The Filtered Excellence: October 15, 2015
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:
Amy Schumer: Live At the Apollo. Amy Schumer caps off her breakout year with a Chris Rock-directed special taped at the historic Apollo Theater. Whether she’s riffing on fame, dating, sex, sexism in Hollywood and body issues, Schumer brings it with candor and cringe inducing insight, but always with a sly wink, smile, and, of course, a lot of biting humor. It reinforces yet again why Amy Schumer is one of, if not the best comic on the circuit right now. HBO is billing it as ‘The Comedy Event Of The Year’ and there are spot on. Amy Schumer: Live At The Apollo premieres Saturday at 10pm Eastern on HBO. You can go to www.hbo.com for more information.
MLB Championship Series. The road to the World Series continues this weekend with the start of the League Championship Series. The National League will feature two franchises looking to reverse fortunes as the New York Mets will host the Chicago Cubs. Led by the unpredictable Joe Maddon, the Cubs put together an extraordinary 2nd half behind the pitching of Jake Arrieta and the hitting of young starts such as Kris Bryant. After stunning the heavily favored Cardinals, the Cubs are looking to win their first pennant since 1945. Many thought the Mets were still a year away from making a postseason run, but behind the power pitching of Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey and with the addition of Yoenis Cepedes to the lineup, the Mets are trying to get back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2000. In the American League, the Kansas City Royals had to go five grinding games with the Houston Astros in order to take another stab at making their 2nd straight World Series appearance. The Toronto Blue Jays made a serious of moves at the trading deadline to put together an extraordinary second half and win their first division title in 22 years. Then they had to outlast the Texas Rangers in a memorable Game 5 of the ALDS to advance. Which team will come out on top? Find out this weekend as the action starts Friday night on FOX and TBS this weekend. Go to www.mlb.com to a complete schedule.
All Things Must Pass. When Russ Solomon opened Tower Records in 1960, he was selling used jukebox records out of a storefront for three cents apiece. Nearly 40 years, there were 200 hundred stores in 30 countries and five continents. Sales reached over 1 billion dollars and Tower Records became the epicenter of the music industry. More of a clubhouse than a retail outlet, fans and musicians wanted to be there and hang with a staff that blared their favorite music out of the store speakers. Record signings became must see events. Yet by 2006, the party ended when Tower Records filed for bankruptcy. How did it all crash so fast? That is the basis of this new documentary actor/director Colin Hanks. He speaks with Solomon, former employees (including Dave Grohl), industry titans (David Geffen) and artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Elton John to tell some of their favorite stories about the impact this chain had on their lives and careers. Hanks also goes into depth about the chain of events within the industry and pop culture that signaled the end of their 40 plus year run. It’s a celebration of how one person’s vision can truly spark a movement and how one record chain unified several generations of music fans. All Things Must Pass opens this Friday. You can also go to www.towerrecordsmovie.com for more information.
Bridge of Spies. The latest collaboration between Steven Spieiberg and Tom Hanks takes us back to the height of The Cold War. Hanks plays James Donovan, a former insurance lawyer who is drafted by the C.I.A. to defend Russian spy Rudolf Abel on espionage charges. It’s an open and shut case, but Donovan does succeed in sparing Abel the electric chair. When U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers is captured by the Russians during a surveillance mission a few years later, Donovan must go to into the heart of East Germany (during the construction of the Berlin Wall) to negotiate the swap of Powers for Abel. Working off a script by The Coen Brothers and Matt Charman, Spielberg puts his own stamp on the espionage thriller but also pays homage to such classics as The Third Man. He also does not shy away from the political and moral gray areas that Donovan faces: The line between who’s good and bad is only determined by whose side you’re on. Hanks delivers another outstanding performance as Donovan, the Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself a key player in a conflict that could have global consequences. Everyone is on their A-game and don’t be surprised if this film finds itself a favorite in the coming awards season. Bridge Of Spies opens this Friday. You can go to www.BridgeOfSpies.com for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS:
Black Tea: The Legend of Jessi James by Jessica Care Moore. Poet, activist, publisher, and parent, Jessica Care Moore is a one-woman movement. She now adds musician to her extensive resume with the release of her new album Black Tea: The Legend Of Jessi James. Blues, jazz, rock and hip hop are all featured throughout, running alongside Moore’s observations on race, identity, self-worth, her love her native Detroit, and the world at large. With collaborations with Talib Kweli, Imani Uzuri, Roy Ayers, Jose James, One Belo and Ursula Rucker, Moore had put together an album that should elevate her already legendary status in spoken word, poetry and now, music. She’s the real deal. Black Tea: The Legend Of Jessi James is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to www.jessicacaremoore.com for additional info.
DO THIS:
New York City: Open House New York. Since 2001, Open House NYC offers exclusive access to over 150 architectural sites, private homes and city landmarks throughout the 5 boroughs. Whether its the African Burial Grounds in Tribeca, the Alice Austen House in Staten Island, the Marine Air Terminal in Queens, the New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx or the recently opened 34th Street station at Hudson Yards, Open House NYC provides a greater appreciation of the city’s history and salutes its architecture and design. A great event for Native New Yorkers and for those visiting for the first time. Open House NYC runs October 17thand 18th. Go to www.ohny.org for a complete list of events, reservations and more information.
Los Angles: Front Porch Cinema. The popcorn movie season might be over, but this month long free movie series based on the Santa Monica Pier provides a beautiful backdrop for fans of the big screen. This series will include the Academy Award winning film The Imitation Game, Guardians of The Galaxy and will wrap up with a Halloween screening of the 1984 classic Ghostbusters. Great movies and food – with a spectacular sunset on the Coast – will turn your movie going experience up a notch. Go towww.santamonicapier.org for more information.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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