The Filtered Excellence: December 5, 2013
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Here are this weeks 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:
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WATCH THIS:
Inside Llewyn Davis. The latest film by Joel and Ethan Coen stars Oscar Isaac as folk singer Llewyn Davis, forced to launch a solo career after his partner jumps off the George Washington Bridge. He has potential, but can’t quite catch the break that would put him over. It doesn’t help that he’s constantly alienating everyone him: always broke, is constantly crashing on friends couches and his choice of material borders on morose. Looking to jump start is career, Davis takes a road trip to Chicago hoping to meet with a hotshot record producer played by F. Murray Abraham. The trip evolves into an odyssey that could give him the direction that he desperately needs. Or not. Isaac is excellent in the title role, being just likeable enough to want to root for him, even though he drives everyone around him crazy. Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake are just as good as the married duo Jean and Jim. Mulligan seems to be having a ball playing Jean, who has a history with Davis that she much rather forget – and uses every opportunity to tell him so. John Goodman also does his usual scene stealing turn as the drug-addicted jazz musician Roland Turner. Memo to The Academy: Can you finally recognize him for what he brings to a Coen Bros film? With crisp direction and on point script, The Coen Bros have crafted another dark masterpiece that is more on par with Barton Fink and A Serious Man than with their other works. It’s one of the year’s best films. Inside Llewyn Davis opens in New York and L.A. on Friday.
Lenny Cooke. In 2001, Lenny Cooke was the #1 ranked high school basketball player in the country – ahead of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Amar’e Stoudemire. He received full scholarship offers from some of the top programs in the country, including North Carolina, Seton Hall, and St. John’s. Instead, Cooke, like James, declared himself eligible for the 2002 NBA Draft. LeBron got drafted by Cleveland. Cooke went undrafted and never played a minute in the NBA. Directors Joshua and Benny Safdie – along with executive producer and long time friend Joakim Noah – sifted through over 100 hours of footage to tell the ultimate tale of what might have been. It defly juxtaposes Cooke’s glory days as a high school star with new footage of an older, wiser Cooke reflecting on his struggles to live up to the enormous hype that around him and his current career as a successful motivational speaker. The film is the ultimate cautionary tale about just how much work it takes to break into the professional sports ranks. A must see film for any sports fan. Lenny Cooke opens in New York on Friday and rolls out nationwide starting on December 11th.
Out Of The Furnace. From director and screenwriter Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), “Out of the Furnace” has an amazing cast including Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Forest Whitaker, Sam Shepard and Willem Dafoe. Bales stars as Russell Baze who goes on a revenge mission, seeking justice for his brother played by Affleck. “Out of the Furnace” opens nationwide on Friday, December 6th.
- For more information about the film and for theaters and show times, go to outofthefurnace.tumblr.com
- See the trailer for “Out of the Furnace”
Mob City. This is the new event series on TNT from the creator of The Walking Dead and Oscar nominee (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) Frank Darabont. Based on real accounts from police and criminals from the time, “Mob City” revolves around Los Angeles in the 1940s and the battle for the city between the cops and organized crime. “Mob City” stars Jon Bernthal and features Ed Burns as Bugsy Siegel. This 3 week special event airs on TNT starting this week and continues Wednesdays at 9pm Eastern.
Before Midnight on DVD and OnDemand. This is the third part of the “Before” trilogy from director Richard Linklater. “Before Midnight” picks up 9 years after “Before Sunset” and 18 years after the original “Before Sunrise”. Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight” catches up with Jesse and Celine and their long term love story. With scenes shot in Greece, the film is also beautiful to look at. “Before Midnight” is available On Demand, on Blu-Ray and at amazon.com.
- Rent Before Midnight on Amazon.com
- For more information, go to sonyclassics.com
- Watch the trailer for “Before Midnight”
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READ THIS:
Orr: My Story by Bobby Orr. Bobby Orr is easily one of the top three hockey players to ever play the game. A key member of The Boston Bruins, Orr revolutionized the defenseman position winning a record eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the NHL’s best defenseman. Orr won three consecutive Hart Trophies as the league’s MVP, as well as two Conn Smythe Trophies as the Stanley Cup MVP. He’s the only player in history to have won the Ross, Norris, Hart, and Conn Smythe Trophies in a single season. When Orr retired, The Hockey Hall Of Fame waived its 3 year wait rule and inducted Orr was inducted at the age of 31 – the youngest living player to receive that honor. But the man behind the legend has largely been silent, rarely giving interviews about his past or authorizing any biographies. Until now. My Story tells how a shy kid from Parry Sound, Ontario became the face of the NHL and a near deity in the city of Boston as he led the Bruins to two Stanley Cups. Told in a humble, grateful tone, My Story is a great look at one of the greatest athletes of the 20th Century.
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LISTEN TO THIS:
The Best Show on WFMU’s with Tom Scharpling. After 13 years on the air, Tom Scharpling logs his final 3 hours of “Mirth, Music and Mayhem.” The free form public radio show and podcasting pioneer weaves together Scharpling’s cantankerous grumbling, callers ranging from the surreal to combative, indie musicians and alternative comedians. Comedy partner and drummer John Wurster (Superchunk, The Mountain Goats) regularly calls in as a cadre of bizarre fictional characters from their own Chris Elliot inspired Lake Woebegone, Newbridge NJ. The final edition promises to be an unhinged culmination of Scharpling’s 13 year labor of love. It airs on Tuesday, December 17th starting at 9pm Eastern.
- Live Stream at http://www.wfmu.org/ or podcast at http://wfmu.org/playlists/BS
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DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: Ben Stiller Directs. Starting on Friday, the Film Society of Lincoln Center is honoring Ben Stiller by showing the films that he’s directed. The Ben Stiller film fest begins with “Reality Bites” and includes his films “The Cable Guy”, “Zoolander”, “Tropic Thunder” and Stiller’s latest, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. It’s a weekend to watch Ben Stiller’s comic vision in front of and behind the camera.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Sandra Bernhard’s Sandyland. Two years in the making, this is Sandra Bernhard’s brand new one woman stage show. “Sandyland” has new musical numbers, new stories from Sandra about her life and career and whatever else inspires her. Talking about the new show, Sandra says – “I always think my work has a sense of cabaret, burlesque, rock ‘n’ roll, theater and, you know, kind of contemporary performance”. Sandra Bernhard brings “Sandyland” to Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, December 7th. The show is sold out, so look for tickets online or go to the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art for details about their “waitlist procedure”.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: A John Waters Christmas. Director John Waters brings his Christmas show to Atlanta by, as he puts it, “putting the X in Xmas”. John says this one man holiday special is for the open-minded and for those that are left of center. He also recommends that people in the audience “wear a nice sweater”. The Christmas fun with John Waters happens Thursday, December 12th at 8pm at the Variety Playhouse. Doors open at 7pm.
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WATCH THIS ADDENDUM: YOUR GUIDE TO HOLIDAY TV SPECIALS:
Frosty The Snowman. The classic 1969 cartoon is back for another Christmas run on CBS. “Frosty the Snowman” comes to life with the voices of Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante as the Narrator in one of his final performances. Frosty airs Friday, December 6th at 8pm Eastern on CBS. “Happy Birthday!”.
Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town. You can’t do Christmas without the Rankin-Bass stop motion holiday specials. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” includes all your favorites: The Winter Warlock, Tanta Kringle, The Burgomeister Meisterburger, Fred Astaire as the narrator S.D. Kluger and Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” on Monday, December 9th at 8pm Eastern on ABC.
The Year Without A Santa Claus. It’s the 1974 follow up to “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” from Rankin-Bass. “The Year Without A Santa Claus” stars the voice of Shirley Booth as Mrs. Claus as she tries to save Christmas. The special also includes the great classic songs from the Heat Miser and Snow Miser. “The Year Without A Santa Claus” airs Tuesday, December 10th at 9pm Eastern on ABC Family.
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