The Filtered Excellence: July 10, 2020
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 week’s 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
Perry Mason. The iconic public defender gets a radical makeover in this new HBO series. Set in Depression-era Los Angeles, Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys), isn’t a crusading attorney, but a down and out private investigator living in his family’s crumbling San Fernando Valley dairy farm. Reeling from a divorce and World War I PTSD, he’s hired by long time friend and attorney, E.B. Jonathan (John Lithgow) to help clear Emily Dodson (Gayle Rankin) of charges in a high profile case involving the kidnapping and murder of her infant son. Mason must also contend with Sister Alice (Tatiana Maslany), a celebrated evangelist of a powerful church with close ties to Dodson. As Mason digs deeper, he finds himself in a world of corruption, land grabs and political power plays that will alter the lives of all involved forever. Matthew Rhys puts an entirely different spin on Mason, dripping with cynicism to mask deep rooted hurts, but maintaining a burning desire to bring the truth to life no matter what the cost. Juliet Rylance is excellent as Della Street, an invaluable anchor for Jonathan, Mason, and Dodson in their quest to find the truth. John Lithgow adds a strong, formidable veteran presence to the role of the aging defense attorney, playing both mentor and driving force behind the case. Tatiana Maslany brings the fire and brimstone as the charismatic Sister Alice, whose desire to rescue Dodson from the gallows slowly reveals her own need for personal salvation. Shea Wingham provides biting, often humorous interplay as Mason’s PI wingman Pete Strickland and Chris Chalk completely flips the script as Officer Paul Drake, here being portrayed as a black cop facing as much racism in the squad room as he is on the beat. Then there’s the always wonderful Lili Taylor as Sister Alice’s mother Birdie, who’s nervous about how her daughter’s role will play out with her growing ministry. With great set pieces and wonderful direction by Tim Van Patton, this is a series that should be heavily considered during awards season. One of the year’s best. Perry Mason airs Sunday night at 9pm on HBO. You can also go to www.hbo.com for more information.
Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story Of Roy Cohn. The life and times of Roy Cohn, who is described by his cousin, author David L. Marcus, as ‘the personification of evil’ is the subject of this new HBO documentary. What makes this doc even more telling is that it’s directed by Ivy Meeropol, the granddaughter of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, whom Cohn successfully got executed on spying charges. Using various interviews Cohn gave through the years and archival footage, Meerpol shows how a Jewish kid from The Bronx quickly rose in the legal ranks, securing notable convictions of suspected Soviet operatives, and culminating with the Rosenberg case. At the request of J. Edgar Hoover, Cohn became chief counsel for Senator Joseph McCarthy at the height of the Communist witch hunts – all before the age of 25. The doc also chronicles how Cohn, despite crashing and burning with McCarthy, was able to rebound in private practice, representing everyone from mobsters to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, financiers and club owners; New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, to real estate mogul Donald Trump. The film also recounts Cohn’s continued political influence, informally advising Presidents Nixon and Reagan, and having considerable sway over Congressmen and Senators. Meeropol also recalls Cohn’s many contradictions: a lover of money and finer things who notoriously refused to pay taxes and skipped out on bills; a registered Democrat who actively supported Republican candidates and positions; a person who believed in law and order but was heavily involved with money laundering and witness tampering; and as a gay man who stayed in the closet, helped shape strong anti-LGBTQ policy and refused to acknowledge that he had AIDS. Meeropol also dives into the Rosenberg case, speaking with her father about how he unsuccessfully tried to get Cohn to admit to the illegal tactics that would have spared his parents for execution. She also shows how, nearly 35 years after his death, Cohn’s influence can still be felt both in the courtroom and at the highest levels of political power. With remembrances from Cohn’s family, enemies and the few friends that will speak favorably of him, Meeropol has put together a portrait of one of the most complex and polarizing figures in American history. Bully. Coward. Victim: The Story Of Roy Cohn is available now on HBO and HBO Max.
The Chi. Towards the end of Season 2, the writers and producers of the critically acclaimed Showtime series were left scrambling when Jason Mitchell, who played the show’s central character, Brendon Johnson, was fired after allegations of on-set sexual misconduct surfaced. It can be death for a show, but Brandon’s departure is powerfully addressed in the first 15 minutes of the season opener, with his mother Laverne’s (Sonja Sohn) sobering eulogy that’s a grim reminder of the ongoing gun violence that continues to crush the city. The remaining characters are painted with a broader brush: Kevin (Alex Hibberd) is still working through the grief of losing his father and Brandon; trying to stay close with his friends Papa (Shannon Brown) and Jake (Michael Epps); adjust to his mother’s new marriage, and being one of the few black students at an elite school. Jake’s long lost brother Trig (Luke James) comes back, looking to avenge his brother Reg’s death and get Jake back from the shadowy Otis ‘Douda’ Perry (Curtiss Cook). Emmett (Jacob Latimore), struggles to balance fatherhood with attempting to grow as an entrepreneur, while Emmett’s mother Jada (Yolanda Ross), continues her search for true love. Ronnie (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), still ostracized for his role in the death of Brandon’s brother, is now living on the streets. After previously tackling gun violence and gentrification, this season’s arc will focus on the plight of missing Black girls, as the community rallies to find Kevin’s sister Kiesha (Birgundi Baker), who has mysteriously disappeared. The show, as always, celebrates the city of Chicago and the people who live in it, confronting and overcoming the challenges that come with living in the Windy City. Transitional seasons are often difficult, but Waite, her crew and the cast make it look seamless. The Chi airs Sunday nights at 9pm on Showtime. You can also go to www.sho.com for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS
Monovision by Ray LaMontague. After exploring space rock and psychedelia on his previous two releases, Ray LaMontague gets back to basics for his fourth album in six years. It’s truly a one man show with the Canadian singer-songwriter producing, engineering and playing all of the instruments, but he pulls it off expertly, avoiding all of the pitfalls that can come with DIY recording. Musically, it evokes such classic albums as Harvest, Astral Weeks, and Every Picture Tells A Story, but with all of the hallmarks that have been synonymous with LaMontague. Whether you want to wind your day down or looking for calm in the midst of a hectic day, LaMontague has put together a collection of songs that showcases an artist in the midst of a career peak. One of the year’s best. Monovision by Ray LaMontague is available now through Amazon, Apple Music and all major streaming services.
Juneteenth: Mixtape 2020. Spearheaded by Bryan Edwards and Kelsey Warren, this 20 song mix tape features some of the best Black independent artists making their voices heard in the midst of the current political climate. New tracks by Fantastic Negrito, Blak Emoji, Militia Vox, Marcus Machado, The Veldt, Van Hunt, and Akie Bermiss are among all of the standout tracks that address the many issues that a person of color has to face in the United States. Whether you like guitar driven rock n roll, slow broiling blues, deep brooding, high powered electro-funk, shoegaze, industrial, or folk-based R&B, this collection has it all and more. Proceeds from the album will go to Black Lives Matter and SisterSong. Juneteenth: Mixtape 2020 is available exclusively through Bandcamp.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s the filtered excellence.
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