The Filtered Excellence: February 14, 2021
Bob Geldof once asked “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
Black Art In The Absence Of Light. In 1976, David Driskell, an artist, scholar and curator presented Two Centuries Of Black American Art – the first high profile art exhibition of Black artists – at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art. Reviews were mixed, but the exhibit drew record crowds and eventually traveled to museums in Dallas, Atlanta and New York. It’s surprise success gave Black artists a chance to finally get a footing in a community that had long sought to shut them out. Director Sam Pollard (Atlanta’s Missing And Murdered: The Lost Children) looks back at this critical moment in art history and it’s ongoing impact. Pollard get to speak with Driskell, along with contemporary artists such as Theater Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Faith Ringgold, Amy Sherald and Carrie Mae Weems to discuss the exhibit’s importance and how it laid the groundwork for the cultural and commercial renaissance Black artists are experiencing today. Museum curators, scholars and collectors are also on board to talk about the exhibition fueled their need to preserve and present Black art. The documentary gives us one more opportunity to hear from Driskell, who sadly passed away last year from COVID. Part doc and part history lesson, this is a must see for any art fan. Black Art In The Absence Of Light is available now on HBO Max.
Judas And The Black Messiah. The endearing legacy of Fred Hampton – and his betrayal by BPP member/FBI informant William ‘Bill’ O’Neal – is the subject of the debut feature from Shaka King. Lakeith Stanfield plays O’Neal, who is staring down serious jail time for stealing a car and impersonating a federal officer. He accepts an offer from FBI Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) to become an informant and infiltrate the Black Panther Party. O’Neal quickly rises within the BPP ranks, becoming close with Panther Illinois Chairman Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). But as Hampton’s presence grows from local to national, Mitchell – under orders from J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) – pressures O’Neal to provide information that will mark the beginning of the end the Panthers, and lead to Hampton’s assassination. King and Will Berson’s dynamic screenplay gives a multi-textured look about what Fred Hampton meant to the movement, the enormity of his loss within the American Civil Rights Movement and how the issues confronted then are still being felt today. Daniel Kaluuya brings Hampton back to life, capturing his swagger, passion, empathy and a sensitivity that consumes the screen. Lakeith Stanfield’s performance is astonishing and heartbreaking, at times using his eyes to convey how O’Neal’s ongoing inner torment. Dominique Fishback puts in a strong, beautifully measured turn as Hampton’s girlfriend Deborah Johnson, while Jesse Plemons deftly plays O’Neal like a fiddle as Special Agent Mitchell. With dynamic set pieces, crisp direction, pitch perfect cast and compelling story, King has put together an early pick for top film of 2021. Judas And The Black Messiah is available in select theaters and on HBO Max.
The First Rainbow Coalition. Before it was associated with The Reverend Jesse Jackson, The Rainbow Coalition early ties were with Chicago chapter of The Black Panther Party and its Chairman, Fred Hampton. The latest installment of PBS’ Independent Lens looks at how the Panthers formed an unlikely alliance with poor Latinos and whites (The Young Lords and The Young Patriots) to tackle the rampant poverty, unemployment and police brutality that was affecting their communities. Director Ray Santisteban talks with surviving members from each camp, former law enforcement officials, political strategists, and historians – along with an extraordinary trove of archival footage – to show how this communal movement shook the local and national political structure in ways that are still being felt today. It’s a vital and important look back at a critical moment in American history. The First Rainbow Coalition is available now on PBS and the PBS app.
STREAM THIS
Tibet House US 34th Annual Benefit Concert. Since its inception, Tibet House US has pulled in some of the biggest names in music to help awareness about Tibet’s ongoing efforts to gain independence from China. This year’s edition will be done virtually, but it will not be absent of star power. Eddie Vedder, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Annie Lennox, Brittany Howard, Valerie June, Laurie Anderson, The Flaming Lips and Angelique Kidjo are among those slated to perform live or in pre-recorded segments, with The Dalai Lama also scheduled to appear. It’s always a night that’s full of surprises and memorable moments, and with this lineup, expect more of the same. The Tibet House US 34th Annual Benefit Concert will stream exclusively on Mandolin on Wednesday, February 17th. Go to boxoffice.mandolin.com for tickets and additional information.
The History Of Sketch Comedy. The 92nd Y teams up with Audible to present this online conversation between Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele) and John Oliver (Last Week Tonight, The Daily Show) to discuss Key’s new Audible series of the same name. They’ll dive into deep roots of sketch comedy, covering everything theater troupes during the European Renaissance, Second City in Chicago, to Key’s Emmy Award-winning work with Jordan Peele. Using personal experiences along with cultural references, it promises to inform as much as it will make you laugh. The History Of Sketch Comedy will take place Monday, February 15th at 7:30 Eastern. You can go to www.92y.org for tickets and additional information.
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