The Filtered Excellence: August 21, 2014
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:
Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. The long awaited follow up to the 2005 hit operates as a sequel and a prequel, with all but two of the stories based on Miller’s acclaimed graphic novel series. The film brings back Marv (Mickey Roarke), Nancy (Jessica Alba), Hartigan (Bruce Willis), Gail (Rosario Dawson), twins Goldie and Wendy (Jamie King playing both roles) and the silent but deadly Miho (Jamie Chung) as they wage war on corrupt Senator Roark (Powers Booth) in Basin City, otherwise known as Sin City. Josh Brolin replaces Clive Owen as Dwight, Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Johnny, a gambler caught between Roark’s cross hairs and the charms of a young stripper (Julia Garner) and Eva Green plays Ava Lord, the quintessential femme fatale. Directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller once again create an otherworldly neo-noir look ripe with bullets, babes and plot twists. A worthy and entertaining sequel that’s great escapist fun. Sin City: A Dame To Kill For opens nationwide on Friday, August 22nd.
Love Is Strange. The latest film from writer-director Ira Sachs (Forty Shades Of Blues, Married Life, Keep The Lights On) is a stirring look at love, life and real estate in the ‘new’ New York. John Lithgow and Alfred Molina play Ben and George, long time life partners who, after the Marriage Equality Act passes in New York State, can legally get married. Their marriage puts into motion a series of challenges: George loses his job teaching at a Catholic school because of his union. Ben works as a painter, but it barely sustains him, much less two people. They decide to downsize and sell their apartment, but even the proceeds from the sale aren’t enough to find an affordable place in the harsh New York City real estate market. The two are forced to temporarily separate, with Ben staying with his nephew (Darren Burrows), wife (Marisa Tomei) and teenage son (Charlie Tahan), while George stays with friends, a young couple (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez) who are also cops. Alone and together Ben and George must adjust to their new living arrangements, job and apartment hunting and trying to maintain their marriage. Sachs, who co-wrote the script with Mauricio Zacharias, has crafted a great story that taps into post-millennial issues: how the real estate boom has left out more people than it has let in, marriage equality, and how it has all affected our relationships to family and friendships. Long time character actors Lithgow and Molina deliver one of their best performances of their careers as the long time couples facing extraordinary circumstances. Burrows and Tomei are also solid and thanks to Sachs’ direction, Manhattan also becomes a key character in the film. The mere presence of new skyscrapers, hip shops and empty storefronts, shows how a borough that once welcomed anyone on the economic chain, has slowly and subtly become a neighborhood for the super wealthy. A sharp and incisive film. Love Is Strange opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, August 22nd.
To Be Takei. Director Jennifer M. Kroot directed this engaging and highly entertaining look at actor/activist George Takei, best known for playing Lt. Sulu in the Star Trek franchise. It details everything : a childhood spent in U.S. internment camps during World War II; becoming an international star thanks to the success of the Star Trek TV series and films; being a viral sensation thanks to Facebook (5 million followers) and how his relentless advocacy for LGBT issues led to the legalization of gay marriage – and led to him getting married to long time companion Brad. There’s also appearances by fellow Trekkies Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and, of course, long time frenemy William Shatner, this doc will appeal to both Trekkies and non-Trekkies. To Be Takei opens in New York on Friday, August 22nd and is also available on demand.
The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Not only will this year’s Emmy Awards be a celebration of the best in television from the past year, it will also be a celebration of the TV career of the late Robin Williams. A special tribute to Robin is planned for this year’s ceremony which will be done by Robin’s good friend Billy Crystal. From his original “Happy Days” episode that launched him into stardom, to his many TV specials, Comic Relief performances and his always memorable late night talk show appearances, Robin Williams was a much a TV icon as he was in film. The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be emceed by first time host Seth Meyers from Late Night. The ceremony airs live on Monday, August 25th at 8 pm et on NBC.
Expedition To The End of the World. This documentary from Norway is an amazing looking spectacle of the planet and the changes it’s going through. A group of Danish scientists and artists set sail on a 3-masted schooner for Northeastern Greenland. The trip is taking place during the time of year when the area which is mostly unexplored is available by ship. Their journey is a cinematic wonder and a statement on climate change. The passengers watch as massive icebergs break apart in front of their eyes. They see the peril facing polar bears. And they make incredible new discoveries of life and the planet’s history from the areas they explore that are now revealed by the retreating ice. The scientists and artists watch and comment on how the Earth will go on with or without humans existing on it. Expedition To The End of the World opens this weekend in New York and then rolls out across the country.
The Little League World Series Championship. There’s still some more games to play before the finals are set in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Here’s a chance to watch baseball in its purest, most unjaded form. Kids from around the country and around the world are in PA for this annual celebration of baseball. Plus, you never know when you might be watching a future Hall of Famer. As of right now, here’s where the tournament stands. On the international side, South Korea will face the winner of Thursday’s match up between Mexico and Japan. The winner will represent the international kids teams. On the U.S. side, the little leaguers from Las Vegas will take on the winners of Chicago versus Philly. Then it all comes down to the championship game, which will be played this Sunday, August 24th at 3 pm et on ABC.
LISTEN TO THIS:
Ske-Datt-De-Dat…The Spirit Of Satch by Dr. John. Dr. John, one of greatest living musical ambassadors of New Orleans pays tribute to its greatest musical export in this extraordinarily new album. But rather than do a by the numbers tribute to Louis Armstrong, The Night Tripper – along with special guests Bonnie Raitt, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Arturo Sandoval, Terence Blanchard, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Shemekia Ledisi, Anthony Hamilton, Mike Ladd, Telmary, and Nicholas Peyton, among others – reworks songs written by, and made famous by Satchmo to include New Orleans funk, traditional jazz, blues, Afro-Cuban, and even hip hop. In short, a microcosm of the music from The Big Easy. For an artist of Dr John’s status and stature to still mining and mixing musical terrains – while honoring his mentors and heroes at the same time – is something we should all aspire to. Another late period winner from an American master.
is available now through Amazon, Itunes, and all major music retailers.You can also go to nitetripper.com for tour dates and additional information.
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Hanx Writer. Tom Hanks teamed up with iOS developers Hitcents for this new app that gives your Ipad the look and feel of an old school typewriter, including the clicking of the keys and the ding of the carriage return. Don’t worry, you can still delete, cut, paste and share documents via email too. The basic app is free, but for only $5 you can recreate styles from two additional typewriters, change the color of the ribbon ink, create multiple documents and more. An elegant and stylish way to honor the past while staying in a modern context.
DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: The Afropunk Festival at Commodore Barry Park. What started out as a D.I.Y film by James Spooner has now grown into a 10 years strong weekend festival celebrating Black Alternative music, film, arts and culture. This year’s lineup is their most diverse to date: Body Count, Bad Brains (w/special guest vocalists), Fishbone, Tamar-kali, Unlocking The Truth, The Bots, Valerie June, Meshell Ndegeocello, Alice Smith, Straight Line Stich, among many others. Two days of killer bands and its all FREE. The Afropunk Festival will be at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn August 23rd and 24th.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: 46 Candles. If you ever wondered what happened to Ferris Bueller when he was done taking days off or the detention gang from The Breakfast Club, now you can find out. 46 Candles is a comedic look back at the characters created by filmmaker John Hughes 30 years ago. Hosted by Joe Garden from The Onion, a group of writers and comedians give their versions of what they believed happened to the teen characters in John Hughes’ movies after they grew up. The line up includes Emily Flake (The New Yorker), Todd Hanson (The Onion), Lux Alptraum (The Joy of Boning), Liam McEneaney (Tell Your Friends), and Rupinder Gill (Working The Eagles). It’s fan fiction for anyone who is a child of the 80s and nostalgic for Hughes’ films which helped define the decade. 46 Candles happens Friday, August 22nd at 8 pm at Union Hall in Brooklyn. The event is 21 and over and get there early for good seats.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Hitchcock: Early, Rare and Classic. If you’re a Hitchcock film fan, these screenings are going to take you in deep. You won’t find any of director Alfred Hitchcock’s best known works here at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. These are much lesser known early films from the master of suspense. The month long program is going into its final days, so now is the time to catch these rare Hitchcock screenings. Many from his early British filmmaking days. Some of the Hitchcock films you can experience over the next week include “Young and Innocent” from 1937, “Waltzes From Vienna from 1934 starring Jesse Matthews and Edmund Gwenn, and Murder! from 1930 and featuring Herbert Marshall and Norah Baring. It’s a chance to see the work that started an iconic film director on his way to his greatest work. Hitchcock: Early, Rare and Classic is happening at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago.
NEW YORK CITY: Summer Starfest on board the Intrepid. Hosted by the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York, Summer Starfest is a chance to look into the night sky over Manhattan and star gaze for an evening. High powered telescopes will be available on the deck of the aircraft carrier Intrepid along with experts to help navigate the constellations. Star watchers are also invited to bring their own telescopes and binoculars to watch along with. The night also includes astronomy discussions and demonstrations. Summer Starfest is Saturday, August 23rd starting at 7:30. The night is free, but registration is required.
AUSTIN, TEXAS: Crosby, Stills and Nash. 45 years after their self-titled debut album was released, Crosby, Stills and Nash are still making music together. The guys are out on the road and playing the Long Center in Austin, Texas. David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash are all two time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. CSN will be performing songs from their amazing long list of hits as well as new material they’ve done together and individually. Also a portion of the ticket sales for the Crosby, Stills and Nash show will be donated to charity. Tickets are still available. Crosby, Stills and Nash perform at the Long Center in Austin on Thursday, August 28th at 8 pm.
