The Filtered Excellence: December 6, 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:
Tchoupitoulas. In Theaters December 7th. The hypnotic documentary style film follows three teen-aged brothers though dazzling scenes of New Orleans nightlife. The boys who have missed their last ferry home spend dusk til dawn in the Crescent City where they cross paths with a virtual tapestry of vivid characters- musicians, poets, artists, and partygoers. The film melds a feeling of adventure with a deep sense of New Orleans’ beautifully eclectic personality. Directed by Bill and Turner Ross, Tchoupitoulas is a gorgeous immersion into a night in New Orleans.
Restless. Restless is a Sundance/BBC two part miniseries based on the bestselling novel by William Boyd. It’s mystery and drama with action and espionage at its core. The focus here is on the decades-long double life of an English woman who was, in fact, a Russian. Eva Delectorskaya was recruited to be British spy during World War II. The story’s twists and turns carry the viewer from wartime through the 70’s when even then there is intense concern that Eva’s identity has been discovered. The only one who Eva can trust is her own daughter who she then must implore for help and involve in the intrigue. Sundance says in its description, “Once a spy, always a spy,” and there’s a lot more at play here than meets the eye.
You Don’t Know Bo. Directed by Michael Bonfiglio for the acclaimed ESPN series 30 For 30, this outstanding documentary takes a look at the man and the myths that captured the imagination of a generation– Bo Jackson. Airs Saturday on ESPN at 9pm.
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. Ed Burns returns to write about his Irish American roots for the first time since Brothers McMullen and She’s the One, and it’s a welcome return. Burns explores the world of adult children dealing with responsibilities while protecting old wounds with great ease. It’s a world he knows and one we will all recognize from our own lives. One of his best films. If you’re a fan, you won’t want to miss it.
Color Me Obsessed. A Film About the Replacements. Some bands get popular, sell loads of music and make millions of dollars. Other bands are relatively ignored by the masses but inspire a legion of rabid fans. The Replacements are exactly the latter type of band. Strike up a conversation with a Replacements fan and he’s likely to tell you passionately of the time he first heard Unsatisfied or of the time he first saw the band in some craphole local club and how great they were. (They are just as likely to tell you how loaded and awful they were, but that’s another story entirely). Gorman Bechard’s documentary, without using any music or footage of the band, gets across the story of the Replacements by speaking to its fans (some pretty famous). To a fan of the Replacements, this makes tons of sense. To an outsider, it probably doesn’t. Trust us. See it. It works.
The 2012 Heisman Trophy Presentation. Who will take home “The Most Prestigious Award in College Football”!? The Heisman Trophy will go to one of these players– Texas A&M quarterback Johnny “Football” Manziel, (will he be the first freshman to win it?) Manti Te’o from Notre Dame, )does the Heisman go defensive this year?) or K-State quarterback Collin Klein (can he pull the upset?)? Find out Saturday night at 8pm Eastern on ESPN. Then stick around for You Don’t Know Bo at 9 (see above)
LISTEN TO THIS
Three Chords Good by Graham Parker. Sharp-tongued British rocker has been putting out solid albums for decades, but nothing has quite matched 1976-1980 output when backed by The Rumour. Parker felt it was high time for a reunion and re-formed the band for Three Chords Good. The result is the best that Parker has sounded since his 70s heyday.
DOWNLOAD THIS:
Just Landed. If you travel, or more importantly, if you get visitors who fly into town, this app will become your new best friend. Put in any flight number, and Just Landed will track the flight and give you updated status information, but that’s not the best part. Just Landed will also calculate how far you are from the airport, and check in on traffic reports to let you know exactly when you should leave your house to arrive at the airport just in time to pick up your visitor and include arrival terminal and gate information. Click on the car icon if you want the fastest route to the airport with turn by turn directions. Available on iphone and android.
BUY THIS
Kurgo Auto Zip Line. In the category of “it’s so damned simple, why didn’t I think of that” is the auto zip line for dogs. There are very few good options for keeping your dog safe in your car. Gates are annoying and tend to rattle. Harness clips are uncomfortable, and restless dogs will end up getting their legs wrapped in the tether. But the Zip Line solves all of that. It runs from one side of the car to the other (either clipped to handles on the roof interior or attached to seatbelts) and gives your pup free reign of the back seat, without allowing them to jump into the front. Great holiday gift for friends with dogs.
DO THIS:
New York, New York: The Anarchist on Broadway. Patti Lupone and Debra Winger @ The Golden Theatre With two powerhouse actresses performing a two character drama written and directed by David Mamet has MUST SEE written all over it. Lupone plays Cathy, who’s spent the last 35 years in jail for her role in the murder of two cops. Winger plays Ann, a departing prison official who can provide the recommendation that can get Cathy released. As with most of Mamet’s work, it’s complex, insightful and asks more questions that it tries to answer. It’s running a limited engagement, so get your tickets now.
- Go to www.theanarchistbroadway.com for more information.
Brooklyn, New York: Max Von Sydow Retrospective @ The Brooklyn Academy Of Music. The film career of Max Von Sydow has been nothing short of extraordinary. He was mentored by Ingmar Bergman and has worked prominently in films by Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. He’s played everyone from Jesus Christ (The Greatest Story Ever Told), an exorcist (The Exorcist), an assassin (Three Days Of The Condor) and Ming The Merciless (Flash Gordon). Now through December 14th, The Brooklyn Academy Of Music will be screening a retrospective of some of his greatest performances.
- You can go towww.bam.org for a full schedule and more information.
Seattle, Washington: The Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long -Seasonal Affective Disorder Yuletide Disaster Pageant on Ice. Join Sufjian Stevens for a holiday sing-along in support of his new Christmas album Silver and Gold. At the Neptune Theater. It’s sold out but you can always head outside and do your best “got 2? got 2?” whisper.
Chicago, Illinois: Mike Doughty, Solo Accoustic at City Winery. If you’re in or near Chicago, go see the great Mike Doughty (formerly of Soul Coughing) on Sunday at 8pm at the City Winery for a solo acoustic performance.
Dallas, Texas: Scarface on the big screen. Celebrate the greatness of director Brian DePalma and see one of our greatest films in it’s original 35mm format just in time to celebrate the films birthday. It will be screening from December 6-9 at The Texas Theater.
Want more Filtered Excellence? Check out Last Week’s List or Visit Unfiltered for Reader Recommendations
