The Filtered Excellence: October 16, 2014

Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Here are this weeks picks of the best things towatch, 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:

Birdman. (Editors Pick!) If you lost it over that tracking shot in True Detective lost year, you might not be able to stand Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), a movie made up entirely of tracking shots with no hard cuts. But beyond the brilliant (and surprisingly energizing) camera work and jazz score is an unexpectly empathetic look at humanity, specifically the difficulties facing a narcissistic former movie star coming face to face with his hown legacy. Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, and Emma Stone will likely be front-runners at the Oscars for their vunerable and funny performances, but there isn’t a weak member of this impressive ensemble of this behind the curtain intellectual comedy. Birdman isn’t really the superhero satire the trailer has been promising…it’s so much better than that. It’s no wonder Birdman has quickly become one of the best reviewed films of the year and there is already Oscar buzz for Michael Keaton. It’s directed and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Birdman opens in limited release on Friday, October 17th and rolls out nationawide after that.

Listen Up Philip. (Editors Pick!) Jason Schwartzman plays Philip, a grown up thirty something whose been living off his girlfriend (Elizabeth Moss) for years while finishing his second novel. Philip is self centered, arrogant, and a snob who finds the company and ideas of others unpleasant at best. When Philip develops a friendship of sorts with an older author, played by Johnathan Pryce and bearing some resemblance to real life author Phillip Roth– he finds a kindred spirit in the man who shares in both his positive attributes and skills, but also his less admired traits (arrogance, self-centeredness and disgust with others just for starters). The story is narrated by an unnamed narrator (voiced by Eric Bogosian). Told in four chapters, the 70s inspired comedy tackles everything from trading genius for ones human connections, the difference between being loved and beloved, and surprising freedom that comes with a break-up; all guided by a smart, funny script by writer/director Alex Ross Perry. Schwartzman and Pryce are terrific in their dysfunctional “friendship,” and Elizabeth Moss becomes a movie star in one of the freshest female performances of the year. Listen Up Philip opens in limited release on Friday, October 17th and goes across the nation after that. It’s also available on iTunes and On Demand on Tuesday, October 21st.

Dear White People. Politics, cultural clashes and sexual dynamics at a predominately white Ivy League college are at the center of Dear White People, writer/director Justin Simien’s relentlessly biting social satire. Set at the fictional Winchester University, Dear White People stars Tessa Thompson as Samantha ‘Sam’ Wilson, the host of the openly polarizing campus radio show, ‘Dear White People’ and the resident student activist. She runs against her former boyfriend, the uber popular Troy Fairbanks, son of the university’s dean (Dennis Haysbert) to head of the traditionally black Armstrong Parker House for express purpose of addressing the school’s plans to diversify the housing facility. Much to her and everyone else’s surprise, she wins and her victory sets into motion a campus culture war that has been brewing for decades. Losing to Sam is just the beginning of Troy’s problems. He wants to join Pastiche, the college’s highly influential humor magazine, but that would derail his father’s plans for him, which includes him going to law school and marrying the university president’s (and longtime rival) white daughter. Also in the mix: Coco (Teyonah Parris), a brazenly assimilated student from Chicago wants to be a reality TV star, and Lionel (Tyler James Williams), a gay, sci-fi geek – with a major Afro – who gets recruited by the all-white student newspaper to go undercover to write about the one thing he knows little about: Black culture. When Pastiche throws its annual Halloween with the theme of ‘unleashing your inner Negro’, all of the anger, resentment conflicts and secrets all come to a boil. Justin Simien is firing on all cylinders addressing all of the isms (racism, classism, sexism) in a fresh and exciting new way, avoiding all of the traps that come with writing satire. There’s so many subtleties and layers to each of the characters and to the story that begs you to pay attention – and opens up many windows to self-examination. In short, it spares no one. Primed to stay with you long after the movie is over and is poised to be one of the most talked about films of the year. One of the year’s best. Dear White People opens October 17th.

Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways. After making his first documentary, Sound City, Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl set out to make another film. The result is the new 8 part docu-series “Sonic Highways” for HBO. It features Grohl and his band as they go across the United States recording tracks for their new album in 8 different American cities. The Foo Fighters travel to Chicago, D.C., Austin, Seattle, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, and Los Angeles in the series. It’s not just about getting the new album ready, it’s about the unique sound each of those cities has produced. At each stop, Grohl meets up with some of the artists that established themselves in those cities and helped create the music scene in each one. Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways premieres Friday, October 17th at 11 pm et on HBO.

ESPN 30 For 30: When The Garden Was Eden. The latest in ESPN’s 30 For 30 series looks at the championship years of the New York Knicks. In the 1970s, the Knicks won two titles and went to the NBA finals three out of four seasons. The team was led by Red Holzman and had a diverse squad of players from extremely different beginnings that included Bill Bradley, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Earl Monroe, Dick Barnett and Phil Jackson. “When The Garden Was Eden” also looks at what was going on in the world during the Knicks only championship years with the country in turmoil over the Vietnam War. ESPN’s 30 For 30: When The Garden Was Eden premieres Tuesday, October 21st at 9 pm et on ESPN.

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READ THIS:

Revolution by Russell Brand. Comedian Russell Brand not only believes that a global revolution is needed, he thinks it’s doable. In this new book, Russell Brand calls out the social and economic systems that he feels are making the planet unlivable both literally and figuratively. He’s got some favorite targets that he feels should be overthrown including corporations, the drug companies, the extremely rich and their accomplice, the media. He writes about a redistribution of wealth, getting healthcare for the sick and poor and saving the planet from an environmental Armageddon. And oddly enough, it’s all done through Brand’s uniquely joyful look at life. He’s imaging a happy, healthier world and believes it can be done if people would communicate with each other and then act.. Revolution by Russell Brand is available now in bookstores and online at Amazon.

Even This I Get To Experience by Norman Lear. Norman Lear is a comedic giant of the highest order. He’s created, produced and wrote some of the most iconic TV shows of all-time, including All In The Family, Maude, Sanford & Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Lear’s Along the way, Lear also pushed the boundaries of what could be said on television dealing with issues such as politics, racism, poverty, abortion, sexual assault and intimacy problems. Still active at the age of 92, Lear has just released his long awaited memoir, Even This I Get To Experience. In addition to plenty of behind the scenes stories working on these legendary shows, Lear details growing up during The Great Depression, combat duty in World War II, and having in his words had a ‘a front-row seat’ for the birth of television, working alongside such greats as Mel Brooks, Martin & Lewis, Carl Reiner, George Gobel, Martha Raye and many others. Lear also details his political leanings (which included him getting on Nixon’s ‘Enemies List’, awarded the National Medal Of The Arts by President Clinton and purchasing an original copy of the Declaration Of Independence), his views on parenthood, marriage and much more. This is the definitive story from one of comedy’s greatest storytellers. Even This I Get To Experience is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all major book retailers.

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LISTEN TO THIS

Pink Palms by The Bots. Since 2009, The Bots have released an album, a couple of EPs, become a Warped Tour mainstay, played major festivals such as Cochella, CMJ and Glashtonbury; opened for Tenacious D and stole the show on Damon Albarn-curated Africa Express tour. The fact that the band, which consists of brothers Mikaiah (guitar, keys, bass, vocals) and Anaiah (drums, percussion, backing vocals) Lei are only 21 and 17 is even more astonishing. Albarn became the band’s biggest fan and the demos that they produced with Albarn formed the basis of their new full-length album Pink Palms. Produced by Justin Warfield and Nick Zimmer of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the years spend on the road are evident, with the songs more mature, more polished, yet retaining a raw, garage-rock edge. The sound is also more expansive incorporating splashes of keyboards, hints of reggae and electronica into the rock n roll mix. This is a dramatic leap forward for one of rock’s most promising bands. In fact, they haven’t arrived, there are already here.

Primus & The Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble by Primus. The first Primus album in 20 years featuring their most definitive lineup – Les Claypool on bass, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander – is also their most ambitious: A song for song recreation of the music featured in the 1971 cult classic Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Listening to how Primus puts their distinctive spin on songs such as ‘Golden Ticket’, ‘I Want It Now’, ‘The Candy Man’ and the film’s signature piece ‘Pure Imagination’. Quirky, funky and trippy as hell, but also a LOT of fun, Primus is back and we’re all the better for it. Primus & The Chocolate Factory will be available on Tuesday.

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DO THIS:

NEW YORK CITY: People Hold On: The Political Soul Of Motown. The Black Rock Coalition continues its Artist In Residency series at Joe’s Pub with ‘People Hold On: The Political Soul Of Motown’. Coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and in the midst of present-day civil unrest in Ferguson and Detroit, The Black Rock Coalition will assemble an all-star cast of featured luminaries to perform classic and rare Motown anthems that address the civil and human rights political struggle. Expect new spins on timeless material by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Martha & The Vandellas and much more. There also might be a surprise guest or two. People Hold On: The Political Soul Of Motown will take place on Wednesday, October 22nd at Joe’s Pub.

NEW YORK CITY: Stations Of The Elevated. Manfred Kirchheimer’s 1981 16mm ode to the aerosol art covered elevated subway lines that dominated New York City in the 70s and 80s gets a one week run at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music. Kirchheimer captures a period of New York City that is long gone and shows that the graffiti were truly were works of art – especially when juxtaposed with some of the commercial art that he features alongside it. The film also features a killer soundtrack by Charles Mingus and Aretha Franklin. Also featured will be Claw, Kirchheimer’s haunting 1968 fable that puts a chilling look at so-called urban renewal. A fantastic pair of classic short films getting a much deserved revival. Stations Of The Elevated will be at BAM October 17th though the 23rd. Manfred Kirchheimer will be doing Q&As after the 7:45 and 7pm screenings on October 17th and 18th.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Open House Chicago. If you’re impressed with Chicago architecture and have always wanted to sneak inside some of the Windy City’s famous buildings to get a look around, this weekend is your chance. And with no sneaking. It’s the 4th annual Open House Chicago, a free citywide festival celebrating the structures that make up the Chicago skyline. Several of Chicago’s skyscrapers, private clubs, repurposed mansions and treasures from Frank Lloyd Wright are open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, October 18th and 19th. There will be 150 different locations available to visit.

AUSTIN, TEXAS: As You Wish: The Princess Bride with Cary Elwes Live & In Person. Fans of the comedy classic “The Princess Bride” can gather together at the Long Center for a special screening of the film this Monday. After a quote along version of the movie is shown, where fans are encouraged to yell out their favorite lines, there will be a discussion of the film and a Q&A with “Princess Bride” star Cary Elwes. He’ll be taking the audience behind the scenes of the movie and sharing stories about doing the film with director Rob Reiner. “The Princess Bride” also starred Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Patinkin, Christopher Guest, Andre the Giant, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Fred Savage and Peter Falk. “The Princess Bride” with special guest Cary Elwes plays Monday, October 20th at 8 pm at the Long Center.

 

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Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends