Sweden vies with the US in raunchy thriller writing at present. Lately lamented Stieg Larsson's first film in his Millenium Trilogy now ready for cinema – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Clever, numerate, pacey, techy, Swedish. Filmed version ideally will be restrained and European. Trailer doesn't inspire confidence … http://www.thegirl.co.uk/
From the UK, The Rapture, by Liz Jensen. Another perceptive study of adolescent psychosis. Credible and very readable. Rapture includes the wittiest contemporary orchidectomy in the literature, and fashionable, plausibly researched eco-catastrophe: http://www.lizjensen.com/default.aspx?id=1
Not so good the film realisation of Cormac McArthy's The Road (http://www.theroad-movie.com/) which looked good in a grey sort of way, boasted two fine performances, but was unforgivably SLOW — the original novel is read in a oner because it has to be.
Two great films however, to be watched by everyone – A Prophet, directed by Jacques Audiard, prison drama, consummate French cinema, best in class: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3860639/a_prophet_trailer_2010/
And Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, surely a roll call for academic GPs everywhere. Ian Dury not a model parent and no mention of QOF: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1506083865/
And a reminder that Americans write great thrillers, especially interns at Columbia — Beat the Reaper, by Josh Bazell: http://www.amazon.com/Beat-Reaper-Novel-Josh-Bazell/dp/0316032212/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266317489&sr=8-1
- © British Journal of General Practice, 2010.