The Filtered Excellence: August 28, 2020
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
Lovecraft County. Misha Green wrote and developed this adaptation of the Matt Ruff novel. It stars Jonathan Majors as Atticus ‘Tic’ Freeman, a Korean war veteran who returns to his native Chicago in theto find his missing father (Michael K. Williams). Along with his uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and childhood friend Letitia ‘Leti’ Lewis (Jurnee Smollett), they journey through the segregated United States and confront racism, secret orders, spirits and monsters straight out of a H.P Lovecraft novel. This show is simply fantastic, blending social commentary, spirituality, science fiction and horror mythology, into an allegory of America’s handling of race. Smollett is outstanding as Leti, whose restless street smarts and sensuality hides vulnerability along with a desire to plant roots and re-connect with her sister, Ruby (Wunmi Mosaku). Jonathan Majors re-affirms his status as one of the best young actors working today at Tic, putting his experiences in the war to confirm the supernatural forces at play and the real life monsters in Jim Crow America. Featuring a killer soundtrack covering 60 years of American music, this is another winner from the HBO camp. One of the year’s best. Lovecraft County airs Sunday nights at 9pm East on HBO.
Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn. The murder of Yusuf Hawkins and its fall out is the basis of this new HBO Documentary. Directed by Muta’ Ali, it tells the story of how Hawkins, a young Black man from East New York, was shot and killed by an angry white mob in Bensonhurst, after they thought was dating a girl from the neighborhood. It capped off an explosive year in New York City that was already ravaged by high crime, a racially charged Mayor’s race and The Central Park Jogger case. Joey Fama was convicted and sentenced to 32 years in prison for Hawkins’ murder, but Keith Mondello, the ringleader behind the attack, was found not guilty of all major charges. Ali sits down with Hawkins’ family and friends, Al Sharpton, former Mayor David Dinkins, law enforcement officials and reporters to tell how a trip to buy a used car, set off a political powder keg whose ramifications are still being felt today. Ali also speaks with the still incarcerated Fama, who still insists he had nothing to do with the crime. Seeing the news footage – most of which didn’t air because of its blatant use of racial slurs – is still jarring, coldly remembering when New York City teetered on the edge of full scale violence. Even with all of the social and political underpinnings, Ali keeps its focus on Hawkins’ family – particularly the dynamics between Moses Stewart – the father who returned after a lengthy absence to join forces with Sharpton to lead the numerous protests – and Diane Hawkins, who had to repair a fractured relationship with Stewart, become a reluctant face of the movement and deal with the grief and shock of losing her son. Even though it took place over 30 years ago, it’s a doc that packs new life and emotion into an all too familiar story. Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn is available now on HBO and HBO Max.
Beth Stelling: Girl Daddy. Conan O’Brian executive produced this new HBO Max stand up special. Filmed in Minneapolis, Sterling covers everything from dealing with body issues, the #MeToo movement, family dynamics, the differences on how men and women deal handle masturbation, dating younger men, marriage and much more. Stelling’s on-stage comfortability with pointed, edgy material quickly pulls you in, holding court as it if she’s in her own living room rather than a club. It’s another strong outing from a comic who’s star has been steadily on the rise in recent years. Beth Stelling: Girl Daddy is available now on HBO Max.
Directed by Wim Wenders. Throughout his 50 year career, the films of Wim Wenders have always carried the theme of wanderers and drifters surveying German, and the American Southwest in search for meaning, connection and, in essence, themselves. In honor of Wenders’ 75th Birthday, The Criterion Channel will presenting an 11 film retrospective covering various parts of his long and esteemed career. It will include his 1968 short film, Same Player Shoots Again; the breakthrough 1970s films Alice In The Cities, Wrong Move, Kings Of The Road and The American Friend; the major crossover hits Paris, Texas and Wings Of Desire, the documentaries Pina and Tokyo-ga and much more. It’s a dynamic tribute to one of cinema’s greatest auteurs. Directed by Wim Wenders is available now on The Criterion Channel.
LISTEN TO THIS
Have You Lost Your Mind Yet by Fantastic Negrito. For his 4th album, Fantastic Negrito once again dips brings his mix of Delta Blues, funk, classic R&B, hip hop, and roots music to address mental illness from a personal and collective perspective. The Oakland-based singer-songwriter started writing and recording before the pandemic hit, but songs like ‘Chocolate Samurai’, ‘I’m So Happy I Cry’ and ‘Platypus Dipster’ taps into the pressures, anxieties and release that comes with life in the age of COVID. But the album also taps into other issues such as toxic relationships (‘All Up IN My Space’, ‘Your Sex Is Overrated’, ‘Searching For Captain Save A-Hoe’), living with trauma (‘These Are My Friends’), and drug abuse (‘King Frustration’). With contributions from Tank & The Bangas, E-40, and Masa Kohama, Fantastic Negrito has put together an album that is both classic and current. Have You Lost Your Mind Yet by Fantastic Negrito is available now through Amazon, Apple Music, and all available major streaming services.
DO THIS
New York City: As New York City, continues to cautiously re-open, a number of museums will be back to present some of the world’s greatest art. The Museum of Modern Art (www.moma.org), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org) and The Museum Of The City Of New York (www.mcny.org) will be part of the initial rollout, with extensive safety protocols in place, with limited, timed tickets. As expected, there’s already a high demand, so check out the various websites for availability days and times.
Los Angeles. 8/24: Kobe Bryant. This new online gallery features a series of photographs that Michael Mueller shot of Kobe Bryant from 2010 through 2016. In addition to on-court shots from his final season, there’s also several never before seen studio portraits of the Laker legend from a decade ago. A portion of the proceeds will go to education organization Genesis in Bryant’s name. To have a chance to own some of Bryant’s iconic shots, while helping a great cause, is a perfect way to honor his memory. 8/24: Kobe Bryant is available at the Beverly Hills’ Plastic Gallery website, www.plasticgallery.com through September 24th.
Wear A Mask.
Practice Social Distancing.
Wash Your Hands Or Use Hand Sanitizers.
Stay Safe.
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.
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