Proof the Arts are Still Breathing in the 2000s

Atonement Ian McEwan (2001)

When a young girl accidently sees something she does not understand, the effects are disastrous. Atonement by Ian McEwan is novel set against the lush backdrop of WWII. This book stands out among the best in the early 2000s because of McEwan's storytelling technique. You may wonder while you're reading why he retells the same instance a few times. The result is a Faulkner-esque telling from multiple vantage points so that when the life changing moment happens the reader knows the truth where as some of the characters do not.

Before the moment where main character Robbie is wrongfully arrested, the novel has a tendency to move slowly though told with beautiful prose. McEwan's prose is unmatched by any other writer working in his sales demographic. From his meticulous descriptions of place and character it's quite evident that Mr. McEwan is a great student of Dickens. Not only does this book recall a witty allusion to Dickens in its prose but also in its sweeping story. A true, old-fashioned romance in the literary sense of the word is what Anchor books offers with this imprint, a tale that crosses from upper class England to the frontline battle of WWII France and all the grizzly details of war. It's clear that McEwan knows his history, and how to use that to play upon reader's heartstrings, and like any great Romance novel there's a twist ending that will blow your mind.

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

In his third feature film, director Noah Baumbach tackles the occasionally overdone subject of divorce. This film is different in its approach to divorce because Baumbach's script is always more about honest characters than theme. What makes these characters so great are their strong roots in the books and movies they enjoy. The father played by Jeff Daniels is a failing writer who constantly asserts his literary opinions over his family including his up-and-coming writer wife played by Laura Linney. The seeds for divorce are slightly planted early on in the film when the two naive children played by Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline, overhear their parents fighting. The movie is short so there is not much prologue before the parents explain their separation in a time where divorce was hardly as prevalent as now. Stylistically Baumbach is channeling the 80s in which his film takes place in both costume and music choices and the result has a Wes Anderson feel, as he lent a hand in the production of this film.

What makes this movie truly excellent is the acting. Daniels is quite a surprise as the aging patriarch. Most remember Daniels from his comedic days of the 1990s but these days you can find him on Broadway and his acting chops are impressive in this film. As always Laura Linney, another Broadway vet steals the show with her honest portrayal of a wife and mother who isn't perfect. Eisenberg is tolerable as Walt, the oldest son but is upstaged by younger actor Owen Kline who plays Frank.

Let it Die- Feist (2004)

Long before she had us counting 1234, Canadian folksinger Leslie Feist released this full length album. It would be unfair to compare her latest album The Reminder with her first U.S. release Let it Die but both albums can easily be included among the best albums of the 2000s. Feist has the ability to swoon you to sleep and get you on your feet dancing. Her crystal clear voice on this album is in a word, classic. When you listen to this album, you get the feeling of a 50s nightclub in Paris. In fact, if you've been to a café in the last ten years, it's likely that you've heard at least one song from this album.

The folksy songs are never angry but convey touching heartbreak in songs like title track Let it Die. Have no fear, the quirky chanteuse will have you smiling as you stroll down the street listening to your iPod with her catchy tune Mushaboom, a song which has become a staple among the indie crowd. Feist does something few international artists do when releasing music in the U.S., she includes a song entirely in French trusting that her voice and music are enough to keep listeners interested and the result is Tout Doucement, which essentially translates to "all gently," which is exactly the feeling this album conveys.