The Filtered Excellence: May 15, 2014

plimpton

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:


WATCH THIS:

American Masters: Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton As Himself!   The latest installment of PBS’ American Masters series will feature the broadcast premiere of Plimpton, the critically acclaimed documentary on the groundbreaking ‘participatory journalist’ and co-founder of The Paris Review. Using a ton of archival footage, interviews with family, friends and associates, the doc shows Plimpton’s almost Zelig-like ability to immerse himself into any situation: pitching an inning in an MLB exhibition game; scrimmaging with the Boston Celtics; tending goal for the Bruins; running a series as quarterback for the Detroit Lions; doing standup Vegas; sharing a scene with John Wayne in a film; and performing with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Plimpton also played a key role in history when he was one of the three men who wrestled Sirhan Sirhan to the ground after he shot Senator Robert Kennedy. The film also documents his run as editor of The Paris Review, which serves as a launch pad for some of the greatest names in literature over the last 50 years. Well researched and lovingly crafted, Plimpton is a fitting tribute to one of the giants of journalism. It airs this Friday night on PBS.

The Discoverers. Dir. Justin Schwartz.  Griffin Dunne stars as Lewis Burke, a college professor struggling with career and family in this outstanding independent film.  Burke has issues with his kids, (who live with their mom) his Dad who won’t communicate with him, and his stalled career.  When his mother suddenly dies, he is forced to detour from a planned trip with his kids to deal with his dad who is experiencing severe coping problems. Stuart Margolin gives a powerful performance as Burke’s father, a historian whose penchant for historical re-enactment ends up involving the entire family on a journey along Lewis and Clarke’s Oregon trail. Dunne’s performance is captivating as he tries to balance his own needs with the needs of his estranged father and distant kids. The moments where Lewis Burke defends his kids are intensely real and moving. Congratulations go out to director and writer Justin Schwartz who makes his feature film debut with “The Discoverers”. The film is playing in very limited venues for now, but keep an eye out for this one to come to a theater near you.

The Maya Rudolph Show. The adorable and funny Maya Rudolph is bringing back the 1970s style variety show. She sings, she dances and she’s filling the premiere episode with plenty of guest stars. Andy Samberg, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, Craig Robinson and Sean Hayes will all be part of Maya’s debut. Music for the show is handled by bandleader Raphael Saadiq and Maya’s first musical guest will be Janelle Monet. The Maya Rudolph Show premieres Monday, May 19th at 10 pm Eastern on NBC.

The 139th Preakness. This is the horse race for the second jewel in the Triple Crown. It also decides if the third and final race in the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will get any ratings or not. Kentucky Derby winner, California Chrome, is ready for its next step towards horse racing immortality. He won the Derby by 1 3/4 lengths. Chrome is the current 3-5 favorite going into Saturday’s Preakness. He’ll be starting from the number 3 post position and ridden by Victor Espinoza. California Chrome, trained by Art Sherman, will be going up against 9 other horses for the Preakness title. If California Chrome is going to be challenged on Saturday, it could be by Social Inclusion, the second favorite (5-1 odds) and Bayern at 10 to 1 odds. The 139th running of the Preakness at Pimlico in Baltimore is this Saturday, May 17th. Coverage starts at 4:30 pm Eastern on NBC and post time is 6:18 pm Eastern.


 

READ THIS:

The Greatest Movies You’ll Never See by Simon Braund. In Hollywood, there’s scores of projects that get the green light. Most get a theatrical release and some go straight to DVD. But there’s others that get stuck in production purgatory and never see the light of day. A lot of these projects have involved some of the greatest names in cinema. British journalist Simon Braund culls together some of the more remarkable projects that have died on the vine including Stanley Kubrick’s biopic on Napoleon, the collapse of Marilyn Monroe’s comeback film Something’s Got To Give, Kevin Smith’s aborted Superman reboot with Nicholas Cage as The Man Of Steel; a failed collaboration between Audrey Hepburn and Alfred Hitchcock; David Lynch’s ‘dream project’ Ronnie Rocket and much more. Braund also uncovers production sketches, finished (and imagined) movie posters, and memos that uncovers all of the squabbles, misfortunes and just plain bad luck that sabotaged these films. An interesting look at a side of film making that is rarely discussed.

The Greatest Movies You’ll Never See: Unseen Masterpieces by the World’s Greatest Directors is available now through Amazon and all major book retailers.

 


 

LISTEN TO THIS:

Common Bond by Mark Rivera.  Mark Rivera has played with some of the greatest performers touring today. He’s been touring as saxophone player for Billy Joel for 30 years, and he’s also toured with Ringo Starr for 18 years.  Common Bond marks his solo album debut and its really something special. It’s a genuine old school album, with great sequencing that really lets you put it on, and just listen straight through. Reminiscent of the sound of Steve Winwood, without being derivative, there are haunting moments throughout.    Joining Rivera are the incredible talents of artists like Nils Lofgren, Ringo Starr, Robert Randolph and  Steve Lukather. Produced by Jimmy Bralower.  Check out “Turn Me Loose” and then grab the entire album and give it a listen.

…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin by the Roots. For their 11th studio album, The Roots – whose profile is at an all-time high – could’ve easily called in any of their A-list friends to make a hook-laden, beats driven joints destined for ‘Song of the Summer’ status. Instead, they stayed with their core of long time collaborators (Greg Porn, Patty Crash, Dice Raw), add some new ones (Mercedes Martinez and Raheem DeVaughn), and feature musical interludes featuring Nina Simone, Mary Lou Williams, and Michel Chion to craft an 8 song cycle looking at the cycle of violence that permeates in hip hop and American society. Satirical, stone cold serious, somber, yet, at the end, hopeful (all under 40 minutes too!), The Roots have once again, raised the bar on the hip hop – and popular – musical landscape.

Sierra Leone In 1970s USA by Muyei Power. As funk captured the consciousness in the U.S. in the late 60s and early 70s, its influence began to find its way back to the land that gave birth to it: Africa. With their mix of Nigerian and Congolese music, with heavy syncopation and guitars thrown in, Muyei Power became one of the top bands in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone In 1970s USA put all of their funky singles in one collection – the majority of which hasn’t been released in 35 years. With deep grooves and relentless rhythms, this album demands to make your body move. It’s a new life on a lost treasure.

Sierre Leone in 1970s Usa is available now through Itunes and all major music outlets.

 

DO THIS:

QUEENS, NEW YORK: 13 Most Wanted Men: Andy Warhol and the 1964 World’s Fair at the Queens Museum. At the 1964 World’s Fair, Andy Warhol was commissioned to do a piece for part of the New York State Pavilion’s exterior. What Warhol ended up doing was considered scandalous. He filled the wall with enlarged photos of the NYPD’s 13 most wanted criminals of 1962. Just days later, his display was painted over. Warhol produced another set of the Most Wanted Men paintings with the screens from the originals. Now 50 years later, 9 of those are on display for first time since the World’s Fair incident. You can see these historic pieces at the Queens Museum’s Warhol exhibit. Warhol’s artwork is displayed among some other underground and establishment pieces of the same time period. The exhibit is going on now through September 7th.

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY: The Steampunk World’s Fair. This is the yearly party for anyone into the science fiction sub-genre inspired by Jules Verne and Charles Dickens. The 3 day Steampunk event is going on in Piscataway, New Jersey and the schedule includes a device creation workshop, umbrella combat training, an absinthe tasting and the sketch comedy musical act, Steam Powered Giraffe. So put on your best mechanical 19th century attire and head to the the Radisson of Piscataway and the Embassy Suites of Piscataway where all the events will be held.

 


 

Want More of our Editors Picks of the Best Things to Do, See, Hear and Read Each Week?  Read Last Week’s Edition of The Filtered Excellence, or visit our Filtered Excellence page.