The Filtered Excellence: December 27, 2012

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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:

Promised Land.  Starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand and John Krasinski.   The latest film from acclaimed director Gus Van Sant – which tackles the pros and cons of fracking – has already generated a lot of buzz and considerable controversy.  Damon & McDormand play corporate salespeople who come to a small rural town to buy drilling rights from the residents.  Krasinski plays a former family farmer turned local schoolteacher who organizes a grassroots campaign to halt the deal.  There’s strong Oscar buzz for the three leads and for the screenplay, which was co-written by Damon and Krasinski.  Pro drilling advocates have been mounting a boycott campaign via social media, claiming the film portrays the practice in an unfair light.  Go see the film and decide for yourself.  It opens in New York and Los Angeles tomorrow and nationwide on January 17th.

The Twilight Zone Marathon on Syfy.  SyFy will be running the classic Rod Serling series all day New Year’s Eve and right through the early part of New Year’s Day.  This is classic TV at its finest featuring some of the best talent and scripts ever presented on the tube.  A perfect alternative to parties or a great prep for your night out.  Starts at 8am on December

  • Go to syfy.com for a full episode listing.

The Invisible War on Netflix.  Kirby Dick’s investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military is shocking.  It is in every branch of the military and the military has done a piss poor job in dealing with it.   Meeting the young men and women who love their country and wanted to serve and only to be victims of rape is heartbreaking. Even more disturbing is the cover up or disregard by the military brass.

California Solo.   We romanticize dying young and artistic geniuses burning out.  But what about the people they leave behind, forgotten and drifting into obscurity?  Marshall Lewy’s movie about a drunk (Robert Carlyle) is at times a lyrical meditation, sometimes cringeworthy movie about guilt and forgiveness. Carlyle’s Lachlan is a Scottish musician at risk of deportation for a DUI who realizes his pathetic existence has left him without a single person who can honestly say they need him.  Carlyle gives an amazing, painful to watch performance as an unlikable but sympathetic loser and Lewy find the perfect way of blending the beauty of the California landscape with the gritty underbelly that can eat musicians and/or addicts alive.

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LISTEN TO THIS:

Django Unchained Soundtrack.  There isn’t a Quentin film worth seeing that isn’t also worth listening to.  The soundtrack to Django Unchained is no exception.  Great tracks feature the great Ennio Morricone, Anthony Hamilton, Rick Ross and James Brown.

Bad Weather by Black Betty.  Musician-singer-songwriter-producer Sylvia Gordon has worked with The Black Eyed Peas, Moby and Kelis among others. Under the guise Betty Black, she updates the dark pop of The Ronettes, Shangri-Las, Shirelles and Nancy Sinatra as if it were the backdrop of a David Lynch movie. Her 2011 EP, Slow Dance was the first of a trilogy that explored the joys and pains of a young girl moving into womanhood. Bad Weather is part 2 continues that theme, with bad love at its center.  Her take on Van Halen’s ‘Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love’ takes the song into red-light territory and its magnificent.  Bad Weather is a hypnotic joy which takes you to another time and place. It’s available now through Itunes.

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DO THIS:

New York:  Jay-Z and Coldplay New Years Eve @ The Barclays Center. Music’s latest odd couple will be co-headlining New York City’s new arena to ring in 2013. It’s Jay’s house, so expect him to headline. Coldplay front man Chris Martin has some hip hop cred (he sang hooks for Jay Z and Kayne West), so expect some surprises and special guests. Believe or not, a few tickets remain, so if you’re looking to lock up your New Year’s Eve plans, this is the ticket.

  • Get details at barclayscenter.com.

New York:  The Nostalgia Train.  The MTA is once again offering The Nostalgia Train and you have a few days left to catch it. They bring out the vintage subway cars from the 20s and later for people to ride every year around the holidays.  Sundays from Thanksgiving to NYE the Nostalgia Train runs along the M line from 2nd ave to Queens Plaza. It’s fun to see the faces of the tourists that have no idea whats happening when the train pulls into the station.

New York:  Sandra Bernhard at Joe’s Pub.  Comedian and singer Sandra Bernhard has booked a series of shows leading up to her New Year’s Eve celebration at Joe’s Pub at Public Theater.  If you’ve already made plans for New Year’s, catch Sandra all weekend with her band, the Rebellious Jezebels for her outrageous and hysterical performances.  Decemer 27 through  New Years Eve.

  • Get more info at joespub.com.

Philadelphia:  The Mummers Parade.  Everyone should check out the sequinned, feathered fancies, comics, wenches, and string bands strut down Broad Street on New Years Day, in its 113th year. It’s one of the most excellently fun days in Philly all year, dancing in the streets… ALSO, this year marks the first parade participation of a Mummers Drag Brigade. Maybe you’re thinking, aren’t the Mummers already preeetty much kinda draggy? Yes, but this year marks the first time that 10 real actual drag queens will be participating in the fancy division.

Syracuse New York:  Syracuse University Marching Band Open Rehearsals.  Recently the district approved arrangements made by the MHS band to invite the Syracuse University Marching Band to rehearse on Woodman Field in advance of their performance at the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 29th.  Two of their rehearsals will be open to the public, and the MHS Band would like to invite staff members to attend! The nearly 200 members of the Syracuse University Marching Band will be at Woodman Field in Montclair on Friday, December 28th from 9-11am and again from 2:30-4:30pm.  Ample street parking is available.

 

Pittsburgh:  Marx Mania.  The Pittsburgh Harris Theater will be running a double feature of the Marx Brothers this weekend.  “Horse Feathers” and “Duck Soup” will show back-to-back at 7 and 8:30 tonight and Friday. On Saturday you can see “Duck Soup” at 4 and 7 p.m., and “Horse Feathers” at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Admission is $8 for both films, $7 for seniors.

Washington, DC:  See the Original Emancipation Proclamation.  To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, the National Archives will display the original document bearing the president’s signature for just three days, beginning Dec. 30. The five fragile pieces of paper can be displayed on a few days each year, so this will be a rare opportunity to get a glimpse of the real thing. Films, speakers and local choirs accompany the display during these three days. Catch them from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1; the display will be open until midnight Dec. 31.

  • Get more info at archives.gov.

 

Columbus Ohio:  Annie Leibovitz Exhibition, Last 3 Days!   This exhibition of iconic photographer Annie Leibovitz closes on the 30th so hurry. Leibovitz has chosen three discrete components for the show. The first, theMaster Set, consists of 156 images she selected a few years ago as the definitive edition of her work, drawn from the thousands of professional assignments she has had over the years and augmented by more personal images of her family. The Wexner Center is the first institution to have the opportunity to exhibit the Master Set as a whole.

 

Seattle, Washington:  Woody Allen in the ’70s.  While Woody Allen remains one of the most prolific and acclaimed filmmakers in the business today, it’s hard to argue that his early work in the 1970s wasn’t his finest. Rediscover his brilliant nebbish roots with screenings of Annie Hall (a new 35mm print), Manhattan, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask), Bananas, and Love and Death. Grand Illusion Cinema, $5 (series pass $32).

  • Get more info at grandillustioncinema.org.

 

The Editor

The Editor