Day 1
If you’re not up on your Manhattan neighborhoods, Tribeca is shorthand for the triangle below Canal Street; it’s the southernmost section of the island. Here’s a secret not too many people outside of New York know -- very few of the venues where Tribeca Film Festival screenings transpire are actually in Tribeca.
Day one was spent entirely in Chelsea, where festival veteran '“Your Sister’s Sister” (it was at Toronto in 2011 and screened at Sundance in January 2012) kicked things off. Lynn Shelton’s follow-up to Humpday, the movie stars Mark Duplass as Jack, a lost young man still mourning the loss of his brother who died a year ago. At the behest of his best friend Iris (Emily Blunt), who also happens to be his brother’s former girlfriend, he spends some alone time at her family’s secluded cabin. But, when he arrives there, he discovers her lesbian half sister Hannah (played by the always solid Rosemary DeWitt) is there nursing a broken heart. When Jack and Hannah start chatting over a bottle of tequila, one thing leads to another and soon they are keeping an intimate secret from Iris. It’s a winningly modest film that relies on the charm and skill of the actors.
Next up was “Side By Side,” the Keanu Reeves produced documentary about digital vs. celluloid. It’s a must-see for movie lovers, making a perfect double-feature with classic filmmaking docs like “Visions of Light,” and it gives you the distinct pleasure of hearing David Lynch say “Keanu” -- not once, but twice.
That was followed by “Chicken With Plums,” (Poulet aux prunes) the follow-up from the filmmaking duo responsible for the Oscar-nominated “Persepolis.” This mostly live-action effort is about a talented violinist who decides he is simply going to stay in bed until death comes. We learn early on that his wish is granted in just eight days, and we get to see what transpires not just over his final week, but the past and future of many of the movie’s characters. “Chicken with Plums” is a warm tearjerker that mixes poignancy with fanciful visuals; it’s an adult fairy tale that recalls warmly received gems like “Amelie” because of its ability to lead us down whatever narrative tangent it feels the need to follow.
Day 2
A pair of documentaries take center stage – or should that be center screen – for me today, beginning with "Évocateur", a profile of Morton Downey Jr.,
the provocative TV host whose syndicated talk show lasted less than two years, but made him one of the most recognizable and notorious people in the country. Directors Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newbwerger punctuate their portrait with highly-stylized animation sequences that look great, helping to keep the movie lively even after you’ve gotten tired of hearing about the profoundly flawed subject.
A more heartwarming profile of a celebrity is "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey", a biography of Arnel Pineda, the Filipino singer who was discovered on YouTube by the members of Journey, who were so impressed with his pipes that they asked him to join the band. It’s a feel-good film about finding great success after starting with just about nothing. The only caveat, and this will be a deal-breaker for some people, is you do have to hear a LOT of Journey songs.
Iranian director Amir Naderi travelled to Japan for his latest, "Cut", about a passionate cineaste named Shinji who ends up responsible to gangsters for his brother’s massive debt – a debt he incurred raising money for Shinji's unsuccessful movies. To work off the millions of Yen, Yoshi agrees to let people punch him for money. This is a violent and movie-mad film that will divide audiences who will either be swept up into its provocative symbolism and critique of art vs. entertainment, or will write it off as dull and pretentious.
Day 3
Festivals always seem loaded with movies like "Fairhaven". Thirtysomething friends reunite in their small hometown, usually for a funeral, and there's always the guy who nobody has heard from for years (the sensitive guy trying to make sense of his life), and the townie who never got out. Thankfully, with a talented cast that includes Chris Messina and Rich Sommer, "Fairhaven" is a very good example of this venerable genre.
An example of another indie trope, "Free Samples", is an entry in the "having a bad day at work" subgenre that Kevin Smith's "Clerks" made famous. The main character is Jillian (Jess Weixler), a Stanford law dropout who is quick to criticize and belittle just about everyone who comes into her circle. After a typical night of overindulgence, she agrees to help her friend by taking a shift in a food truck handing out free samples of ice cream. Weixler looks and sounds an awful lot like Winona Ryder in the early nineties, and the whole film owes a giant debt to "Clerks".
The night ended with the world premiere of "Revenge for Jolly!", a quirky, violent, exploitation-inspired indie that shows that even 18 years after "Pulp Fiction", there are some people who still really want to be the new Tarantino.
Day 4
Easily the best day of the fest so far when it comes to good movies. The day begins with "Nancy, Please", a chilly psychological thriller about a grad student who begins to fall apart when his unreasonable ex-roommate Nancy refuses to return his beloved copy of Little Dorrit. It's a solid script that shows lots of promise.
Terry George made a name for himself with serious dramas like "Hotel Rwanda" and "Reservation Road", but his latest, "Stand Off" (originally titled "Whole Lotta Sole") is a quirky Irish crime story about a hostage situation. It's a funny, smart film with a well-constructed plot that builds tension while never losing sight of the laughs or the characters.
The best documentary I've seen so far, "The Revisionaries" tells that story of how the Texas State Board of Education altered the definition of what their students were required to learn in science and social studies classes. These changes, which could be seen as attempts to bring religion into the school system, triggered alterations to textbooks around the country.
But the best was saved for last. "Supporting Characters", a very funny, superbly acted indie about two film editors who are best friends. Each goes through relationship problems while trying to finish their latest project. So far, this is easily the best thing I've seen. Day 5 has a whole lot to live up to suddenly.
Day 5
The day started with "Struck By Lightning". Written by and starring "Glee" favorite Chris Colfer, it's a black comedy about a misfit trying to blackmail his way through his senior year.
Next up -- Morgan Spurlock's latest doc "Mansome", which examines notions of masculinity as it manifests in modern grooming standards for men. All the while, executive producers Will Arnett and Jason Bateman banter while being pampered at a spa.
The new doc "Sexy Baby" follows three different women – well, make that two women and a precocious New York City adolescent -- as they confront various aspects of sexuality. It's a provocative movie in the best sense, asking some very serious questions.
The night ended with Sarah Polley's "Take This Waltz", and all I can say is that it is so far the best movie of 2012 (and it's getting a release from Magnolia in June!)