The Filtered Excellence: December 24, 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:
The Hateful Eight. Forget what you heard about the script leaks. police boycotts and theater chains griping about equipping its rooms with 70mm film projectors. Quentin Tarentino’s 8th film is the reason why we fell in love with movies and going to one was an event. This love letter to the Great American Western has IT. A lot of it. A badass cast featuring among others, Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, and Michael Madsen. A original, spectacular score by the king of spaghetti Westerns and soundtrack master, Ennio Morricone. Then there’s, of course, a killer script featuring hangmen, outlaws, bounty hunters and former soldiers from both sides of the recently ended Civil War all stuck in a cabin during a blizzard. With a bounty at stake, no one’s to be trusted and there blood is all but certain to flow. The decision to shoot in 70mm – something that hasn’t been done in over 50 years- brings out the size and scope of a still growing American landscape, but also captures the claustrophobia and paranoia between the characters once they are in the cabin. Complete with an orchestral overture and an intermission to help you catch your breath, The Hateful Eight will cement Quentin Tarantino’s place as one of cinema’s greatest directors. It opens in select theaters Christmas Day and nationwide on December 31st. You can also to www.thehatefuleight.com for more information.
The Revenant. Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu’s follow up to the Oscar winning film ‘Birdman’ takes us from Broadway to deep in the heart of uncharted American wilderness. Based on the Michael Punke novel (and based on a true story), the film stars Leonard DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, an 1820s frontiersman who, while survives a vicious bear attack, only to be left to die in a shallow grave by his team. Glass manages to escape, but now must withstand a brutal winter to avenge this betrayal and the murder of his young half-Native American son. Shot at various locations in Canada, Argentina and the U.S., Inarritu’s beautifully captures the look, feel and the menace of undiscovered country, putting his actors and his crew through the ringer to give the project true authenticity. The action sequences have to be seen to believed – even more so because it doesn’t rely on CGI. The bear attack and Glass’ struggled to survive will test even the toughest of stomachs. DiCaprio is terrific as Hugh Glass, giving a performance that may finally award him the elusive Oscar. Tom Hardy caps off an extraordinary year (Mad Max, Legend) with another haunting role as John Fitzgerald, a criminal on the run who is forced to do the unthinkable to a wounded Glass. Birdman’s success was no fluke: Alejandro Gonazalz Inarritu is one of the world’s best filmmakers and don’t be surprised if he is back on the Oscar podium next year. One of the year’s best. The Revenant opens in limited release on Christmas Day and nationwide January 8th. You can also go to http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-revenant for more information.
Concussion. The movie that has the sports world buzzing rolls out this weekend. Based on the explosive GQ expose by Jeanne Marie LakasWill Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist who, while performing an autopsy on Hall Of Fame center Mike Webster (David Morse) puts him on a path that connects the high rates of suicides and dementia among former football players and chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, a condition often associated with boxers taking too many blows to the head. When Omalu presents his findings to NFL Commissioner Roger Godell (Luke Wilson), the league not only refute his findings, but takes extraordinary steps to insure that his findings don’t become public. Written and directed by former New York Times investigative reporter Peter Landsman, the film has the pace and feel of a thriller with the fate of a multi-billion dollar industry at stake with Omalu and his team fighting obstruction and denial even as the evidence – and the causalities – suggest otherwise. Smith, reaffirms his status as one of Hollywood’s great leading men with a performance that is both compelling and passionate. He’s already in the running for a Best Actor Golden Globe and expect him to be in the mix throughout the entire awards season. A vital, important film. Concussion opens on Christmas Day. You can also go to www.concussion-movie.com for more info.
NBA Coverage. The NBA teams up with ABC and ESPN to serve up all day coverage featuring the league’s best teams. It kicks off at noon when the New Orleans Pelicans take on the resurgent Miami Heat. Then at 2:30, the always tough Chicago Bulls take on the healthy and revitalized Oklahoma City Thunder. The centerpiece game at 5pm will be a rematch of last year’s Final as the LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Steph Curry and the defending champion Golden State Warriors, who have won a remarkable 27 out of 28 games to start the season. Then at 8pm, the San Antonio Spurs – led by future Hall Of Famers Tim Duncan and Tony Parker – take on the Houston Rockets, who have rebounded from a slow start to put themselves back in the playoff hunt. The night ends at 10:30 at The Staples Center as the Clippers take on the rival Lakers. It will be the final Christmas showcase for Kobe Bryant, who is calling it quits at the end of the year. It’s wall to wall b-ball that can’t be missed. Go to www.nba.com for more information.
DO THIS:
New York City: Sandra Bernhardt – Feel The Bernhard. Untamed, unyielding and uncompromising, Sandra Bernhardt has been doing her brand of engaging, emotional and provocative comedy for over four decades. For her new one woman show, Bernhardt takes dead aim at the divide between the rich and the poor – with the 1% squarely in her cross hairs. Nothing’s sacred but you laugh a lot and might even get to hear a song or two. Feel The Bernhard will be at Joe’s Pub December 26th through the 31st. You can go to www.joespub.com for tickets and additional info.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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