MOVIE: "The Pusher Trilogy" Nicholas Winding Refn
This is the first time I have recommended a foreign film and the first time I have recommend a whole trilogy in lieu of just one film.
The Pusher movies tell the story of various aspects of the illegal drug trade in Copenhagen, Denmark. For three movies the viewer is thrown into a dirty and despairing world of drugs and violence. For three movies the viewer is forced to live with these characters and their various levels of sin and depravity. What is so astounding about these movies is the matter-of-fact way they tell the stories. Nothing is stylized, nothing is glossed over. There is no opinion thrust on the viewer, there is no one telling the viewer what is right and what is wrong. We witness the increasingly deplorable actions of the characters and we form our own opinions. This is not American filmmaking, it is too bold, to harsh.
The actors are all completely unknown by American audiences save for Mads Mikkleson who played LeChiffre in 2006’s Casino Royale. Mikkelson is a fantastic actor, who completely electrifies in “Pusher II.” I wouldn’t be surprised if he started showing up more and more in Hollywood films. The Pusher movies, are gritty and contain a feeling of reality that can not be manufactured in Hollywood.
BOOK: "A Million Little Pieces" James Frey
I almost forgot about this book. In an attempt to ignore the pointless and drummed up Oprah induced controversy I must have pushed it into the back of my mind. It was only upon rearranging my bookshelf that I found it and remembered how much it inspired me.
James Fry’s memoirs or apparently fictionalized memories, were at one time, before the controversy, hailed and revered. “A Million Little Pieces” is powerful, inspiring work. It’s bare bones style and prose lends itself perfectly to Frey’s story of drug abuse and the will and determination to overcome.
It has been called the anti AA or NA for that matter book due to it’s theme of taking responsibility for ones own actions. That Frey was able to overcome the horrendous drug and alcohol addiction that plagued him most of his life and that his novel gave hope to millions that read it are the only things that matter. It shouldn’t matter that some events and some facts were exaggerated and embellished. Would the story have been more powerful had they not? I doubt it.
This is a hardcore, gritty and at times overwhelming story, but its pages an its words give hope to even the most downtrodden and desperate. Ignore the Oprah controversy, read this book.
MUSIC: "Social Distortion" Social Distortion
It’s unfortunate that more people didn’t know about Social Distortion in their heyday. What started out as an early 80s punk bad quickly became so much more and so much better.
On their 1990 self titled release they are at their best, mixing Johnny Cash inspired blues and Country with Clash punk rock.
Perhaps if lead singer Mike Ness hadn’t delved so deep into drugs they would have been able to make it bigger. But then again it is the fact that Ness has been to the bottom and clawed his way back to the top that gives his songwriting and guitar playing such authenticity and such a beat down but hopeful edge. A truly overlooked legend.
