The Filtered Excellence: September 1, 2016
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 week’s 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:
Queen Sugar. Big hype around this new OWN series created, directed and executive produced by acclaimed director Ava DuVernay (Selma) and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey. Based on the novel by Natalie Baszile, the show stars Rutina Wesley and Dawn-Lyen Gardner as Nova and Charley Bordelon, two sisters living two different lives: Nova is a journalist and activist based in New Orleans while Charley is a successful manager married to an NBA star. Scandal and tragedy brings Charley and her teenage son back to Louisiana to help run a 800 acre sugarcane farm that was willed to her by her recently deceased father. In addition with re-connecting as sisters, they must also reconcile with their younger brother Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe), a volatile ex-con and single father trying to stay straight for the sake his son. They must put aside all old and current wounds to help keep the struggling farm afloat and maintain a legacy their father died trying to keep. DuVernay, who directed the first two episodes and wrote several of the season’s episodes, keeps the show away from soap opera territory, opting instead to make a meditative look at redemption and reconciliation. She presents a side of Black family life that is rarely giving this much focus and depth in any medium. Oprah seems to think so too: Based on the early reviews, the show has already been picked up for a 2nd season before the 1st episode has even aired. This is another incredible outing by one of the great new voices in entertainment. Queen Sugar will have a two-night series premiere September 6th and 7th on OWN at 10pm eastern and 9pm Central. You can also go to http://www.queensugarown.tv/ for more information.
The U.S. Open. New York City will be the epicenter of the tennis world as The U.S. Open returns to Flushing Meadow Park. Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are the heavy favorites to take the last Grand Slam title event of the year, but they are coming into this at their most vulnerable: Both are nursing injuries that has profoundly affected their play. These could lead to some major upsets and the emergence of some new stars. Among them are Madison Keys, who made a strong showing in the Olympics and Juan Martin del Potro who stunned Djokovic in their Olympic match. There’s also mainstays like Andy Murray, who comes into the Open who is on a hot streak and Serena’s sister Venus, who has been just as consistent and as formidable as any player on the circuit. Weather won’t be a factor either: This year’s Open marks the debut of a retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Who will take the final Grand Slam title of 2016. Tune into ESPN to watch all of the action. You can go to http://www.espn.com/ or http://www.usopen.org/ for a complete list of matches and start times.
White Girl. This powerful and controversial new film from writer-director Elizabeth Wood stars Morgan Saylor (Homeland) as Leah, a college student who spends more time partying than hitting the books. She falls hard for Blue (Brian Marc), a drug dealer who she met while moving into her Queens apartment. Pretty soon, he joins her a blizzard of sex, parties and moving product to a deep pocketed clientele. When Blue gets busted, Leah enlists lawyer George Fratelli (Chris Noth) to help get him out. But in order to pay for his services, she must weave in and out the underground New York City scene to sell the remaining stash of coke that Blue left behind. It’s a trip that is full of physical, mental and sexual violence that she was not prepared for. Wood’s script – loosely based on her life – is visceral, uncompromising and immediate making it as much of a horror movie as it is cautionary. Saylor’s performance is just as fearless as the nihilistic Leah who goes all in with the role and the often dark consequences that comes with it. Noth oozes three piece suit sleaziness as Fratelli, who is more predator than attorney. Unfiltered and un-PC, Wood has put together a film that will make you think about race, class, privilege and addiction long after the movie is over. White Girl opens in New York this weekend, L.A. on September 9th and select theaters on 9/16. You can also go to http://www.whitegirl.nyc/ for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS
And The Anonymous Nobody by De La Soul. After nearly 12 years between releases – and swimming through a sea of legal and red tape regarding their label/catalog status – De La Soul have finally released their eagerly awaited 9th album. As they have done their entire career, the group took the road less traveled: The album was funded through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign and rather than rely on sampling, the bulk of the project was culled together from a significant number of jam sessions with L.A. musicians. Then using an array and diverse group of guest stars (David Byrne, Snoop Dogg, Damon Alburn, Jill Scott, Estelle, Little Dragon, Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, Usher and 2 Chainz, among others), put together a sprawling 17 song set that is at times philosophical, inspirational, introspective, and with every De La project whimsical. To call it a hip hop album would be misleading: There’s elements of rock, jazz, funk, soul and every classical music that runs throughout. De La Soul has always gone against the hip hop grain. With this new album, they mark an exciting new chapter in an already storied career. And The Anonymous Nobody is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.wearedelasoul.com/ for more information.
The Suffers by The Suffers. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Kam Franklin, this 9 piece band out of Houston plays a mix of blues, soul, country, reggae, Cajun, jazz, funk, and rock all thrown together to create what they call ‘Gulf Coast Soul’. In just under over four years, The Suffers have been turning on – and turning out – audiences across the country and had prominent music publications calling them the next great band. Rather than wait for the majors to come calling, The Suffers decided to put out their debut album independently. It captures the band’s sound (and electric live show) perfectly, loaded with big horns, funky grooves, slinky guitars and Franklin’s next level vocals riding it out on top. After pulling off memorable appearances on The Daily Show and last week’s Afropunk Festival, get ready for the next big thing. A crushing debut album. The Suffers is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go tohttp://www.thesuffers.com/ for tour dates and more info.
Killer Road by Soundwalk Collective & Jesse Paris Smith featuring Patti Smith. Two years after they first performed together in a concert in Paris, the ambient group Soundwalk Collective, Jesse Paris Smith and her mother Patti Smith have released Killer Road, an album that pays tribute to the late Velvet Underground singer Nico. Using field recordings made by Jesse and backed by Soundwalk Collective (Nico’s harmonium, which Smith purchased in a pawn shop and returned to Nico is also used), Patti reads a series of poems that Nico wrote throughout her life, including her final work before her death. It’s a haunting re-imagining of Nico’s final years living in Ibiza complete with the sounds that she might have heard moments after suffering the heart attack that ultimately took her life. Patti channels Nico effortlessly and the dense, otherworldly sounds created by Jessie and Soundwalk Collective gives the piece a hauntingly beautiful feel and flow. It’s an extraordinary elegy for one of rock’s greatest chanteuses. Killer Road will be available September 2nd through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/
SEE THIS
New York City: Star Trek: Mission New York. 50 years after its debut, Star Trek is hotter than ever. With the latest film in the series a hit and TV show on the way, it looks like the franchise is not showing any signs of slowing down. This weekend, New York City becomes Starfleet as Star Trek: Mission New York takes over the Javits Center. There will be interactive exhibits, exclusive merchandise, panels, screenings and a slew of events to bring out the Trekkies in all of us. The highlights of the convention will appearances by Walter Koenig, Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Dominic Keating, Levar Burton, and Captain James T. Kirk, himself, William Shatner. Whether you are a casual fan or a die hard this the ultimate Star Trek celebration. Star Trek: Mission New York happens September 2nd through the 4th at The Javits Center. You can go tohttp://www.startrekmissions.com/ for tickets, a complete rundown of events and more information.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
Read more comedy news, stories, interviews with comedians, videos and comedy clips on our home page. Get more comedy news. Watch more viral videos. Read more interviews with the best comics in the business.
Latest posts by Earl Douglas (see all)
- Earl’s World: The Filtered Excellence: September 7, 2021 - September 7, 2021
- Remembering Fez Whatley - August 15, 2021
- Earl’s World: The Filtered Excellence: July 23, 2021 - July 25, 2021
