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:
*****************
WATCH THIS:
American Hustle. The latest from writer-director David O. Russell (Three Kings, The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook) has already generated strong Oscar buzz and for good reason: It reunites Russell with Jennifer Lawrence and Christian Bale (who won their Oscars in Russell-directed films) along with Bradley Cooper, who cemented his A-list status after his Academy Award-nominated role in Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook. Based on the FBI-led Abscam stings in the late 70s, American Hustle stars Bale as Irving Rosenfeld, a con man, who along with his partner and mistress Sydney Prosser (played by Amy Adams) are forced to work for high strung FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Cooper). DiMaso plans to brings down corrupt politicians using Jersey mayor Carmen Polito (portrayed by Jeremy Renner) as a go between. Complicating matters: the mob, Prosser’s shakiness as grifter, and Rosenfeld’s loose cannon of a wife Rosalyn (Lawrence). Russell captures the late 70′s and all of its tattered excesses perfectly, right down to the bad perms, tacky tuxes and fragged out beards. With an exceptional cast and first rate direction, American Hustle is shaping up to be a major player come Oscar time. It opens this Friday in New York and Los Angeles and nationwide on December 20th.
You can go to www.americanhustle-movie.com for more information.
Lillyhammer on Netflix. The 2nd season of the acclaimed Netflix original series aims to ramp up the action. Little Steven Van Zandt is back as Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano, a New York mobster that moves to Lillehammer, Norway as part of the Witness Protection Program. Despite experiencing significant culture clashes, Frank opens up a nightclub, begins a relationship with a young teacher and becomes a father to twins. He also can’t completely shake his criminal activities either – especially when a band of British thugs try to invade his turf. If that wasn’t enough, he’s still trying to keep this all away from his next door neighbor, who just happens to be the chief of police. It’s an entirely new spin on the mob comedy – all with an exotic backdrop of Norway gloriously adding to the mix. The new season of Lillyhammer premieres December 13th on Netflix.
You can go to netflix.com for more information.
Saturday Night Live hosted by John Goodman. This Saturday night, John Goodman returns to host SNL for the first time in over a decade. This will be John’s 13th time hosting the show, making him the 3rd most frequent host, right behind Steve Martin (15 times) and Alec Baldwin (16 times). Musical guests will be Kings of Leon. Saturday Night Live airs this Saturday at 11:30 Eastern on NBC.
For more information, to nbc.com
Watch John Goodman’s promos for Saturday Night Live
The 79th Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Presentation. On Saturday, the Heisman Trust will name 2013′s best college football player. The finalists include Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, Auburn’s Tre Mason, Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Boston College’s Andre Williams, Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch and 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M. The trophy will be awarded this Saturday at 8pm Eastern on ESPN.
For more information, got to espn.com
30 For 30: Youngstown Boys. Right after the Heisman Trophy presentation show, ESPN will debut the latest in its 30 For 30 series, “Youngstown Boy”. The new doc follows the paths of Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and former Buckeye running back Maurice Clarett. Both the coach and his top running back hail from Youngstown, Ohio. In 2002, they won Ohio State’s first national championship in over 30 years. Later, Clarett’s football career was completely derailed after a suspension from the university and an eventual prison sentence. Tressel also left Ohio State in scandal. 30 For 30: Youngstown Boys debuts Saturday, December 14th at 9pm Eastern.
For more information, go to espn.com
Watch a promo for 30 For 30: Youngstown Boys
The Army – Navy Game. This football rivalry began in 1890 and now the two military academies meet on the field for the 113th time. So far, Navy leads the series, 57 – 49 with 7 ties. Look for President Obama to be there for the game and change sides at halftime. The greatest traditional game in college football is Saturday, December 14th at 3pm Eastern live from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on CBS.
For more information, go to armynavygame.com
==========================================================
LISTEN TO THIS:
Thanks by Shelby Lynn. An outstanding singer-songwriter-vocalist, Shelby Lynne has been making exceptional albums for nearly 25 years. Her 2000 release I Am Shelby Lynne caused considerable waves for it won her the Best New Artist Grammy even though she had been making records for over a decade. Since then, Lynne has continued to make extraordinary work that blends country, rock, pop and gospel. For her latest EP, there’s a decidedly gospel overtone to the five songs, but more in the vein of how Johnny Cash and The Carter Family tackled the material. As with her late period classics such as Identity Crisis and her Dusty Springfield tribute, Just A Little Lovin’, Lynne’s voice – with some help from long time R&B/gospel veteran Maxine Waters – is upfront and dynamic. There’s enough instrumentation involved to bring out the essence of the song and it works superbly. It’s another outstanding release from one of the top singer-songwriters in music today. Thanks is available now on Itunes, Amazon and all major music retailers.
You can go to www.shelbylynne.com for additional info.
Neil Young – Live At The Cellar Door by Neil Young. With a young Neil Young all acoustic on guitar, and more heavily on piano- which he states, at the time, he had only been playing for about a year- there is an ardent rawness to these performances that truly emanate. The songs stripped bare feel achingly candid as Young’s voice is imbued with emotion. The most recent of Neil Young’s Archives Performance Series, Live at The Cellar Door is an intensely intimate collection of previously unreleased recordings gathered from his mellow stint of six shows between November 30th and December 2nd 1970 at the classic DC venue. Taking place mere months following the release of After the Gold Rush, Neil Young’s third solo album, nearly half of this live album is comprised of tracks from that record; a trip to imagine that at the time of these performances, so many of these songs, now classics, were relatively new. This album seems to capture a moment in time as the singer-songwriter is authenticating himself as a solo artist; an individual performer, rather than a member of a band. It’s raw and beautiful stuff.
Order Live At The Cellar Door
==========================================================
DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: The 2nd Annual Patrice O’Neal Comedy Benefit. The late Patrice O’Neal’s friends are coming together to honor his memory and his comic genius on February 18, 2014. Tickets are on sale now! You will need to move fast to be part of this benefit celebration of Patrice’s life. Comedians scheduled to appear include Dave Attell, Bill Burr, Dane Cook, Nick DiPaolo, Robert Kelly, Bonnie McFarlane, Jim Norton, Big Jay Oakerson, Colin Quinn,Keith Robinson, Harris Stanton, Talent and Rich Vos. The proceeds from this all-star comedy show will go to benefit Patrice’s mother and family.
For more information and tickets, go to nycitycenter.org
NEW YORK CITY: The Life And Death Of Marina Abramovic. The self-professed ‘grandmother of performance art’ has made some significant inroads in the mainstream pop culture scene in the last few years. Jay Z based the video for his song ‘Picasso Baby’ on one of her works and featured her in the clip. Lady Gaga collaborated with Abramovic on her latest album Artpop and participated in the video for ‘The Abramovic Method’. For her latest project, Abramovic teams up with director Robert Wilson for what she calls a ‘quasi opera’ about her Yugoslavian upbrings and the path she took to performance art stardom. Abramovic will play herself and her mother, whom she claims she had a chilly, loveless relationship with. Willem Dafoe co-stars and Antony of Antony & The Johnsons fame will provide the music. Expect the unexpected. The Life And Death Of Marina Abramovic will be at The Park Avenue Armory from December 12th through the 21st.
You can go to www.armoryonpark.org for tickets and more info.
NEW YORK CITY: Ms. 45. Abel Ferrera’s 1981 grindhouse classic gets a 2 day revival at the IFC Center. It stars the late Zoe Lund as a mute seamstress who becomes a man-hating serial killer after getting sexually assaulted twice in one day. Much maligned by critics who saw it as a low rent version of Death Wish, the film has, with time, is now regarded as one of Ferrera’s best films. Remastered in HD, this screening of Ms. 45 will also be one of the rare things the original uncut version will be shown in American theaters. It’s also a startling time capsule of a New York that is now only a memory for long time residents. Ms. 45 will be at The IFC Center this weekend.
You can go to www.ifccenter.com for showtimes and additional information.
NEW YORK CITY: MadonnaNYC83. In 1983, photographer Richard Corman met a young, up and coming artist named Madonna. Using New York’s East Village as its backdrop, they would collaborate on a series of photos that captured her free spirit as well as the vibrant cultural and artistic scene that was happening at the time. 50 of these images are now on display at New York’s Milk Gallery through December 21st. It’s a rare look to see an artist on the cusp of stardom and images of a city now long gone.
You can go to www.milkmade.com for more information
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: The 30th Annual Music Box Christmas Show. This Chicago holiday tradition begins its run Friday, December 13th. Visitors are greeted by Santa Claus and join in singing Christmas carols as the lyrics are projected on the theater’s screen. You can get tickets for one of two holiday classic films to watch at the Music Box – either “White Christmas” starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye or “It’s A Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart. The 30th Annual Christmas Show runs through December 24th.
For more information and tickets, go to musicboxtheatre.com
NEW YORK CITY: Holiday Season Nostalgia Train and Bus Rides. Sundays in December the NYC Vintage Subway trains are back. There are conductors dressed in the uniforms of the olden days and brass bands in the subway trains. You can catch a ride on these classic R1/9 subway cars at stations along the weekday M Line between Queens Plaza and 2 Avenue. There are vintage buses also that run along 42nd St.
For more information, go to mta.info
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA: University Press Book’s 40th Anniversary Benefit Reading. For 40 years, University Press Books in Berkeley has maintained themselves as an independent bookseller. The store has become a community mainstay for literature and conversation. This Friday, December 13th is the annual benefit reading which features readings from C.S. Giscombe, Robert Hass, Brenda Hillman, Lyn Hejinian, Geoffrey G. O’Brien, and art by Vita Wells. The reading begins at 7pm . Food and drinks will be available.
For more information, go to universitypressbooks.com
==========================================================
WATCH THIS ADDENDUM: YOUR GUIDE TO HOLIDAY TV SPECIALS:
FRIDAY: White Christmas. The 1954 classic stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as two Army buddies who team with a sister act to save their former general’s inn. Of course, the film includes Bing Crosby’s classic Christmas song of the same name, “White Christmas”. This must-see Christmas movie airs on AMC on Friday, December 13th at 7pm Eastern with a replay at 9:45pm Eastern.
For more information, go to amctv.com
SUNDAY: The Bishop’s Wife. This holiday story of redemption from 1948 features Cary Grant as an angel who comes to Earth to assist an Episcopal bishop, played by David Niven, who has lost his perspective as he becomes obsessed with building a new cathedral. The airs exclusively on TCM on Sunday, December 15th at 2pm Eastern.
For more information, go to tcm.com
SUNDAY: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase stars as Clark Griswald, the man obsessed with giving his family the perfect Christmas. The Christmas comedy features Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie who is just one of the things that go wrong at Christmas for the Griswalds. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation air Sunday, December 15th at 8pm Eastern on ABC Family.
For more information, go to abcfamily.com
SUNDAY: Scrooged. It’s by far, one of the best and funniest takes on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. Bill Murray is television executive Frank Cross who is visited by 3 spirits and the ghost of his former boss as he plans a global television event. The film written by Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue has a hysterical all-star cast. It’s airs Sunday, December 15th at 10pm Eastern on ABC Family.
For more information, go to abcfamily.com
* * *
Get More Excellence at FilteredExcellence.com