The Filtered Excellence: January 28, 2015
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 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.
WATCH THIS:
American Masters: Mike Nichols. The kickoff of the 30th Anniversary of this acclaimed series looks back at the life and career of an entertainment icon. Directed by long time comedy partner Elaine May, there’s footage of their groundbreaking stage act, highlights from seminal films such as The Graduate, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, Catch 22, Silkwood, Working Girl; theatrical productions such as Barefoot In The Park and The Odd Couple, and new interviews featuring a virtual Who’s Who of American entertainment that Nichols worked with over the course of 50 years. But its the words of Mike Nichols that anchor this warm and moving look at one of the titans of stage and screen. American Masters: Mike Nichols premieres Friday at 9pm Eastern on PBS. Go to www.pbs.org for more information.
Vice Season Premiere. The new season of HBO’s acclaimed news series kicks off with a special report from the epicenter of a global conflict. Ben Anderson travels to Iraq to get embedded with soldiers who are fighting ISIS. In addition to talking to the troops and their respective commanders, Anderson also speaks with a captured ISIS soldier, visits refugee camps and explores the ramifications if ISIS were to take over the region. Unfiltered and uncompromising, VICE gets inside the Iraqi conflict in a way that most news agencies have yet to even attempt. The special edition of VICE premieres this Sunday at 10pm Eastern on HBO. You can also go to www.hbo.com for more information.
The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. The latest installment of FX’s American Crime Story looks back at a case that is still generated intense conversations 20 years after the final gavel. Based on the Robert Toobin book of the same name, it looks at the legal chess games that were played in and out of court by prosecutors, defense lawyers and even Simpson himself to created an atmosphere of tension – all on TV – that was never seen before, and will likely not be seen again. To best capture this drama, the series has also assembled an all-star cast: Cuba Gooding, Jr as O.J.; John Travolta (who also produced the series) as defense attorney Robert Shapiro; Sarah Paulson as ADA Marcia Clark; David Schwimmer as attorney Robert Kardashian; Courtney B. Vance as defense attorney Johnnie Cochran; Nathan Lane as defense attorney F. Lee Bailey; Sterling K. Brown as ADA Christopher Darden and Bruce Greenwood as District Attorney Gil Garcetti. Directed by Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Glee, Nip/Tuck, Scream Queens), it adds new insight and perspective into what was called The Trial Of The Century. The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story premieres February 2nd at 10pm Eastern on FX. You can also go to www.fxnetworks.com for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS
Martyr Loser King by Saul Williams. After exploring the expatriate life on Volcanic Sunlight, Saul Williams is back in full on activist mode on his new album. Part concept album, the title character is a hacker living in Burundi, whose internet calls to action puts him in the cross hairs of Homeland Security. Songs such as ‘Think Like They Book Say’, ‘All Coltrane Solos at Once’, and ‘Burundi’ connects mass consumerism, The American Civil Rights Movement, Edward Snowden, Arab Spring, and The Black Lives Matter campaign with an urgency and power that can only come from Williams. Working with veteran producer Justin Warfield, the album marries the tribal with digital, and lush soundscapes with garage rock sensibilities. Abrasive and defiant to the oppressors yet compassionate and reaching out to the oppressed,’Williams embarks on an exciting new chapter to an ever evolving narrative. Martyr Loser King will be available on Friday through Itunes, Amazon and all major music retailers. You can also go to www.saulwilliams.com for more information.
DO THIS
New York City: The Coen Brothers Retrospective. As a ramp up for their upcoming film, ‘Hail Caesar!, The Film Forum will present a week long Coen Brothers retrospective. Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, Miller’s Crossing, The Hudsucker Proxy, The Man Who Wasn’t There, O Brother Where Art Thou and The Big Lebowski are just of the remarkable works that will be featured, with several being shown with a 4K print. It will conclude with a sneak preview screening of Hail Caesar, starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, and Scarlett Johansson. Whether you are just getting their work or a long time devotee looking to see the films on a big screen again, this is the ideal setting to see one of the best in the game. The Coen Brothers retrospective runs January 29th through February 4th. You can go to www.filmforum.org for a complete rundown of films, showtimes and more information.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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