The Filtered Excellence: August 6, 2015
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 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:
Call Me Lucky. *Editors Pick* The latest film from Bobcat Goldthwait is also his first documentary– a portrait of Barry Crimmins, a highly influential comedian, whose blistering, often angry act played a vital role in putting Boston on the comedy map, and mentored the next wave of stand ups. Crimmins’ shift into political humor and commentary set the template for what is now commonplace in contemporary comedy. Goldthwait also looks at the events that fueled Crimmins: He testified in a 1995 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child pornography, speaks openly about the childhood traumas that nearly killed him and his advocacy for victims of sexual abuse and his distrust of the government and the Catholic Church. Goldthwait leaves no stone unturned and we are all the better for it, continuing his incredible second act as an accomplished filmmaker. With accolades and stories by such fans and contemporaries such as Margaret Cho, David Cross, Marc Maron and Patton Oswalt, Call Me Lucky puts Barry Crimmins on par with such comedic greats such as Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce and George Carlin. Call Me Lucky opens in New York and select theaters this weekend, and rolls out nationally August 14th. You can go to www.callmeluckymovie.com for more information.
Cop Car. The chase film gets a much needed makeover in this tense new thriller from writer-director Jon Watts. The films stars James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford as Travis and Harrison, two rebellious, but good-natured young boys who stumble across an abandoned cop car in a secluded glade. They decided to take the car out for a joy ride, but in doing so, they get the attention of a county sheriff (Kevin Bacon) who wants to get the car – and what’s in the car – back from them at all costs. Bacon is in fine form as the renegade sheriff looking to cover some dirty tracks. Freedson-Jackson and Wellford are great new discoveries as the boys who find themselves way over their heads in a deadly cat and mouse game with a deadly cat. With the open Colorado roads as its landscape, Watts has put together a concise, but riveting thriller that pumps new life into the genre. Definitely worth checking out. Cop Car opens nationwide this Friday and will be available on demand August 14th. You can also go to www.CopCarMovie.com for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS:
Born To Play Guitar by Buddy Guy. Buddy Guy’s creative resurgence continues with yet another new album (after releasing a new memoir and a double album in 2013). Working again with producer/musician Tom Hambridge, Born To Play Guitar is a love letter to the blues itself, honoring those who influenced him (‘Come Back Muddy’), those who left us (‘Flesh & Bone’, a duet with Van Morrison, is dedicated to B.B. King) and where he’s from (‘Thick Like Mississippi Mud’). With contributions from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Joss Stone, Buddy Guy continues to build on his legacy as the greatest living ambassador for the blues. Born To Play Guitar is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to www.buddyguy.net for tour dates and more information.
READ THIS:
Under Tiberius by Nick Tosches. Nick Tosches has never shied away from looking at the darker side of pop culture icons (Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sonny Liston). But for his latest work (listed under ‘historical fiction’) takes on his greatest icon to date: Jesus Christ. But in Tosches’ hands, he’s not using the writings of Matthew, John or Luke to tell the story. Instead, he leans on the writings of Gaius Fulvius Falconius, a speechwriter for Emperor Tiberius during the first century. Here, Jesus and Gaius are grifters who come up with a plan to acquire untold wealthy by convincing everyone that Jesus is the Son Of God. As the plot begins to make an impact, the two men, initially suspicious of one another, grudgingly develop a friendship and mutual respect for one another. Blasphemous, vulgar, but profoundly insightful, enlightening and entertaining, Tosches has written the most controversial novel of the year, perhaps even of the decade. But it will also reaffirm his status as one of America’s greatest living writers. Check out now before the backlash begins. Under Tiberius is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all major book retailers. You can also go to www.nicktosches.com for more information.
The Bollocks: A Photo Essay Of The Sex Pistols by Dennis Morris. By the mid 1970’s, life in England for all practical terms, stunk. A recession, rampant unemployment and a garbage strike had made life nearly unbearable. The music scene had also become stagnant as the youth explosion that defined the British Invasion had given away to musical self-indulgence. Punk was a middle finger to all and leading the movement was The Sex Pistols. Photographer Dennis Morris, who had gained fame for his work with Bob Marley & The Wailers, was hired by The Sex Pistols to document their antics throughout the 1977 tour. As the 40th anniversary of the band’s formation quickly approaches, Morris has assembled this images into a new book, The Bollocks.Shot in stark black & white, Morris captures the band on stage, during soundchecks, backstage, mingling with others within the scene who were providing ‘medicine for a sick nation’. With essays by Morris, Billy Idol, Billy Morrison, Rodney Bingenheimer and Shepard Fairey, The Bollocks wonderfully captures a scene that shook up and the status quo and whose effect can still be felt to this day. The Bollocks is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all major book retailers. You can also go to www.dennismorris.com for more information.
DO THIS:
New York City: Brando. To coincide with the release of the new documentary, Listen To Me Marlon, The Film Forum will have a four day retrospective featuring Marlon Brando’s most iconic performances. On The Waterfront, The Wild One, Viva Zapata, Julius Cesear, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Godfather, Last Tango In Paris, and Apocalpyse Now are just some of the films that will be featured throughout the five day run. It will also be the last chance to see Listen To Me Marlon in theaters before it begins airing on Showtime. This is a once in a lifetime chance to see one of cinema’s finest live and blaze again on the big screen. Brando will run at the Film Forum August 7th through the 11th. You can go to www.filmforum.org for tickets and a complete rundown of films and times.
New York City: See It Big! 70mm. The Museum Of The Moving Image. As the title suggests, some films were made to be seen on a large screen. Filmmakers knew this too, opting to shoot their grand vision in rich 70mm. As part of their ongoing series, The Museum Of The Moving Image will be screening some of the best ever done using this process: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Lawrence Of Arabia, and West Side Story will be featured alongside cult classics It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Brainstorm, and Tron. This isn’t limited to older films also: Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and P.T. Anderson’s brooding The Master are also part of the 70mm salute. Add to this MoMI’s state of the art theater (complete with excellent sound), and what you have an amazing night at the movies. See It Big! runs August 7th through the 30th. Go to www.movingimage.us for days and run times.
Chicago: Bud Billiken Parade. The 86th edition of the largest and oldest African American parade takes on a new meaning in light of recent events. This year’s parade will feature, as always, an assortment of vendors, marching bands and performers, but will also place a spotlight on Chicago’s Black youth, with proceeds being earmarked to the Mission Of Chicago Defender Charities, whose aim is to improve the quality of life for African Americans via educational, cultural and social programs. A great day out for the entire community. The Bud Billiken Parade will take place on Saturday, August 8th. You can go to www.budbillikenparade.org for more information.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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