The Filtered Excellence: February 25, 2016
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 31st Independent Spirit Awards. While it doesn’t have the pomp and pageantry of The Oscars, The Independent Spirit Awards has quietly become a much better barometer of assessing the year’s best films. Kate McKinnon and Kumaii Nanjiani will host, with ‘Carol’, ‘Beasts Of No Nation’, ‘Spotlight’, ‘Anomalisa’, and ‘Tangerine’ heavy favorites to have a big night. With a relaxed, uncensored, no frills atmosphere, The Spirit Awards is perfect counter for those who love film, but necessarily don’t like award shows. The 31st Independent Spirit Awards airs live this Saturday at 2pm Eastern on IFC . You can also go to www.ifc.com for more information.
The 88th Annual Academy Awards. The crown jewel of the awards season finally happens this Sunday night. This year’s edition has had its share of drama: The Academy was roundly criticized for it’s lack of diversity among its list of nominees despite strong representations by Black actors and directors from other awards shows (not to mention the box office). This hasn’t been lost on Oscar host Chris Rock who publicly stated that he was re-writing his opening monologue to address the issue. As for the actual awards, its wide open. The Big Short, Spotlight, The Revenant, and The Martian are looking to dominate in the major categories including Best Picture. This year’s field also includes several first time nominees with Rachel McAdams (Spotlight), Brie Larson (‘Room’), Mark Rylance (‘Bridge Of Spies’), Alicia Vikander (‘The Danish Girl’) looking to cap their breakthrough performances with an Oscar win. Sentimentality is also running high with industry vets Sylvester Stallone (‘Creed’), Charlotte Rampling (’45 Years’), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mark Rylance (‘Bridge Of Spies’), George Miller (‘Mad Max: Fury Road) and, of course, Leonardo DiCaprio (‘The Revenant’) all looking to capture (with the exception of Stallone) their first Oscar. History can also happen: Eddie Redmayne can become only the 6th actor ever to win back to back Oscars if he wins for his role in ‘The Danish Girl’, while Alejandro G.Iñárritu is looking to become the first director since 1950 to win consecutive Best Director Awards for his work on ‘The Revenant’. Who will capture Hollywood’s biggest prize? Tune in to ABC Sunday night at 8:30 Eastern. You can also go to www.oscars.go.com for more information.
Mavis! As a member of The Staple Singers, she provided the soundtrack to the American Civil Rights Movement and was the voice behind such hits as ‘I’ll Take You There’ and ‘Respect Yourself’. As a solo artist, her collaborations with Prince and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco introduced her to a new generation of fans at a time most of her contemporaries were slowing down. This new documentary from Jessica Edwards gives us an in-depth look at one of the greatest gospel/soul singers of all time with Bob Dylan, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Cropper, Chuck D and Sharon Jones are among the many people sharing wonderful stories. it’s backed with tons of archival footage as well as recent live performances. But at the heart of it all is Mavis’ warmth, candor and incredible life outlook as she prepares to release her latest album. Backed with tons of archival footage, and live performances, Mavis! is a wonderful salute to one of the pillars of American roots music. It premieres Monday, February 29th at 9pm Eastern on HBO. You can also go to www.hbo.com for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS
EP by Model Decoy. While The Smyrk (an incredibly slept on band that everyone needs to check out) are on hiatus, Vocalist/songwriter Doron Monk Flake (vocals, lyrics) and guitarist Ari Sadowitz have formed Model Decoy, a project so good that it just might eclipse their primary band. This 6 song EP plays to their strengths: Flake’s scary good vocal range and Sadowitz’s blistering guitar work. Unapologetic sci-fi/comic book geeks, its imprint runs throughout. Who else could write a love song based on a love hormone (‘Oxytocin’) or a rocker revolving around The Sub Mariner’s crush on Sue Richards of The Fantastic Four (‘Hearts In Atlantis’)? Slyly mixing art rock with soul, it just might be the swift kick in the biscuits that rock needs right now. Flake has been a star in the making for over a decade now. With this EP, he’s ready for his close up. One of the year’s best. The self titled EP by Model Decoy is available now through Amazon, Itunes and Bandcamp. You can also go to www.modeldecoy.com for more information.
DO THIS
New York City: An Evening With Neil Young. Neil Young’s work as a musician is well documented and speaks for itself. But during his course of his nearly 50 year career, he’s also dabbled in film. Working under the alias, Bernard Shakey, Young has directed a number of films dating back to 1972. Two of his films, the 1979 concert film, ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ and the 1982 comedy Human Highway, will be screened at selected theaters throughout New York City. Young will be on hand to do post screening Q&As to offer more insight and the motivations behind these projects. It promises to be a trippy experience as only Neil Young can provide. ‘An Evening With Neil Young’ happens Monday, February 29th. You can go to www.fathomevents.com or tickets, the list of theaters and more information.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
Read more comedy news, stories, interviews with comedians, videos and comedy clips on our home page. Get more comedy news. Watch more viral videos. Read more interviews with the best comics in the business.
Latest posts by Earl Douglas (see all)
- Earl’s World: The Filtered Excellence: September 7, 2021 - September 7, 2021
- Remembering Fez Whatley - August 15, 2021
- Earl’s World: The Filtered Excellence: July 23, 2021 - July 25, 2021
