Talking Tribeca: Out of Print

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which took place April 17th-28th.

Out of Print
Directed by Vivienne Roumani
About the Film

There’s something ironic about telling the story of the demise of books in one of the media formats that helped to contribute to that demise. Yet this documentary is anything but a memorial service for print, instead offering exploring the ways in which the once-popular art form lives on through the advent of new technology that threatens to make it obsolete. Narrated by Meryl Streep, this film, in 55 minutes, starts at the beginning of time, telling a brief and quick history of books as they first came to exist, and then presenting staggering statistics to show just how much has changed even in the past decade. As someone who used to read books constantly as a kid, I can understand how other things have replaced that, especially the Internet and the remarkable encyclopedia of knowledge it provides. When young student are interviewed and said that they associate books with school work and textbooks, it’s astonishing to see what an impact the Internet and e-books have had on society. Neither side is favored, however, as the CEO of Amazon is interviewed alongside the owner of the Strand bookstore in New York City. The complexity of the evolution of the medium is explored as well, best evidenced by the trouble experienced by Google Books when it, as one interviewee says, “privatized public record.” Even if you don’t like reading, you’d be hard-pressed not to find this documentary captivating and extremely timely.

See it or skip it? See it. It will be showing at a few film festivals in the near future – read about them here.

Talking Tribeca: Let Them Wear Towels

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which took place April 17th-28th.

Let Them Wear Towels
Directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg
About the Film

Tracing recent history is usually a fascinating exercise, and exploring the struggles endured by female journalists covering sports, particularly as related to entering locker rooms. As both a journalism major in college and someone with absolutely no interest in sports, I was pleased to discover a very well-executed and informative film that traces the experiences of female reporters trying to break into the world of sports journalism. Weaving archive footage of the great stories those women missed because they were denied access to the locker rooms in with personal accounts of the uphill battle they waged, whether alone or with the support of their newspapers or fellow journalists, proves an extremely successful strategy for examining this history. It’s a documentary that, in just 50 minutes, chronicles a specified period of time rather than makes an explicit argument for continued change to occur, trumpeting the success that veteran reporters have achieved in past decades in blazing a trail for a profession that is now populated with hundreds of women. Anyone with even a passing interest in journalism, sports, or women’s rights will surely enjoy and appreciate this film.

See it or skip it? See it. It should be airing as part of ESPN’s Nine for IX series this summer.

Talking Tribeca: Fortune House

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

Fortune House
Directed by Matthew Bonifacio
About the Film

This 9-minute short takes place at a Korean restaurant, where Mei Ling works and gets considerable pressure from her mother, who wants her to meet a nice man and get married. None of the eligible bachelors who dine in the restaurant ever seem to notice Mei Ling, and that all changes when the eccentric Peter arrives in a shirt buttoned up all the way to the top and immediately engages in conversation with the previously invisible waitress. What ensues is an awkward but charming series of interactions which find Peter dressed similarly but in a different color each time, removing the earplugs he wears all the time for the duration of each visit to the restaurant, where he orders a five fish soup without the fish (because they’re bottom-feeders). It’s a pleasant and sweet story that manages a last-minute twist that isn’t all that surprising but is still reassuring and endearing. Michael Aronov, who portrays Peter, does a great job of playing a man with clear social tics and helping to open him up to be fully accessible. This tale of fortune cookies won’t reveal hilarious messages embedded inside, but it will produce smiles. This short was showing as part of the “Unlimited Ride” program.

See it or skip it? Yes. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s hard not to like.

Talking Tribeca: Fear of Flying

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

Fear of Flying
Directed by Conor Finnegan
About the Film

This 9-minute Irish short features a bird experiencing the title condition and thus trying to tough out the winter without heading south. The bird casually avoids joining the other members of his species, including an attractive and kindly female bird, for their trip down south and instead stocks up on what he needs as if he were to hibernate like a bear. As expected, the transition doesn’t prove nearly as easy or tenable as he had thought. What could well be an amusing adventure turns out to be quite disappointing and unfulfilling because there’s no stock tone present, and, as a result, the film shifts between a slightly endearing portrait of a kindly bird just trying to survive and an overenthusiastic parody of thrillers and other genre staples. While some opportunities for humorous visuals are taken, others, like the personification of a bird’s alarm clock, are missed entirely. While Pixar and other animated vendors have succeeded with cute, enjoyable films about animals going against their traditional tendencies, this is not one of those. This short was showing as part of the “Worst Day Ever” program.

See it or skip it? Skip it. It’s not one of the great ones.

Talking Tribeca: Michael H. – Profession: Director

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

Michael H. – Profession: Director
Directed by Yves Montmayeur
About the Film

This documentary offers a fascinating look inside the mind of Austrian director Michael Haneke, who earned Oscar bids this past year for Best Picture nominee “Amour.” Starting with that most recent work, this film works backwards and spotlights several key moments, both from the finished film and from the set, that help to explain Haneke’s process and why he makes the disturbing, daring films he does. Haneke proves to be an extremely difficult subject, telling his interviewer that he doesn’t want to answer questions that make him interpret himself and generally offering a negative attitude towards the process of reflecting back on his career. A rare word of praise from him is saved for actress Isabelle Huppert, who echoes his sentiments, explaining just how much she admires him. Juliette Binoche, on the other hand, notes that she wishes his films had a little more hope and light. For someone who has seen only a few of his films – “Caché,” “The White Ribbon,” and “Amour” – this was an enlightening experience that helped to put those films I have seen in a greater context. Haneke is an indisputably compelling director, and though I would never want to have to work with him on set, it’s clear that he is a talented and deeply interesting visionary.

See it or skip it? If it plays either in theaters or as a TV film, see it, as long as you find the content of his films not to be too disturbing.

Talking Tribeca: ZZZZZZZ

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

ZZZZZZZ
Directed by Tarik Karam
Festival Screenings

There’s a quality about New York City at any time of the day or night, and that’s what makes Tribeca, a homegrown New York City film festival, the perfect showcase for this 5-minute short. Its protagonists, Henry and Lucy, are seen in assorted shots sown together wandering the streets of New York while sleepwalking, taking in the art, the sights, the foods, and everything else. It’s an effective love letter to a city which, by nature, is filled with all kinds of people, and often by those who aren’t really there. This dreamlike film is anchored by the fact that it can be seen as a metaphor for those sleepwalking during the day, while it’s just as compelling as a humorous and charming depiction of the actual phenomenon. The performers respond ably to the call to be alert yet not truly present while they roam the streets, and it’s easier to sympathize with the looks on their faces than with many other cinematic protagonists. This film is fleeting, but the experience it provides shouldn’t have trouble putting a smile on the face of its viewers, even just for a moment. This short is showing as part of the Unlimited Ride program.

See it or skip it? See it if you like New York City! It’s short and enjoyable.

Talking Tribeca: AB-

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

AB-
Directed by Daniel Klein
Festival Screenings

Full-length horror or thriller movies have the opportunity to give their protagonists a sense of hope, even if it ultimately doesn’t pan out, and, sometimes, by the end, things turn around for the good guys in peril. In this 9-minute short, however, there’s just one instant of light for the engaged couple whose car crashes in the middle of the night on a dark road. The safety alert system embedded in the car and activates, and a representative asks the driver if he is okay, announcing that he will send help right away. From there, things go downhill, as the ambulance arrives almost instantaneously, and two of the EMTs shout angrily at each other as one pries open the door to speak to the man, who is in far better condition than the woman. A sense of dread continues to build as it becomes clear that they are not there to help, and the man is powerless to do anything about it. Because of its short runtime, this story doesn’t get very far, and instead serves as a freaky anecdote that is half-satisfying and feels unfinished. This short is showing as part of the Deadbolt program.

See it or skip it? Not if car accidents or malicious medical personnel frighten you. Yes is you like horror or psychological horror.

Talking Tribeca: The River

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

The River
Directed by Sam Handel
Festival Screenings

This 13-minute short finds pregnant Maria (Lauren Ambrose) working the counter at a small-town market on a hot summer day. She responds in a seemingly bewildered manner when her manager Phil (Jay O. Sanders) tells her to stop listening to a self-help tape while checking out customers. Through impatience and outright cruelty, Maria struggles to make it to the river so that she can cool off. In just thirteen minutes, this film manages to work in a few fun cameos, including Ambrose’s “Six Feet Under” costar Michael C. Hall as the voice on the self-help tape and Adam Driver from “Girls” as the liquor store cashier fully aware that Maria is purchasing alcohol for the teenager who has been waiting outside all day trying to get adults to buy him beer. Ambrose and Sanders are both great, though neither of them is, purposely, terribly sympathetic. It’s entertaining nonetheless to watch Maria walk all over people to get the ultimate reward she believes she deserves. With obstacles rather than twists, this simple comedy is easy to like, and makes for a perfectly pleasant viewing. This short is showing as part of the Skin Deep program.

See it or skip it? Sure, if you like Ambrose and some of the other cast members. It’s harmless enough.

Talking Tribeca: Six Acts

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

Six Acts
Directed by Jonathan Gurfinkel
Festival Screenings

This Israeli film is segmented into six fully connected parts, each of which showcases a sexual act as performed by its protagonist, the teenage Gili. She first arrives to meet smooth talker Omri, who tells her that his friend Tomer is interested in her, at which point she goes off with him to engage in her first, and by her the most pleasant, interaction. She becomes the film’s central character as she waits anxiously by the phone for the manipulative Omri to text her, which occurs only when he’s in the mood for a hook-up and when he’s not hanging around with his other girlfriend. Gili is a mesmerizing character to watch, and it’s difficult not to be devastated by the sheer magnitude of the bad decisions she makes. There’s little to redeem her as the film goes on, and it offers an in-depth look at the immature, off-putting nature of oversexed teenagers. Its brutal depiction of this awful reality is captivating, and its performances are natural and simple. As a commentary on youth and promiscuity, it’s extremely interesting, and the fact that it comes from Israel is almost incidental since there’s little to identify the culture other than a strong reliance on technology as the primary form of person-to-person communication. It might as well take place anywhere, and it’s a universal high school horror story.

See it or skip it? It’s not for more conservative audiences, but there’s definitely something worth taking away here.

Talking Tribeca: The Cup Reader

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

The Cup Reader
Directed by Suha Araj
Festival Screenings

This 12-minute short, listed on Tribeca’s official site as coming from the “Occupied Palestinian Territories,” centers itself on a fortune teller who uses tea cups to predict the romantic destiny of the women who come to see her. As she consults with one visitor, a bride and her American cousin rush in, desperate for answers about whether the match is truly right. What “The Cup Bearer” represents is a complete immersion in one culture, best exemplified by the response of one guest to the American’s naïve question, “How do you say ‘privacy’ in Arabic?” The answer, of course, is, “In Arabic, we don’t have that word.” That humorous reference best captures the film and its universal nature, set on one specific story but easily applicable to any number of cultures and parts of the world. The acting is exaggerated but fun, much like this entertaining, often silly short. This short film is screening as part of the “Skin Deep” program.

See it or skip it? It’s an amusing snapshot of the hopeful nature of fate and fortune, which is about as satisfying as it sounds.

Talking Tribeca: The Root of the Problem

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

The Root of the Problem
Directed by Ryan Spindell
Festival Screenings

Anyone who doesn’t like going to the dentist should steer clear of this short with an extremely clever title. It showcases a broad spectrum of fears expressed by one buttoned-up, terrified visitor to the dentist anxiously awaiting the pulling of the wisdom teeth, ranging from acute nervousness to full-on fright. The story arc is not entirely consistent, but it is amusing to watch this fearful protagonist experience a range of emotions as she panics in advance of and during the procedure, thanks in no small part to Brea Grant’s creepy nurse. Rather than leave everything to the imagination and relegate what she sees to delirious hallucinations, this film takes on a more lenient approach, indulging her as she conjures up more and more worrisome images. It’s hardly memorable, but, during its 14-minute runtime, it’s hard to escape the terror and uncertainty this film’s reluctant star is undergoing. This short film is screening as part of the “Deadbolt” program.

See it or skip it? It’s not essential viewing, but it has its appeal.

Talking Tribeca: RPG OKC

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

RPG OKC
Directed by Emily Carmichael
Festival Screenings

On the heels of the success of “Wreck-It Ralph” last year, this 9-minute short seeks to humanize the world of video game characters, bringing them to life in an unlikely romance. This return to the grainier, old-fashioned video game universe represents a visual throwback that adds considerable drama to this story of characters from two different gaming worlds brought together by cute online conversation. While some of its references are amusing, there is also a good deal of old-time language and parlance that doesn’t quite fit into this film’s universe, making for a choppy, or, more appropriately, pixelated experience. Yet this is such a charming journey that its faults should be forgiven, and this harmless opus is easily enjoyable. This short film is screening as part of the “Worst Day Ever” program.

See it or skip it? It’s quirky and fun, and you can even watch it for free online!

Talking Tribeca: Just a Sigh

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

Just a Sigh
Directed by Jérôme Bonnell
Festival Screenings

This French feature, part of the World Narrative Competition, follows a struggling French actress and her chance encounter with a mysterious English man in mourning on a train, which leads to hours of enchantment and a hypnotic diversion from the uncertainty of her everyday life. In the lead role is Emmanuelle Devos, who stole scenes in supporting roles in French films like “A Christmas Tale” and “Wild Grass,” here portraying the flawed and unreliable actress Alix. Gabriel Byrne, last seen regularly as a therapist on HBO’s “In Treatment,” is her unexpected suitor, who refuses to speak French and fulfills a fantasy for Alix of being swept up in a whirlwind affair. Before Alix even meets her dream man, she is painted as complex and layered, thanks both to a strongly-written script and Devos’ terrific lead performance. The film’s music makes its events melodramatic in the most effective fashion, and its cinematography is superb. This relatively ordinary story of two strangers in limbo becomes something entirely separate, a rare opportunity to become completely taken with a brief snapshot at the intersection of the lives of these two unhappy people.

See it or skip it? See it, even if you’re not entirely fond of subtitles.

Talking Tribeca: Setup Punch

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

Setup Punch
Directed by David Schlussel
Festival Screenings

This 19-minute short stars Elijah Wood and Alia Shawkat, of “Arrested Development” fame. Ruben Stein (Wood) prepares for his stand-up act, and we see him nervously examining an engagement ring in the bathroom moments before he goes on stage. As he smiles at his girlfriend (Shawkat) on his way up to the stage, Ruben anxiously downs his drink and steps up to the microphone. What ensues is an entrancing portrait of a comic inherently at home on the stage and determined to use his natural talents to help him craft what he sees as a romantic, and, more fittingly, memorable proposal to woo the love of his life. Watching Ruben skirt about the stage is undeniably interesting, and, in less than twenty minutes, this adventure manages to take a few unexpected turns. Wood is particularly terrific in the lead role, and, though her part is minimal, Shawkat is, as usual, perfectly cast. This short film is screening as part of the “Worst Day Ever” program.

See it or skip it? See it. It’s an entertaining and creative ride.

Talking Tribeca: The Genius of Marian

I’ve had the pleasure of screening some feature-length and short selections from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 17th-28th.

The Genius of Marian
Directed by Banker White and Anna Fitch
Festival Screenings

This heart-wrenching film, part of the World Documentary Competition, approaches its subject by breaching two topics at once. Filmmaker Banker White’s mother Pam started working on a book about her mother, Marian, a painter who died of Alzheimer’s disease. As she gets into her project, Pam herself is diagnosed, at age 61, with early onset Alzheimer’s. Determined to capture the story, Banker embarks on a film version of Pam’s book, which simultaneously recounts Marian’s legacy and Pam’s decline. The camera lingers for an uncomfortably long period of time as a smiling Pam’s face suddenly becomes blank in the middle of a sentence and she struggles to complete the thought or story she was sharing only moments earlier. The music and images selected to accompany this story enhance its effectiveness, emphasizing the importance of each detail and, occasionally, full anecdote that Pam shares with the audience. Coming at their story with a layered perspective, Banker and Anna Fitch manage to weave together a complex narrative about memory, love, and passion. For anyone with a personal connection to Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia, this documentary will prove an extraordinarily difficult viewing experience. Without any false sense of some miraculous cure to come, “The Genius of Marian” ends of a hopeful note, allowing its living protagonist to come to a point of accepting where she is, even if that notion of calm and satisfaction won’t last forever.

See it or skip it? See it if the subject matter doesn’t sound upsetting.