The Filtered Excellence August 16, 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:
Compliance. In theaters August 17. Compliance generated significant buzz after audiences viewed it at Sundance this January. This film is sure to leave you with much to think about. Written and directed by Craig Zobel, this Magnolia Pictures film takes place one fateful night at a fast food restaurant when a prank caller impersonating a police officer reports to the night shift manager that one of her young employees is suspected of being a thief. Directing the manager to constrain the teenage girl in the employee break room, he issues a series of instructions that begin with interrogation and escalate shockingly; all of which are met with compliance without any proof or query as to the justification or authority of these demands. Inspired by true events, the film is ultimately an intensely uncomfortable, unsettling psychological study of human nature and group-mentality willingness to follow orders without question.
Bill Burr: You People are All the Same. Netflix subscribers get an exclusive chance to be the very first to check out Bill Burr’s most recent comedy special. Not a Netflix subscriber? You’re out of luck for now. This special hasn’t aired anywhere else yet. So if you love Bill Burr as much as we do, don’t miss this. If you don’t love Bill, then you probably don’t know Bill, so stream it tonight.
Jaws on Blu Ray/DVD. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, Jaws is now available on Blu Ray/DVD. This seminal 1975 film cemented the careers of Roy Scheider (who had an amazing run with Klute, The French Connection, The Seven-Ups, Marathon Man and All That Jazz), Richard Dreyfus (American Graffiti, The Goodbye Girl and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind) and, of course, Steven Spielberg. It’s been fully remastered and restored so its looks better than ever. The classic John Williams score also receives a sonic upgrade so it will sound AMAZING coming out of any home entertainment system. Bonus features includes the original trailer, deleted scenes and outtakes, plus two documentaries on the making of Jaws and the restoration process. This is as good as it gets. Jaws is available now on Amazon and your local retail outlets.
Treme Season 3 on HBO. Season 3 of this critically acclaimed series from David Simon (The Wire, Homicide: Life On The Street) returns for its 3rd season on September 23rd but we’re putting it up early to give you a chance to get caught up on Seasons 1 and 2 if you’re not already on board. The show focuses on the individual lives of those trying to put their lives back together after Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed the city. The show has been lauded for its pinpoint portrayal of New Orleans and for its crushing soundtrack, which almost exclusively features musicians from the area. If you want to get caught up, the first two seasons are available now on DVD and on HBO GO.
- There’s almost a trailer for Season 3 which you can view here
- Order The Complete First Season
- Order The Complete Second Season
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LISTEN TO THIS:
Quiet About It – A Tribute To Jesse Winchester. Singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester is considered by peers and fans alike as one of the unique voices and writers of his generation. His songs have been covered by a wide range of artists including Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, The Everly Brothers, Joan Baez, Jimmy Buffett, and most recently, Lyle Lovett. Simply put, Jesse Winchester is considered the songwriters’ songwriter. Now, friends, contemporaries and fans have come together for Quiet About It – A Tribute To Jesse Winchester. And what a lineup: Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Allen Toussaint, James Taylor Rosanne Cash, and Lucinda Williams are some of the artists who pay tribute to the performer who is considered a cultural icon in the States and his adopted country of Canada. It serves as a great introduction to newbies and a bonus to long time fans.
John Mayer – The Complete 2012 Performances Collection EP. This five song EP features acoustic versions of a couple of songs from his latest album Shadow Days and one unreleased track, the country leaning ‘Go Easy On Me’. It’s the closest thing we will see to hearing him play live: Throat problems have scrapped any tour plans for the unforeseeable future. It’s yet another reminder that if you remove all of the tabloid madness that surrounds him, John Mayer is a damn good singer-songwriter.
- The Complete 2012 Performances Collection EP is available exclusively on Itunes.
- You can also go to www.johnmayer.com for additional info.
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BROWSE THIS:
Team Spirit by Errol Morris on ESPN. Documentary filmmaker Errol Morris made a short film for ESPN called “Team Spirit”. It focuses on the sports related funerals of do-or-die fans, especially the “die” part. It’s the latest part of ESPN’s “It’s Not Crazy. It’s Sports” ad campaign and this short film spot can be seen playing on the ESPN Network. It’s not scheduled, just plays in random spots, so you just have to be watching to catch it.
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DO THIS:
New York: SPECIAL EVENT! MELVIN VAN PEEBLES’ 80th BIRTHDAY BAASSSSSH. Film Forum 8/21 The Godfather Of Independent Cinema celebrates his 80th Birthday with a full blown retrospective on his life and career. There will be a Q&A with filmmaker Joe Angio (who directed the Melvin doc How To Eat Your Watermelon In White Company (and Enjoy It), tons of film clips, and, of course, some major surprises. This is going to be one for the ages. A few tickets remain but they are going fast.
New York: Raiders Of The Lost Ark @ Bryant Park 8/20. The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival concludes with Steven Spielberg’s slam dunk salute to the serials of the 1930’s and 40’s. It’s the film that cemented Harrison Ford’s status as one of Hollywood’s leading men and inspired a slew of sequels, TV shows, and copycats. This is a film that was meant to be seen with a crowd and on a big screen. As with all Bryant Park screenings, admission is free, so get there early and get a good spot on the lawn. The film starts at sundown. Whips are optional. Keep an eye out next month for a release of Raiders on Blu-Ray as well as a one week exclusive IMAX run starting September 7.
New York: The Freedom Party’s Annual Michael Jackson Tribute Party. All Michael all night long at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. This third annual event of its kind starts at 11pm and runs all night long. The event won Paper Magazine’s People Choice for Best Party in NYC. It’s a packed room full of dancers, b-boys, costumed Jackson 5 look-alikes, and general Jackson lovers.
New Hampshire: The White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Festival. Pretty nice lineup for it. Ones that jump out are Ruthie Foster, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band (their new album just came out today) and JJ Grey & Mofro.
SUMMER FESTIVAL ROUND UP: MORE TO CHECK OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THIS WEEK
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Grape Harvest Festival (August 17th-19th). This is the 73rd annual Grape Harvest Festival making it the oldest Grape Festival in California with traditions dating back almost 200 years. Come out and support the history of grape and wine in California, and don’t forget to participate in some traditional Grape Stomping!
- Milford, CT. Milford Oyster Festival (August 18th). Lots and Lots of Oysters, combined with the goal to help local non-profit organizations? I don’t think there could be any better reason to hold a festival. Just make sure you bring along a date- because well, everyone knows exactly how oysters make you feel
- Machias, Maine. Wild Blueberry Festival (August 17th-19th). What can be better than spending a day with your family and friends picking wild blueberries and eating them, along with other blueberry treats. Don’t forget to participate in all the contests like the blueberry-pie eating contest and the cooking!
- Topsham Fairgrounds, Maine. Highland Games (August 18th). A Celtic tradition centuries old comes to Maine to see who the best man really is. Watch as the competing men try their best at traditional games including the Haggis Hurl, The Bonny Knees Contest, and the Rolling Pin Toss and don’t worry there are autographs offered after every event
- Tulsa, OK. Pow Wow of Champions (August 17th-19th). Check out one of the largest intertribal gatherings of Native American’s in North America. Check out all of the ceremonial celebrations, and make sure to watch the 3rd annual drum contest.
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