The Filtered Excellence: July 25, 2013
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:
Blue Jasmine starring Cate Blanchett. Written & Directed by Woody Allen. Woody’s 44th film stars Blanchett in the title role, a woman who has re-invented herself as one of wealth and taste, yet falls hard from grace after her Madoff-like husband (played by Alec Baldwin) takes off with their money and his clients money. Broke and humilated, Jasmine has to re-locate to San Francisco to live with her blue collar sister and deal with her sister’s suitors (including one played by Louis CK), former brother-in-law (played by Andrew Dice Clay) and take a job as a receptionist for a boss who awkwardly and uncomfortably comes onto her. Though its laced with comedic touches, Blue Jasmine is replete with more conflict and drama. Dice and Louis CK are excellent in their supporting roles. Blue Jasmine is a nice chance of pace from the usual CGI shoot em ups that are out there now. Blue Jasmine opens this Friday.
Fruitvale Station starring Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz and Octavia Spencer. Forest Whitaker produced this powerful Ryan Coogler film based on the life of Oscar Grant, a 22 year old Bay Area resident who was shot and killed on New Year’s Eve 2008 by police despite being unarmed and handcuffed. Grant’s death sparked protests and riots and re-opened the national debate on police brutality. The film looks at Grant’s last day and his efforts to overcome a prison stint and fractured relationships with his girlfriend (Diaz), their daughter and his mother (Spencer). Jordan has a star making role as Grant: He captures Grant’s frustrations and sensitivities perfectly. Spencer, last year’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner for The Help, proves she is here to stay as Grant’s mother. There’s already buzz that she might go back to back at next year’s ceremony. Fruitvale Station is the little movie that could – it stays with you long after its over. It’s in theaters now.
Orange Is The New Black. The brand new Netflix original series about a Brooklyn woman who finds herself serving a 15 month sentence in a women’s prison is available for streaming. The drama-comedy stars Taylor Schilling, Kate Mulgrew, Jason Biggs and Natasha Lyonne. All 13 episodes of the first season are now available.
The Good Son: The Life of Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini. This is the documentary about the life of one the most popular lightweight champions in boxing history, Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini. Based on the book, “The Good Son” by Mark Kriegel, the film goes through Ray’s life as he follows in his father Frank’s footsteps into boxing and the tragic consequences after his match with South Korea’s Duk Koo Kim where Kim died from his injuries. The doc shows how Mancini and boxing were both changed by that fight. “The Good Son” is available On Demand and on iTunes.
CONCACAF Gold Cup Final. Coming off a huge win against Honduras, Team USA heads into the Gold Cup Championship against Panama. Landon Donovan who leads the tournament in assists and has 5 goals so far in Gold Cup play this year, leads the USA into Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday for the title game. Coverage starts at 3:30pm Eastern on FOX.
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LISTEN TO THIS:
Pura Vida Conspiracy by Gogol Bordello. (In stores & everywhere including Spotify as of July 23) Gogol Bordello’s new album Pura Vida Conspiracy is pure energy and one of the band’s absolute best albums to date. They weren’t kidding when they promised on 2010’s Transcontinental Hustle, “We’re coming rougher every time!” The latest from Gogol Bordello, led by the always super charismatic Eugene Hutz, is brimming with with joy and rambunction that only their patented blend of traditional Eastern European gypsy music and punk rock can provide. It’s acoustic, it’s electric, it’s a complete frenzy of sound and spirit. There’s no band like Gogol Bordello anywhere. Killer new tracks include the opening, “We Rise Again,” and the slightly subdued yet totally potent, “I Just Realized,” followed by the raspy raucous cries of the melodic, “Gypsy Autopilot.” AND be on the lookout for Eugene and crew, cause they’re touring currently. They destroy live. Attending one of their live shows is simply some of the most fun a person can have.
- Get information on the tour at http://www.gogolbordello.com/tour/future/.
- Order Pura Vida Conspiracy
on Amazon.com
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DO THIS:
ON TOUR: NEW YORK: The Americanarama Tour featuring Bob Dylan, Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Ryan Bingham. This killer bill features artists who manage to honor American roots music yet taking it to entirely new heights. This stretch of Dylan’s Never Ending Tour is in support of his latest album Tempest and the forthcoming release of his ongoing ‘Bootleg Series’. Wilco is on the road behind their latest album This Whole World and a box set of recordings they made with Billy Bragg featuring the lyrics of Woody Guthrie; My Morning Jacket and Ryan Bingham (who co-wrote the Oscar winning song ‘The Weary Kind’ for the film Crazy Love), round out the lineup. A solid day of music from the heartland – and from the heart. The Americanarama Tour will be at Pier A in Hoboken on Friday and Jones Beach on July 27th (with Beck replacing MMJ on the bill!). One of the can’t miss shows of the summer!
ON TOUR: NEW YORK: Paul Weller. The former Jam & Style Council frontman is currently touring the States behind his latest album Sonic Kick, which debuted at #1 on the UK Album Charts. Expect a healthy selection from the new album along with tons of Jam & Style Council classics. A much welcomed return to the man known by fans as ‘The Modfather’. He doesn’t play in the States very often so this is a rare treat to see this musical icon live. His latest CD is Sonik Kicks and a new Style Counsel box set was just released last week. Paul Weller will be at Webster Hall in NYC on July 26th and at The Music Hall Of Williamsburg on July 27th.
ON TOUR: NEW YORK: Robert Plant Presents The Sensational Space Shifters @ Celebrate Brooklyn 7/27. Plant passed on a Led Zeppelin reunion tour to embark on his latest project: Fronting a 6 piece band that explores Plant’s love for blues, psychedelia, folk, early rock n roll, Texas two-step, world music and British dubstep. Don’t worrry: There’s plenty of Zeppelin classics and solo hits, but with a sonic makeover. This performance is a benefit for Celebrate Brooklyn, so tickets are a bit pricey ($80 for reserved seats, $50 for GA), but it’s still considerably lower than what you would be paying to see Zeppelin in a stadium.
- You can go to bricartsmedia.com for info.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome Conference featuring Temple Grandin. Billed as “the most famous person in the world on the Autism spectrum”, Dr. Temple Grandin will be telling her amazing story and addressing the latest changes to the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders” and how that will affect the diagnosis and treatment of Autism. The conference will be held at the Campbell Heritage Theatre on Friday, July 26th. Dr. Grandin is scheduled to speak at 1pm.
- For more information, go to fhautism.com
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Werner Herzog’s “Hearsay of the Soul”. Academy Award nominated director Werner Herzog presents his first video art installation at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Brentwood. The 18 minute presentation features a five-channel video with etchings from Dutch artist Hercules Segers combined with the experimental music of Dutch composer Ernst Reijsger. The project is on display starting this week and running through January 19th.
