The Filtered Excellence: November 12, 2015

bill brilstein

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:

U2- Innocence + Experience Live In Paris.  Recorded live at the Bercy Arena in Paris, U2 delivers a career spanning set featuring material from their 1980 debut album Boy right up to their latest, Songs Of Innocence.  Directed by long time collaborator/director Hamish Hamilton, this latest special not only captures the band in fine form, it also placing emphasis on their state of the art stage show.  There’s an arena-size interactive floor to ceiling LED screen that moves throughout the venue in various stages of the performance making every seat an intimate one.  This technology enhances the songs without consuming the band, something that is very difficult to do within the confines of an arena.  Under Hamilton’s direction, the concert special is given a much needed shot in the arm and with 35 years of incredible songs, its the next best thing to being at an actual U2 show.  U2 – Innocence + Experience Live In Paris premieresSaturday, November 14th at 9pm.  You can go to www.hbo.com or www.U2.com for more information.

Steve McQueen: The Man and Le Mans.  As the 60s came to a close, Hollywood had its new ‘King Of Cool’:  Steve McQueen.  With such films as The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Cincinnati Kid, The Sand Pebbles, Bullitt, and The Thomas Crown Affair, McQueen now had the clout to make Le Mans, a project that would combine his love for acting with his other passion, auto racing.  But when production wrapped on the film, director John Struges (who directed McQueen in The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape) left the project, driver David Piper lost part of his leg filming a dangerous action scene, and McQueen, already paranoid from learning that he and his family were on Charles Manson’s death list, became so demanding, stubborn and self-destructive that it drove the film dangerously over budget.  It also left many of his personal relationships – including his marriage – in shambles.  Things got so fractured that even McQueen disassociated himself from his own dream project: He was a no show at the premiere and gave up auto racing.  When it was finally released in 1971, Le Mans was trashed by critics and flopped at the box office. But auto racing fans consider the film as one of the most accurate depictions of the sport and has reached cult classic status.  In this new documentary, directors Gabriel Clarke and John McKenna look back at the troubled shoot and its impact on McQueen’s career and on auto racing.  With new interviews with McQueen’s former wife Nellie Adams, his son Chad, and surviving members of the cast and crew, we get an insider’s look at a production that marked a turning point in the late actor’s life.  There’s also a wealth of previously unseen footage that was originally thought to be lost, including a ‘making of’ documentary that was intended to be used to coincide with the film’s release.  Finally, using rare interviews and home recordings, we hear McQueen talking about making Le Mans and the numerous obstacles that he had to overcome to finish it.  It’s a probing and insightful look at one of Hollywood’s most enduring – and complex – stars.  Steve McQueen:  The Man And Le Mans opens this Friday.  You can also go towww.themanlemans.com for more information.

LISTEN TO THIS:

Crush by Lettuce. Since their formation in 1992 while they were still in college, Lettuce has been killing audiences worldwide with their brand of 70s influenced funk and soul.  After taking a bit of a hiatus to work on various side projects, Lettuce is back with their 4th album, Crush.  Its hard to believe that a couple of years have passed since releases because they sound harder, tighter and more focused than ever.  Crisp, punchy horns, tight grooves, gun shot snares, piercing guitar lines capped off with otherworldly keys, run throughout the 15 song set, while capturing  the essence of their amazing live show.  Running like a funky soundtrack to a cool movie, Crush is a much needed return to one of the best bands working today.  Its available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers.  You can also go to www.lettucefunk.com for tour dates and more information.

The Bootleg Series Volume 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966 by Bob Dylan. The latest edition of the ‘Bootleg Series’ captures Dylan at an artistic and commercial zenith that would produce the seminal albums Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde On Blonde.  What it best documents is the breakneck speed of how the songs evolved from take to take.  It also captures the joy and energy of the sessions, with various takes often being interrupted by fits of laughter and just the sheer joy of creating music.  Whether you check out the 2-CD version or the deluxe 6-CD edition, you will have a front row seat as Dylan – with a huge assist by The Band, Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, John Sebastian, and Joe South, among others – transforms from folk hero to full scale rock icon.  Here’s ground zero to one of rock’s greatest revolutions.  The Bootleg Series Volume 12 is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers.  You can also go towww.bobdylan.com for more information.

READ THIS:

Disco: The Bill Bernstein Photographs. When The Village Voice assigned photographer Bill Bernstein to cover an awards dinner honoring Lillian Carter (mother of President Jimmy Carter) at Studio 54, he had no idea that it would open up a portal to a nightlife scene that New York City hadn’t seen before or since.  Bernstein shot the event, but then chose to stick around for the regular 54 crowd that came in that night.  It began a journey that put him in the heart of such spots as Studio 54, The Mudd Club, Hurrah’s, Roseland, and Paradise Garage.   He also witnessed the gay rights, women’s liberation and racial equality in full bloom and played out on the dance floor and roller discos.  Shifting times and the AIDS epidemic brought the party to an abrupt halt, but with the release of his new book Disco, Bernstein wonderfully documents this period of social, political and cultural upheaval with astonishing detail.  If you were remember those days, its a great keepsake.  If you’re weren’t, this perfectly shows what all the fuss was about.  Disco – The Bill Bernstein Photographs is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all major book retailers.  You can also go to www.billbernstein.com for more info.

DO THIS:

New York City: Lazarus at the New York Theater Workshop. The project that has had the theater community buzzing for months is finally rolling out next week.  Details have been scant, but here’s what we do know:  David Bowie and Enda Walsh (Once) co-wrote the production, which is based on Walter Tevis’ novel and Nicolas Roeg film, The Man Who Fell To Earth and according to various reports, will pick up the story after the events in both the film and the book.  Bowie has also written new music for the production as well as re-worked some of his classic material.   Michael C. Hall will star as Thomas Newton, the alien who comes to Earth in search of water for his drought-ridden home planet, but instead becomes the head of a powerful conglomerate.  Given all of the talent attached to this project – not to mention that Bowie is in the midst of yet another career renaissance – this musical will more than meet expectations.  Lazarus opens November 18th at The New York City Theatre Workshop.  You can go to www.newyorkcitytheatre.com for tickets and more information.

New York City: Doc NYC. The country’s largest documentary film festival is back for its 6th year and it’s bigger than ever.  Over 150 films will be featured with several already generating Oscar buzz.  Among those making their debut:  Michael Moore’s latest Where To Invade Next; Thank You For Your Service, Tom Donahue’s crushing look at Iraqi War veterans struggles with PTSD; Barbara Kopple’s Miss Sharon Jones! which chronicles the singer’s life following her year long battle with cancer; and Hitchcock/Truffaut, Kent Jones’ look at how extended conversations the two legendary directors engaged in about film making became the basis for a ‘how to’ textbook for future directors.  The documentary format was exploded in the last decade and DOC NYC has become the go to festival to see what’s coming down the pike.  DOC NYC will take place from November 12th through the 19th.  You can go to www.docnyc.net for a complete list of films, tickets and additional information.

Los Angeles: An Evening with Michael Mann.  Director Michael Mann (Miami Vice, Heat, The Insider, Collateral) sits down with Variety editor Kris Tapley to discuss in length, his long and storied career.  Among some of the things that will be covered:  how Mann uses location to enhance his films’ characters; working with Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Will Smith, and Jamie Foxx, among others; plus his plans to make a film based on the life of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari.  A great chance to get inside the mind of one of cinema’s best auteurs.  An Evening With Michael Mann will take place this Friday at Vidiots.  Go towww.vidiotsfoundation.org for more info.

 


Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends

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Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.
Earl Douglas
Earl Douglas
Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.