The Filtered Excellence: October 31, 2013

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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:

Dallas Buyers Club Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto. In 1985, Ron Woodroof, a hard partying cowboy is diagnosed as HIV-positive and is given 30 days to live. His friends all but desert him and AZT, the only FDA-approved drug to help fight disease nearly kills him. He takes matters into his own hands, combing the globe for alternative treatments using all legal – and illegal – means to do so. He would later join forces with his doctor and ia fellow patient to form The Dallas Buyers Club, which would provide paying members the alternative treatments needed to keep them alive. Woodroof’s story is the basis of a new film by Jean-Marc Vallee. McConaughney is fantastic as Woodroof, who evolves from homophobic and self-absorbed into an compassionate, AIDS advocate. He has been on quite a roll after being released from rom com jail. Garner is rock solid as Dr. Eve Sacks, who is initially skeptical of Woodroof’s plan, but later becomes his staunchest ally. The revelation is Jared Leto who plays Rayon, a transgender woman, who starts as a client, but becomes a key player in the new business. Leto – who lost 30 pounds for the role – brings warmth, empathy, yet remains firm and tough – especially when dealing with Woodroof’s homophobia. McConaughney is the film’s heart, but its Leto who gives it soul. Dallas Buyers Club is a fascinating look at one of the unsung heroes in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It opens this Friday nationwide.

Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story. This new documentary by Franklin Martin tells the story of Kevin Laue, who made NCAA history by becoming the first Division 1 college basketball player to play with a disability. Born with an arm that ended just below the elbow, Laue had to deal with the death of his father at an early age and coaches who refused to let him try out, much less play for their teams. But thanks sheer perseverance, Laue not only got to play high school basketball, but his on court skills helped make collegiate history. Martin, who learned saw the California native’s skills on display while coaching against him in an AAU tournament, befriended Laue and spent the next four years documenting his pursuit of a dream. It’s a dream that took them from California, Virginia, Pittsburgh, New York City and even the runway to Air Force One. This is an exceptional look at how anyone can overcome life’s obstacles and follow their passion. An extraordinary film about an extraordinary person. Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story opens in L.A. this weekend and on select cities on the East Coast on November 8th.

Big Sur. Based on the 1962 book “Big Sur” by Jack Kerouac, the film directed by Michael Polish, is adaptation on the Kerouac’s novel of his traveling to Big Sur, California to find some solitude from the anxiety and pressure of his rising popularity along with his increasing problem with alcoholism. The film stars Jean-Marc Barr as Jack Kerouac and Kate Bosworth as Billie Dabney.

Move Me Brightly: Celebrating Jerry Garcia’s 70th Birthday. Last year, in honor of Jerry Garcia’s 70th birthday, Bob Weir put together a 5 hour concert at his TRI Studios in San Rafael, California. Musicians, including members of Vampire Weekend, the Hold Steady, and Phish joined Weir onstage, where they joined in on Dead songs like “The Wheel,” “Cumberland Blues” and “Goin’ Down the Road, and Feelin’ Bad.” The concert tribute was documented and is now available to watch. It also includes interviews with the family and friends of Jerry Garcia.

American Masters: Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin’. As part of a year long celebration of what would have been Jimi Hendrix’s 70th birthday, PBS presents the 2 hour film about his life and career, “Hear My Train A Comin'”. This film uses archive footage and interviews to let Hendrix tell his story in his own words. It traces the guitar genius from his beginnings in Seattle to his army career to international success. There’s also commentary from friends and musicians including including Paul McCartney, band members Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, long-time sound engineer Eddie Kramer; Steve Winwood, Vernon Reid, Billy Gibbons, Dweezil Zappa and Dave Mason. “Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin'” airs Tuesday, November 5th at 9pm Eastern on PBS. Make sure to check your local Public Broadcasting listings.

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READ THIS:

Eminent Hipsters by Donald Fagen. Part memoir and part appreciation, Eminent Hipsters has Fagen recalls his days growing up in suburban New Jersey and how science fiction, radio shows by Jean Shepherd, Mort Fega and trips to New York City to hear jazz left a permanent mark on his life and his music. He also recalls how his days at the progressive Bard College – and how he met future Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker – put him on the path that he still walks today. The book then flashes forward to 2012 where Fagen gives a cranky, honest and at times biting account of the tour that he did with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald as The Dukes Of September. Sharp and incisively written, Eminent Hipsters is a fascinating look into the mind of one of the rock’s most paradoxical artists.

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LISTEN TO THIS:

Black Radio 2 – The Robert Glasper Experiment. Keyboardist Robert Glasper felt like jazz as a genre needed ‘a big ass slap’. HIs 2012 album Black Radio was designed to do something about it. Teaming with artists from the worlds of R&B (Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Bilal) hip hop (Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco) and putting a new spin on a rock songs by David Bowie (‘Letter To Hermione’) and Nirvana (‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’), Glasper far exceeded expectations: The album hit No 1 on the Billboard Jazz charts, peaked at #4 on the R&B charts and reached #15 on the Album charts. Black Radio also won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. For the follow-up, Glasper doesn’t stray too far from the formula – this time, it’s Norah Jones, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, Emeli Sande and Brandy representing jazz and R&B. The bigger curve balls come through some unlikely pairings. On ‘I Stand Alone’, Common raps as Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy delivers the hook. Lalah Hathaway, daughter of the late Donny Hathaway sings a smoky version of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Jesus Children Of America’ alongside former Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who’s also an accomplished bass player. Macy Gray and the painfully underrated hip hopper Jean Grae team up for ‘I Don’t Care’, while ‘Presevere’ features rising R&B star Luke James is paired with a returning Lupe Fiasco and Snoop Dogg. As he did with with the last album, Black Radio 2 closes with Glasper reinventing a classic. This time, it’s Bill Withers ‘Lovely Day’ with Glasper handling vocoder-heavy lead vocals. It’s a worthy follow up that continues to give jazz its much needed jump start.

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 DO THIS:

QUEENS, NEW YORK:  Lou Reed’s Berlin. The Museum of the Moving Image will have a tribute screening of “Berlin” in honor of the late Lou Reed on Saturday, November 2nd at 7:30pm in Astoria, Queens. The film was directed by Julian Schnabel and shows Lou performing his album “Berlin”, 30 years after it was released. It was performed over 5 nights and shot at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn. The amazing event film ends with an incredible rendition of “Sweet Jane”.

PLYMOUTH, NH: Arlo Guthrie. The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center will be hosting folk legend Arlo Guthrie. He will be performing his songs and stories that made him a part of the social consciousness of the late 1960s which he continues to be today. Arlo performs Thursday, November 7th at 7:30pm.

AUSTIN,TEXAS:  Tito’s Hometown Shindig. No one says ‘thank you” like Tito Beveridge from Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito wants to show his appreciation to Austin by throwing a party. Tito’s Hometown Shindig is Sunday, November 3rd starting at 6:30pm at Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater. Performances include Hardproof Afrobeat, Henry & The Invisibles and DJ Mel.

 

Interrobang Staff

Interrobang Staff