantic productions of spectacle in "The Lord Of The Rings" (2001) and "King Kong" (2005) Peter Jackson turns back to more low key storytelling. "The Lovely Bones" is based on the novel by Alice Sebold and looks to be a really interesting thriller with some incredible photography.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/thelovelybones/
- The Coen brothers achieved mainstream stardom with their Oscar loving "No Country For Old Men" (2007). After the minorly disappointing "Burn After Reading" (2008) they are going back to their roots with "A Serious Man". An independent production with mainly unknown actors, it looks to be another original cracking movie.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/aseriousman/

"Walls"

another night in an asphalt bed
shallow days in a cold july
endless traffic in a lonely house
you say everything is fine

eyes filled with year long pain
in a face like an empty screen
carry this with you for another day
walls all around you but one has a crack

defeat in conversation
a red light in the corner
an enemy just crossed the room
tell time by this days light

come all this way to find a mirror
this will be your lesson
look out the window to see what happened
everything is fine

Essential July

Essential viewing this July:
- "Entourage" is back! Now in its sixth season some of the original heat and appeal may have worn down, but this is still one of the finest shows around. The writing is still top notch and the original cast work hard to keep the show fresh. There might not be many more seasons to come so enjoy it while it lasts!
- After its VERY limited cinematic release in Norway "Synecdoche, New York" finally arrives on DVD. Impossible to describe in just a few words, so you're better off just watching it without knowing too much. Wonderfully original with one of coolest ensemble cast of the year so far. And further proof that Philip Seymour Hoffman might be the finest thing to ever happen to his acting generation.
- The return of Sacha Baron Cohen in "Brüno" was never going to be anywhere near as big as "Borat". And it isn't. But it still has its moments and one has to respect the balls of Cohen (which get plenty of screen time by the way) for going to places no other mainstream comedian would ever dare. And in a summer of CGI blockbusters and rubbish teen movie sequels it should be appreciated for just what it is: a silly, silly comedy.

Essential listening this July:
Since summer is a gruelingly slow season when it comes to new album releases, this month I've had a look at some festival highlights. After a spell at Norwegian Wood (Oslo), Bukta (Tromsø) and the upcoming Øyafestivalen (Oslo), here are the best kicking festival beats of summer 2009:
- Bob Hund had the ungrateful task of opening this years Bukta festival, and they couldn't have done a better job. In the crisp summer air in Tromsø (it was freezing!) they performed a marvellous set and made sure everyones festival experience got off on the right foot. Never been played on a regular basis in my house, but after seeing them in Tromsø and knowing I'll catch them again at Øya soon, Bob Hund is slowly becoming the soundtrack to my summer this year.
- Another fairly new acquaintance was The Sadies from Canada. This quartet provided some deliciuos country and rock tunes, perfectly suited for both a nice summer party or just chilling in the background. And the greatly titled track "Stop The World And Let Me Off" should be track # 1 on every summer compilation the record companies are so eager to put out this time of year.
- When August has passed and autumn has arrived I am sure that one of my summer highlights will be that I finally got to see Band of Horses. This wonderful band from North Carolina has only released two full lenght albums, both with beautiful melodies and poetic lyrics. It's been a while since their lovely sophmore record "Cease To Begin", so hopefully there is another one on the way and a strong chance of hearing some new material when they take center stage at Øya in a few weeks time. I can't wait.

Newspaper Article

Newspaper "Bladet Tromsø" have done a nice little article about the music video. There are some comments from me and Henry, the lead singer in the band. The video is embedded in the article, but seems to have been a bit compromised in the process as a slight part of the window on the right side is missing. Therefore, if you haven't seen the video I recommend you head to its original YouTube page. You can get there by clicking on the video image twice.
You can read the article here: http://www.itromso.no/kultur/article275811.ece

Also, the video is featured on a website about "what's going on in Tromsø", that kinda thing. You can check that out here: http://www.tromsoby.no/node/7683

Music Video

Here is the music video I did for the norwegian rock band The Considerate Lovers. The song is called "Winter Ain't So Cold When You Got Someone On Your Mind" and is taken from their debut album "The End".

Producer & Director: John-Kristian Dalseth
Photographer & Editor: Anders Nettli
Thanks to Morten Rognli, Fargerike Tromsø, Torkel Riise Svenson and Krister Kantola for helping out.

# 50

Post number 50.
This basically started as a joke, but has now become something I enjoy doing and hear that people appreciate. So thanks for the positive feedback and kind words. And thanks for reading.
More to come.

Essential June

Essential viewing this June:
- "The Hangover" is the biggest comedy hit of the summer stateside, and rightly so. A terrific cast (mostly unknown faces, wisely), a hilarious script with clever and original set ups and the best one-liners since last years "Superbad". It's hard to believe it actually comes with a heart too, but it truly does. The best comedy of the year so far.
- Everyone was waiting for it, but no one really had any real expectations that it would be any good. After all, it was from the director of the "Charlie's Angels" movies. That makes "Terminator Salvation" this months pleasant surprise. This fresh but darker look at the billion dollar franchise is certainly worth the attention, and even though it is certainly flawed it still delivers in volume. Gritty and hard hitting, with a strong cast and a stand out performance from Sam Worthington, this just might show the series can live on even without it's original star.
- A romantic comedy about people in their fifties? Please, Hollywood would never go for it. True. So director Joel Hopkins went to London to make it. "Last Chance Harvey" is a wonderful film with great performances from its two leads Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. If you take away the "age" factor, it might not be the most original romance of the year, but for some reason a romantic comedy starring the likes of Hoffman and Thompson will always make more of an impact than say Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. Thankfully.

Essential listening this June:
It is impossible to write about music at the end of June 2009 without writing about Michael Jackson. I will not claim that I've listened to his music frequently for the past ten years, but growing up in the 80's and 90's it is impossible to say he has not played any part of my musical life. So for the music bit this month, my three favorite Michael Jackson songs:
- "Off The Wall" ("Off The Wall", 1979). It's hard to label this track. It can be called pop, disco or r'n'b, it doesn't matter. It's a wonderful song, from the man's best album in my opinion. His vocal abilities peaked around this time and going back to it today it still sounds amazingly fresh.
- "Greatest Show On Earth" ("Ben", 1973). A rare song, one of the last ones to be recorded before his voiced changed as he grew older. An upbeat and catchy motown tribute. A wonderful sound that could have suited him well also on his later records.
- "Billie Jean" ("Thriller", 1983). Arguably his biggest hit. The somewhat bizarre chorus and catchy beat will fill up dancefloors for ages to come. A true testament to Jackson's great understanding of pop music.

Good Music

There is not enough good music around. Or wait, scratch that. There is too much BAD music around. That would be more accurate.
Last week I went to a couple of really nice concerts. First up was Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. They performed a two hours plus set at the Norwegian Wood festival in Frognerparken, Oslo. It is a terrific venue and one of my favorite festival stages in the country. The setlist had a few surprises, but there was a nice and even spread of both old and new. Having released one of 2008's best albums last March ("Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!") the focus was still on new material, but being a fan I could not have asked for a sweeter collection of songs. "Henry Lee", "Into my arms", "Stagger Lee" and many more classics found their way into the mix.
A few days later I attended an intimate show with American singer / songwriter Joshua Radin. I've mentioned him on this site before ("Essential November") and I think he is a massive talent with a wonderful voice. It was a wonderful show, played on the smaller stage at Garage, one of Oslo's many rock bars. As Radin himself pointed out, it was probably the smallest stage he had been on since starting out four years ago. The songs, mainly about ex-girlfriends and possible new ones, are elegant and poetic with beautiful melodies. After releasing his first album "We Were Here" in 2006 he left his major record label after being pushed towards making more "poppy" songs. His new album "Simple Times" is therefore the first release of the tiny and aptly named label Mom & Pop Records.
Being at a good concert is always a joy, and after seeing these two very different acts I found it thrilling to see musicians performing their own songs and delivering every word with convincing feeling. Take that MTV!

"For Sale"

the fall of a friend
screaming they have heard this song before
nothing feels natural coming from that side
black clouds but still no rain

a young heart with an old soul
everything is now for sale
trapped asleep for another night
there is nowhere to land if you jump

money for nothing like this
playful disgrace in a crowded city
another street going the wrong way
a fake smile is all i need tonight

Video Shoot

Last weekend I went to Tromsø to direct a music video for one of my favorite bands, The Considerate Lovers. Along with me was my friend and photographer Anders. The band supplied me with a few songs for a short film I did last year and this was my way of returning the favor. We didn't have any budget so it was a small production where we shot over two days. We got lots of great footage and now starts the real job of putting it all together. Hopefully we will have the finished video within the next month.
The band released their first album, "The End" last year and will have a new single coming out later this summer. They are also playing at Bukta festival in Tromsø on July 2.

Photograph by Krister Kantola

Essential May

Essential viewing this May:
- "Revolutionary Road" sees the return of the most successful on-screen couple ever, Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Set in mid-50's America this is an interesting character study with top notch performances from everyone involved. What on paper looks like a slick Oscar friendly period drama is surprisingly rough around the edges and with a shocking third act this is easily director Sam Mendes' finest hour since 1999's "American Beauty".
- The return of "Star Trek" to the big screen is impossible to ignore, despite its flaws. It is impressive when you think that this is only director J.J. Abrams' second feature film, the scale and expectations from the massive fanbase alone should be enough to terrify any rookie filmmaker. But Abrams hits the ground running and two hours later what you have left is an unashamingly fresh sci-fi thrill ride. The casting of mostly unknown faces is clever and the effects are spectacular, so you'll have to look hard to find a better piece of blockbuster entertainment. Abrams has rebooted the sci-fi genre and you can almost smell the popcorn.
- This months pleasent surprise comes from the straight-to-DVD release "Nothing But The Truth". A gripping drama with the best ensemble act of the year so far, with Kate Beckinsale and Vera Farmiga as the standouts. Usually dull director Rod Lurie employs a realistic style and wonderful dialogue. Complete with terrific cinematography this is a great movie which unfortunately will never reach the large audience it richly deserves.

Essential listening this May:
- "Sinful Soul" is norwegian rock band Helldorado's third album, and it might be the best one yet. Packed with terrific tunes ranging from country, blues, rock & roll this is a superb record which hopefully will make more people aware of the band. One of the best norwegian releases so far this year.
- Manic Street Preachers returns to form with "Journal For Plague Lovers". Their ninth studio album is a raw and hard exploration of alternative rock music seen through the eyes of these indie veterans. Superior to their records of recent years this is a wonderful return to the top by the Welsh band, reminiscent of their finest hour "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours" (1998).
- Even though Juliette Lewis' return to the music scene with her new band The New Romantiques and the album "Terra Incognita" will not hit stores until September, some samples have already appeared on her MySpace site - and boy are they good! The album, produced by The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, promises to be both darker and more rough than her first two outings. A true original and old rocking soul, Lewis just might be in the process of releasing her masterpiece. Roll on autumn!

"Belong"

screams from the other room
the fear is never gone for long
these actors could never be alone
this city is no longer yours

take her photograph
take something more

leave the room with the music still on
keep your head up for one more day
all this time belongs to you
understand the words the best one can

the way you look at your friends
the way you look at everything else

Ebeltoft

In 2005 I moved to Ebeltoft, Denmark to attend the European Film College. I was there for one year and last weekend I returned for a reunion with my old classmates. We had a superb time and it reminded me what a special place it is.
Ebeltoft is a small town in every sense of the word small. Sure there are about 14,000 people living in the whole county, but you'd never know from walking the streets. It is located on the east coast of Jylland, the island which is the major part of Denmark. Whenever I go there I take the bus from Copenhagen to the end of Denmarks other major island, Sjælland and from there it is a 45 minute ferry ride before you step off, arriving in Ebeltoft. The town is small and the centre is close to the occean and on the shoreline there are plenty of beautiful beaches. On my first night back this time, me and some friends went down to the water and watched the sun set. It is quiet and calm and when you walk up from the beach, through the town centre you can just keep walking and end up in the deepest woods in a matter of minutes. The film school is located on top of the woodland hills and is almost isolated from the rest of the town. It is both a sombre and peaceful place where you can rest, get your head straight or in our case, make movies. I've been back a few times since I graduated and having lived in two big cities since I left, it is always refreshing and helpful to return. It makes you glad knowing that places like it exists. It really is a special place.


Photograph by Enqvist

Switched Off

I've been flying quite a lot lately and it amazes me that there is still a genuine concern among flight attendants that mobile phones and iPods can cause serious damage to the aircraft. First of all, if there really was such a risk you would never be allowed to even bring your phone or iPod onboard, or at least they would conduct a thorough search of each and every passenger for one. And yet, whenever I try to catch some sleep or relax with some descreet music in my ear, an eager stewardess will rush over and strictly require me to stop this illegal activity. At least during take off and landing. Curiously, you never actually have to switch off your player, it is plenty sufficient for them to see you simply take your headphones off your head. And they've done their job.
Actually sweetheart, all things considered; if you think this monster of technology that is my tiny iPod can bring down this Boeing-737 I'd rather step off and take the bus.

"Paper Heartbeats"

start this war with just two words
count the names not the blessings
these sounds are all too familiar
a flood of anything could be welcome

under your feet under the dirt
yellow flowers behind a barbed wire fence
a wall is fading but the writing sticks
the dark was always coming

paper heartbeats and colored in smiles
glowing in the dark but still not real
someone says this road leads home
a pen gone empty is an honest sign

you knew it would be hard
to walk through this world alone