The Filtered Excellence: December 20, 2012
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s 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:
Zero Dark Thirty. Oscar-winner Katheryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) directs this detailed, fascinating and controversial film about the ten year search for Osama Bin Laden. The film focuses on one woman’s determination (or obsession depending on your point of view) to follow up a lead that everyone else discounted. Along the way, the film questions the propriety of the use of torture, and illustrates the ethical and practical complexities of intelligence gathering. It’s not an easy film to sit through, but it is deeply thought provoking, and will likely have you re-examining some of your most deeply held beliefs. Considered by many to be the best picture of the year.
- Visit the official movie site at http://www.zerodarkthirty-movie.com/.
Django Unchained. All you really need to know is, if you are fan of Quentin Tarantino, you won’t be disappointed. And that’s all that should need to be said.
- Visit Unchainedmovie.com to see the trailer and get info.
Amour. A devastating and emotionally gripping experience, and one of the most respectful and forthright films about marriage. Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are an elderly couple who seem to live a quiet, comfortable life in their Paris apartment but their foundation is shaken when Anne begins to experience some debilitating medical issues. This is a film about genuine love, but it’s realistic and raw. Honest, unflinching, painful and beautiful all at the same time. Amour has already been named the best picture of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics, the best foreign film by the New York Film Critics, and it won the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival (Haneke’s first Palme d’Or came in 2009 for The White Ribbon).
- Watch the trailer on YouTube
On the Road. The long awaited film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s classic novel will finally hit the screens in New York and L.A. this weekend. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola, On The Road reunites director Walter Salles and screenwriter Jose Rivera (the team behind the Oscar-winning film The Motorcycle Diaries) and stars Sam Riley as Sal Paradise, Garrett Hedland as Dean Moriarty and Kristen Stewart as Marylou. Amy Adams, Kristen Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Buscemi and Elisabeth Moss are part of the supporting cast. The early buzz is that the film is more in line with the novel’s first draft, which is more graphic in its tales of drugs and sex than the official version. It’s a nice change of pace for those who are tired of rom coms and CGI driven films. On The Road opens Friday in New York and Los Angeles.
Red Hook Summer. On Blu Ray/DVD Spike Lee directed, produced and co-wrote this tale of a Atlanta teen who unwittingly sets off a stunning series of events and revelations while spending the summer in Red Hook with his preacher grandfather. Brock Peters is amazing as Bishop Enoch Rouse, whose passion for the church consumes everything and everyone around him. We’re also treated with a cameo by Mookie from Do The Right Thing, who is still delivering pizzas! It’s a story of faith, redemption, family, and the importance of community. Lee also makes Red Hook look absolutely magnificent. It’s plays almost like a love letter to his home borough. He also uses the limited budget to his advantage, giving it an almost documentary feel to the project. Red Hook Summer is available now on Amazon and all retail outlets.
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READ THIS:
Me and The Devil by Nick Tosches. Nick is a successful, but aging New York City writer who feels life is slipping away from him. The New York he loved is slowly disappearing, he’s lost his ability to write, and he’s drinking more and more to deal. A chance meeting with a woman leads into an affair. An affair that opens up the deepest darkest desires of his heart and soul. It also revives him in ways that are both life-affirming and very, very dangerous. Featuring cameos by Peter Wolf and Keith Richards, Me And The Devil is spooky, sensual, profane and unapologetically un-P.C. Loaded with tales of sex, booze and social commentary, it reads more a like a memoir than a novel. A late inning gem from one of the best writers in American literature. Me And The Devil is available now on Amazon and all major book retailers.
- Go to www.nicktosches.com for more information.
- Order it on Amazon
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LISTEN TO THIS:
Elvis Costello – In Motion Pictures. This new compilation features 15 songs that Elvis recorded specifically for various films throughout the years, alongside licensed Costello classics (‘Accidents Will Happen’ Lover’s Walk’, ‘Miracle Man’, etc). It reveals a broad, wide ranging depth of styles and improbable, but effective collaborations. ‘Oh Well’ (from the 2001 ‘hip hop opera’ Prison Song) was co-written with Q-Tip. ‘God Give Me Strength’ – commissioned for the film Grace Of My Heart – paired him for the first time with Burt Bacharach. ‘Seven Day Weekend’ was a memorable duet with Jimmy Cliff from a very unmemorable film (1986’s Club Paradise). Alex Cox’s cult classic Straight To Hell resulted in ‘A Town Called Big Nothing’, which featured Costello’s father Ross MacManus. Costello also used soundtracks to effectively spotlight other songwriters. His version of The Kinks nugget ‘Days’ (from the equally underrated Wim Wenders film Until The End Of The World) almost surpasses the original. The 1999 Julia Roberts film Notting Hill wisely uses Costello’s cover of Charles Aznavour’s ‘She’ to bookend the plot. In Motion Pictures appeals to both the hardcore Costello fan and to someone looking to really get into Elvis Costello the bandleader and hired gun. It’s available now on Itunes, Amazon and all digital music outlets.
- Order it on Amazon
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BUY THIS:
Chef Sleeves. Featured on this week’s 42 Gifts, the Chef Sleeve is one of our favorite new products. This disposable, inexpensive plastic sleeve covers your tablet, phone or e-reader to protect it from spills while still allowing use of the touch screen. Formulated for chefs to use in the kitchen, they’re useful for many messy activities. Protect your electronics from food, drink, paint, sand, dirt and use them while gardening, painting or cooking. $20 for 25 reusable sleeves.
- Order them here on chefsleeves.com.
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BROWSE THIS:
Google Art Project. A truly interesting way to investigate art collections around the world. Using gigapixel techniques, you can really inspect the brush strokes or other implementation details of each piece. You can also viewed some of the art by navigating the museum they reside in. It’s a fun and unique way to take a tour of some amazing museums around the world, and an opportunity to get closer to the paintings than you can get in person in some instances.
- Visit museums from around the world at http://www.googleartproject.com.
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DO THIS:
New York City: Film Society of Lincoln Center’s 70mm Film Festival. See 2001: A Space Odyssey, It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet, and musical classics The Sound Of Music, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, and special anniversary editions of Tron and Bakara and many more. December 21-January 1 at Lincoln Center.
New York City: John Hodgman: That Is All. Friday, December 21. The deranged millionaire invites you to spend the Mayan Apocalypse with him with 2 shows at The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY. Show times are at 7pm and 10pm. These shows are a combination of comedy and music and features performance artist Cynthia Hopkins. If you’re trying to decide which show to hit, at the late show – Hodgman will be doing a countdown to the Mayan midnight. The Bell House, 149 7th St, (between Second and Third Aves), Brooklyn
- Get more info here.
New York City: A Scream Along With Billy Christmas Special: Suck My Dickens Or Scrooge U @ Joe’s Pub, This is THE alternative Christmas Show to see. Billy Hough uses his cabaret act “A Scream Along With Billy to re-image Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol” as a punk rock opera. He’ll be joined by his band The GaraheDogs, partner Sue Goldberg and the always extraordinary actress Lili Taylor. Sunday 12/23. Showtime is 9:30.
New York City: Chinese And A Movie featuring Back To The Future and Back To The Future Part 2 @ 92Y Tribeca Christmas Day. If a blizzard of NBA games isn’t your cup of tea after opening the presents, 92Y Tribeca will be presenting a matinee screening of the first two Back To The Future films complete with an all-you-can-eat buffet. A double dose of Michael J.Fox along with some Chow Fun noodles will take the sting out of getting another crappy sweater.
- Go to www.92y.org for more information.
