The Filtered Excellence: July 21, 2016
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this week’s picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more.
WATCH THIS:
Batman: The Killing Joke. Alan Moore’s classic graphic novel re-examining The Joker’s origin and his complex relationship with The Caped Crusader has finally become an animated feature. Directed by Bruce Timm and Sam Liu, the film shows how one bad day – and a fateful encounter with Batman – turned engineer turned struggling comic into the homicidal Joker. It also cuts to the present where The Joker sends Commissioner Gordon, Batman, and Barbara Gordon on a dark journey to prove that we are all just a bad day away from going insane. Timm & Liu remain fateful to Moore’s tome not shying away from the darker elements of the story which made the graphic novel so memorable. Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill and Ray Wise are also in fine form as they provide voices for the characters of Batman, The Joker and Commissioner Gordon. It’s a must see film for both the hardcore and casual Bat fan. Batman: The Killing Joke will have a two day run in theaters July 25th and 26th before being released digitally on July 26th.
BROWSE THIS
Jeff Buckley Collection. Like many exceptional musicians, the late Jeff Buckley had an expansive taste in music. Now, using today’s technology, Buckley’s estate gives you an exclusive look at his record collection and how those artists played a key role in his musical development. The site is made to resemble a wall of vinyl, with the viewer being able to alphabetically browse through and select everything from rock, punk, funk, R&B, folk and everything in between. 30 second sound clips for each song are provided, and if you like what you hear, you get linked into Spotify to hear it in full. It’s a cool, unique way to get inside Buckley’s head and an even better way to get turned onto songs/artists you might not have otherwise had a chance to hear. You can access the site by going to www.jeffbuckleycolllection.com.
LISTEN TO THIS
Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka. The much acclaimed singer-songwriter goes all in for his eagerly awaited follow up to Home Again. Teaming up with Danger Mouse, Inflo and long time collaborator Paul Butler, Kiwanuka once again takes us on an emotional search, but this time adds a sound that recalls Ennio Morricone, Meddle-era Pink Floyd, Fela, Bill Withers, Issac Hayes’ Hot Buttered Soul, and Charles Stephany’s work with The Rotary Connection. Taking enormous risks, but mining musical gold, the album opens with a 10 minute epic (‘Cold Little Heart’) – four minutes of which are instrumental – and closes with an Al Green style ballad (‘The Final Frame’) augmented with a super dirty blues based guitar solo. Majestic, cinematic, introspective and just plain magnificent, Michael Kiwanuka has delivered one of the best albums of the year. An instant classic. Love & Hate is available now through Amazon, iTunes, and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.michaelkiwanuka.com/ for more information.
DO THIS
New York City: Cool Globes. New York City is the latest city to present this art exhibit designed to raise awareness about climate change. Located in Battery Park, several artists have donated their time and talents to make globes that address the growing dangers that face the planet and the solutions needed to bring about a cleaner, more sustainable planet. Strategically placed between the new World Trade Center and The Statue Of Liberty, the globes add more light and color to an already colorful city while conveying a powerful and important message. Cool Globes will be on display through November 20th. You can also go to http://www.coolglobes.org/ for more information.
New York City: Tanner ’88. Robert Altman and Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau teamed up to produce this satirical look at the 1988 Presidential election. Shot on video and airing in 11 parts on HBO, Michael Murphy stars as Presidential hopeful Jack Tanner, running an uphill campaign that keeps getting derailed by its own staff as much as it is by his competitors. What made this series so extraordinary was how it was able to interject itself into the actual campaign: Bob Dole, Gary Hart and Pat Robertson all appear – and interact – with the fictional Tanner character. Throughout two nights, the Museum Of The Moving Image will air all 11 episodes, which has lost none of its edge or bite nearly 30 years after its release. It’s a lost gem in the Altman canon that deserves to be looked at again. Tanner ’88 will be at The Museum Of The Moving Image July 23rd and 24th. You can go towww.movingimage.us for tickets, run times and additional info.
Remembering Bernie Worrell. The passing of the keyboardist extraordinaire last month left a musical void that will take a long time, if ever, to fill. As a tribute, The Black Rock Coalition has teamed up with the Parks Department to host a free screening featuring a sample of Worrell’s impact on the world of music. It kicks off with Stranger: Bernie Worrell On Earth, Philip Di Fiore’s profile on Worrell with also features collaborators and fans such as Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, David Byrne, Mos Def, Warren Haynes, Les Claypool and many others. Rounding out the night will be Stop Making Sense, Jonathan Demme’s seminal 1984 concert film with Talking Heads featuring Worrell in many scene stealing musical sequences. What better way to honor a seminal musician than a couple of funky films in the park? Remembering Bernie Worrell will take place Wednesday, July 27th in Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn. You can go to www.blackrockcoalition.org or the BRC Facebook page for more info.
Los Angeles: Johnny Ramone Tribute. The 40th Anniversary of The Ramones debut album continues with this annual salute to the band’s late guitarist. Hosted by Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, the tribute will feature Ramones concert footage, music videos and appearances by contemporaries Henry Rollins and John Doe of X. Other surprise guests are expected, so be ready to get your punk on and encounter a sea of Ramones lookalikes. Always a good time honoring one of rock’s most beloved and influential bands. The Johnny Ramone Tribute will take place on Sunday at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery. You can go to http://www.hollywoodforever.com/ for tickets and additional info.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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