The Filtered Excellence: December 15, 2011
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” Its right here. Here are this weeks picks of what to WATCH, what to DO what to TRY what to READ what to LISTEN TO and more:
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WATCH THIS
The Iron Lady. We confess we haven’t seen this yet, but we’re absolutely confident that we can wholeheartedly recommend it. There’s already Oscar buzz about this film and frankly, there’s nothing Meryl Streep can’t do. After seeing her channel Julia Child so perfectly a few years ago in Julia and Me, we’re anxious to see her do the same for Maggie Thatcher. Opens December 16.
Midnight In Paris. There’s a lot to love about Woody Allen’s latest film. Capturing the Paris scenes in all their beauty is like a love letter to the city, while the story brims with themes familiar to the fans of Allen’s films: nostalgia, our concept of the past, complicated relationships, the angst of the struggling artist, and of course, humor throughout. Midnight in Paris is still in some theaters, but if it’s not playing in your town, you’re still in luck as the DVD will be available December 20th. Own it on blu-ray
Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel This documentary on Roger Corman is a must-see for film fans. If it wasn’t a true story, it might be taken as a mockumentary, but Corman, known for B-movies rife with laughable special effects, is also an independent film innovator. The writer/director made more than 300 (mostly forgettable) movies, but he also became an indie film trailblazer, dealing with subject matter not often embraced, and launched the acting careers of Jack Nicholson, Robert DeNiro, Peter Fonda, William Shatner and Pam Grier along with the directing careers of Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich, Jonathan Demme, James Cameron, Curtis Hanson and John Sayles. Director Alex Stapleton profiles Corman, speaks with many of the aforementioned artists along with current directors he has influenced (Quentin Tarentino, Eli Roth, Brett Ratner). A must see for true blue movie fans. Go to www.cormansworld.com for more information.
The Roots Undun Short Film. We already told you how AMAZING Undun by The Roots is. Now comes an equally powerfully short film directed by Clifton Bell. Shot in black and white, it tells the story of Redford Stephens, a young man growing up in 1990s Philadelphia who rises and falls amidst the drug game in Philadelphia. The film, like the album. walks the fine line as cautionary yet not preachy. Why this isn’t a full length film is beyond us. Follow this link to see the film, which also contains snippets of the album.
X: Unheard Music. The excellent 1986 documentary on legendary L.A. punk band X finally gets a proper release on DVD and debuts on Blu Ray. The film captures the band at their commercial peak with great live performances and compelling behind the scenes footage. It also provides a fascinating snapshot of the state of record companies and radio at the time. Buy the DVD here
READ THIS
Mental Floss Magazine. Mental floss may not be the best sounding title for a magazine, but it’s the right title for the publication. It’s where knowledge junkies get their fix. Basically, it’s a smart read but it’s not an intellectual read, so it’s a fun, healthy time waster. Like junk food that’s good for you. Some recent stories include The 25 Most Powerful Songs of the Past 25 Years, Science Solves Your Most Annoying Problems, and Six Freakishly Effective Ways to Court the Muse.
LISTEN TO THIS
We Bought a Zoo Soundtrack by Jonsi. After using three songs by Icelandic band Sigur Rós on the Vanilla Sky, Cameron Crowe tapped Sigur Rós frontman to compose the soundtrack for his latest film We Bought a Zoo. At times, haunting, soaring, beautiful and child-like, the soundtrack includes 3 songs from Jónsi’s excellent solo album from last year, one Sigur Rós track, and a half hour of new music specifically written for the film. And it’s streaming for free, at rollingstone.com. Buy the CD here
BROWSE THIS:
The Field Negro Guide To Arts and Culture. Hosted by guitarist Vernon Reid in New York and comedian W. Kamau Bell in San Francisco, its more a conversation than it is a podcast. Topics can range from movies to comic books, relationships, music and whatever happens to be floating around in their respective orbits. They also feature actual reports from the field whether it be backstage at a concert or comedy show and interviews with some of their peers and contemporaries. What makes FNGTAC even more unique is that’s coming from two Black men who have long been considered outsiders even among their respective cultures. You can download the podcast for free through Itunes or go to www.fngtac.com to find out more.
DO THIS
Alabama Shakes. Check em out. The Alabama Shakes were a stand out on the CMJ New Music Festival this past year. Paste Magazine named them the best new band of 2011. Aurgasm.us described them as “Janis Joplin meets Nina Simone rocking out with The Black Keys, shedding gleams of hope to shake loose dusty spirits.” See them on tour now before they blow up. Check out tour dates here. Bonus: Listen to this. Their recently released untitled EP is tremendous. In particular, listen to “You Ain’t Alone.” What a voice on that Brittany Howard…amazingly soulful and haunting- imbued with emotion and shades of Janis Joplin.
ROCKED: A Photo Exhibition by Mick Rock. He’s been called ‘The Man Who Shot The 70’s. As David Bowie’s official photographer, Rock captured him at the height of the Ziggy Stardust era. He also shot some of the most iconic album covers from that period including Lou Reed’s Transformer, Raw Power by Iggy & The Stooges, Queen’s Queen 2 and Sheer Heart Attack and later Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll. Some of his amazing shots are now on display at The W Hotel Downtown in New York City (123 Washington Street at Albany Street) through December 29th. The best part of this – ITS FREE! You can go to www.mickrock.com for additional information.
Ronnie Spector’s Best Christmas Party Ever. At The Cutting Room 12/16-17. The iconic voice behind the Wall Of Sound, Ronnie brings her annual Christmas celebration to the brand new Cutting Room space on East 32nd in NYC. Expect to hear all of your favorites and a couple of surprises too. Go to www.thecuttingroomnyc.com for more info.
UPDATE: This post was put up on Ronnie Spector’s Facebook today: “I can’t believe the Cutting Room did not get a permit to assemble-I am heartbroken but I cannot do my shows Fri & Sat….I feel awful for my fans and will try to work something out.”
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