The Filtered Excellence: March 8, 2021
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
Coming 2 America. Eddie Murphy reprises his role as Prince Akeem of Zamunda in this sequel to the 1988 classic. Set 30 years after the original, Akeem is visiting his ailing father King Jaffe (James Earl Jones), and learns that he fathered a son during his stay in Queens. Since Zamundian traditions for a male heir to ascend to the throne, Akeem – along with his trusted friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) – travel go back to Queens to find his son. But instead of finding a man with royal attributes, they find Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler), a wise-cracking ticket reseller with no long term prospects. After awkward introductions and an uncomfortable reconnection with Lavelle’s mother Mary (Leslie Jones), Akeem takes them back to Zamunda to take his rightful place within the throne. As expected, the transition isn’t easy, as Lavelle and Mary’s street sensibilities clash with Zamunda’s grand, rich, and at times, rigid traditions. While the film remains a showcase for Murphy and the characters that he created, it also gives its co-stars a chance to shine. Fowler delivers a breakout performance as Lavelle, more than holding his own among such comedic greats. Leslie Jones puts in a hilarious turn as Lavelle’s proudly ‘hood mother, as does Tracy Morgan as Mary’s brother Reem. Other standout performances includes KiKi Layne as Akeem’s oldest daughter Meeka and a scene stealing turn by Wesley Snipes as Nextdoria’s military dictator General Izzi. Director Craig Brewer, teaming with the original film’s screenwriters Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, and Kenya Barris (black-ish), pull off the difficult task of giving original and new cast members balancing act of ample screen time, while adding in a couple of sly callbacks along the way. Nostalgic and new at the same time, it’s another feather in the Murphy comeback cap. Coming 2 America is available now on Amazon Prime.
Nationtime. Looking to get a formalized agenda ahead of the 1972 Presidential election, The National Black Political Convention was held in Gary, Indiana. The three-day event drew 10,000, with The Reverend Jesse Jackson, Gary Mayor Richard Hatcher, Congressman Charles Diggs, Coretta Scott King, Dr. Betty Shabazz, Bobby Seale, Amir Baraka, Dick Gregory, Harry Belafonte, Richard Roundtree, Issac Hayes, discussing the best path to deal with the social and economic issues affecting the Black community. Acclaimed filmmaker William Greaves documented the event, with plans to have the documentary air on television. Network executives thought the convention’s message was too ‘militant’, and when it aired, the film was heavily redacted. Thanks to IndieCollect – with a huge assist from Jane Fonda – Graves’ original 80 minute cut has been restored. To see civil rights icons Jackson, Baraka, Seale at the height of their political ascendency is worth viewing alone, but you also get to see the seeds that were planted that led to Barack Obama’s Presidency, the Black Lives Matter movement and how Blacks played a vital role in the 2020 election. It’s an astonishing look back at an important moment in the American Civil Rights campaign. Nationtime is available now on The Criterion Channel.
LISTEN TO THIS
The Live Series: Songs Undercover, Vol 2 by Bruce Springsteen. Throughout his performing career, Bruce Springsteen has used his platform to honor his musical heroes and peers. The 2nd installment of the ‘Songs Undercover’ set from his Live Series, finds Bruce and The E Street Band getting back to their bar band roots and covering some of their favorite songs. It features material made famous by early rockers Elvis, Buddy Holly, Jackie Wilson and The Ronettes (‘Love Me Tender, Rave On, Lonely Teardrops, And Then She Kissed Me), R&B (Mountain Of Love, Drift Away) and 60s rock (Who’ll Stop The Rain, Goin’ Back). There’s also all-star duets with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt (Stay, Highway 61 Revisited), Southside Johnny (It’s Been A Long Time) and a version of Lorde’s ‘Royals’ recorded in New Zealand. Bruce and the band also honor fallen friend Joe Strummer with ‘Clampdown’, and perform a raucous version of ‘Rebel Rebel’ that was recorded a week after Bowie’s passing. It’s Bruce where he was meant to be, in front of rabid crowd, playing some of rock’s all time greatest songs. A welcome addition to the Springsteen canon. The Live Series: Songs Undercover, Vol 2 by Bruce Springsteen is available now on
DO THIS
New York City City/Game: Basketball In New York. The Museum of The City Of New York has teamed up with ESPN, the NBA, and the WNBA for this new exhibit that highlights the city’s endearing love for the sport. From schoolyards, street corners and gyms to Rucker Park, Madison Square Garden and The Barclays Center, you hear see photos and hear stories featuring some of the game’s greatest players including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier, Nancy Lieberman, Tina Charles, Kevin Durant and much more. It’s an exhibit that cuts across ethic lines, class status and shows why basketball has, and always will be, a city game. City/Game: Basketball In New York will be at The Museum Of The City of New York through May 23rd. You can also go to www.mcny.org for tickets and more information.
Grief And Grievance: Art And Mourning In America. 2020 saw Black Americans collectively express the collective loss, mourning and commemoration for those lost to racial violence. Shortly before his death, poet, writer and educator Okwui Enwezor curated this multimedia exhibit featuring the works of 37 artists encompassing the worlds of video, painting, sculpture, photography and performance that best captured the overall feeling of last year and throughout American history. Jean-Paul Basquiat, Kara Walker, Dawoud Bey, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Arthur Jafa, Jennie C. Jones, Garrett Bradley, Kerry James Marshall, and Carrie Mae Weems are just some of the artists featured with many of the works done specifically for this exhibition. As the country begins to come to grips with its past, this is an extraordinary look at how Black artists were able to turn their pain into art. Grief And Grievance: Art And Mourning In America will be at The New Museum through June 27th.
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
