| Tribeca Film Festival 2009: Woody, Nia, and New York Stories |
| Written by T. Terry Maloney | |||
 Brothers Joshua Ashy-Holden and Nick Ashy-Holden who play brothers in the outstanding short 'CAL EXPRESS' directed by Sergio Carvajal  Terry Maloney with "Woody Allen" at Tribeca Family Festival  Musician Sting at the premiere of 'MOON' directed by Duncan Jones, the son of David Bowie  Iman and David Bowie at 'MOON' premiere red carpet  Actress Nia Vardolos at 'MY LIFE IN RUINS' premiere  Actress Rachel Dratch, co-star of 'MY LIFE IN RUINS', on the red carpet At least no films were screened on the Upper West Side, as was the case in 2006 when shuttle buses from Tribeca Cinema were required to transport press and paying customers. Also, per tradition, the opening night gala premiere was held in Midtown Manhattan at the Ziegfled Theater. For the second time in three years the opening film, Whatever Works, had a Manhattan locale, although this film was directed by a New York legend: Mr. Woody Allen. The Academy Award winner was on hand to walk the red carpet and was reprotedly in rather good cheer. Rumor also had it that the Woodman actually stayed for the entire film and even attended the after party. (Will wonders never cease?) The film, marking Mr. Allen's return to a New York cinematic setting after several years in Europe, was well-received by the audience and in early reviews. The comedy co-starred Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Patricia Clarkson, Evan Rachel Wood and Michael McKean. I missed Woody at the premiere but I did have a chance encounter with a rather waxy Mr. Allen at the Tribeca Family Festival on May 2nd (see photo.) Among the much anticipated films at the festival was An Englishman in New York, the long awaited sequel to The Naked Civil Servant (1975). The story of aging gay icon Quentin Crisp, the film starred John Hurt who gave a tour de force performance in the role he originated over three decades ago. Mr. Hurt was ably supported by Denis O'Hare and Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) who was nearly unrecognizable as performance artist Penny Arcade. Another New York-based film of note which premiered at TFF2009 was the Heineken Audience Award Winner City Island, a charming "dramedy" about a tempestuous Italian-American family living in a "New England fishing village" off the coast of the Bronx. Directed and written by Raymond De Felitta, the film starred Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Steven Strait and Alan Arkin. The Eclipse was a moody yet touching Irish film with elements of a good horror tale. The story of a shy Irish widower who falls in love with an English author during the Cobh literary festival starred TFF2009 Best Actor Ciaran Hinds (Munich) and Iben Hjelje (High Fidelity.) A degree of levity was provided by the always enjoyable Aidan Quinn as an Irish-American writer who spends most of the festival drunk and lusting after Ms. Hjelje. Mr. Quinn also co-starred in Handsome Harry, the story of aging Navy buddies who share a shocking 35-year old secret. Jamey Sheridan (The Stand) is outstanding in the title role as a man struggling to finally come to terms with his sexual identity. In addition to Mr. Quinn, three of my favorite actors co-star in this thoughtful film: Steve Buscemi, Campbell Scott and John Savage. Columbia University's own Bette Gordon (Variety) directed from a script by Nicholas T. Proferes. Newsmakers was an extremely violent yet very clever and totally enjoyable, Russian/Swedish homage to the Hong Kong drug gangs vs.the police film genre. An adoption of the HK film Breaking News,this non-stop spectacle of gunfights, explosions and witty dialog (in Russian with English sub-titles) co-starred Andrei Merzlikin as the macho Major Smirnov and Maria Mashkova as the lovely and ambitious Captian Katya. Turning to lighter fare, two of my favorite films of TFF2009 were both produced in the United Kingdom: the political farce In The Loop and the romantic comedy My Last Five Girlfriends. Although billed as one of the stars of In the Loop, James Gandolfini plays a relatively minor role as a US Army general. As usual, Gandolfini gives a fine performance, although I felt he was basically channeling Tony Soprano: one moment all charm and sweetness, the next moment snarling and cursing while destroying the office of an adversary. The real star of this hilarious film is Scottish actor Peter Capaldi (Local Hero) as the foul-mouthed government public relations officer desperately trying to silence rumors of war as he travels from London to New York to Washington, DC and back again. Based on the UK television series, The Thick of It, the film also features Anna Chulmsky, David Rache, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee and Chris Addisson. Veteran British comedy writer Armando Ianucci directed from a script he co-wrote with three others. My Last Five Girlfriends is a clever and innovative film directed by Julian Kemp from his script and starring Brendan Patricks. Told in flashback, Duncan (Patricks) relates the tales of his last five failed relationships, with his life depicted as a whimsical amusement park. In one scene, Duncan and and a prospective girlfriend are seamlessly transported from airline seats to a roller coaster in "Duncanworld." Although a very British film, its themes of love and relationships are universal and My Last Five Girlfriends should be very well received on this side of the "pond." It's originality, poignancy and outstanding performances by the six relatively unknown actors should make this film an international hit. Timer is an American film starring the lovely Emma Caulfield (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) as Oona and Jo Beth WIlliams (The Big Chill) as her mother. This "high concept" comedy with a message takes place in a not too distant future when most people choose to get a wrist implant (The Timer) which counts down to the exact moment when people will lay eyes on their one true love. Oona's timer hasn't even started counting down yet and the film follows her as she seeks her soul mate or at least a man with an realistic "time frame." Along the way she is disappointed by her potential "Mr. Rights," shocked that her party girl half sister doesn't care that her true love is decades away, angry and envious when her kid brother finds true love within hours, and most importantly confused by her growing feelings for a grocery store clerk 10 years her junior. However, I don't think I'd be giving much away by assuring you that everything works out in the end and all learn a valuable lesson about "true love." I am a huge fan of Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Waitress) but I must admit that I was very disappointed in her directorial debut, the much anticipated "comedy" Serious Moonlight. The film's talented stars, the perennial perky Meg Ryan and Academy Award winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People) are saddled with an extremely unfunny script by the late Adreienne Shelly (Waitress). There is virtually no chemistry between the two stars and the premise that an accomplished woman (Ryan plays a lawyer!) would resort to tying up her husband to prevent him from running off with a much younger, dimwitted bimbo was, even to an old-fashioned guy like me, rather anti-feminist. To quote the headline of the film's review in a local weekly, "Do Not Bring Your Daughter to This Film!" However, my Festival experience ended on a high note when I attended the premiere of My Life in Ruins starring Nia Vardolos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), the Closing Night film screened in the huge (912 seats) BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. The red carpet arrivals prior to the screening included Ms. Vardolos, director Donald Petrie, and co-stars Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live) and Greek poster boy Alexis Georgoulis. Unfortunately, the no shows included co-star Richard Dreyfuss and executive producers Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. My Life in Ruins is a funny, predictable, feel-good film with gorgeous Greek scenery and good performances, especially by Mr. Dreyfuss as the sardonic widower Al. Ms. Vardolos is lovely to look at but often overly animated as a Greek-American who works as a tour guide while trying to "find herself" in the old country. Mr. Georgoulis is a hunk and Ms. Dratch channels her dopey SNL characters very effectively. Kudos to the sole documentary I saw at the Festival, Making the Boys in the Band, a "work in progress" (which looked well-done to me) directed by Crayton Robey. The spirited panel discussion following the film featured playwright Mart Crowley, co-star Laurance Luckinbill, Village Voice columnist Michael Musto and "professional homosexual" Carson Kressley. Definitely one of the highlights of the week for this aging "boy!" Yes, the Tribeca Film Festival has been shrinking in recent years, down to 85 feature films this year from a high of 176 in 2005, and inching north from its 2002 roots literally across the street from Ground Zero, and it doesn't get the respect given Cannes, Sundance or even the Toronto Film Festival, but it still remains an important New York City event with a decided populist feel, particularly when compared to that snooty film festival held at Lincoln Center. Congratulations to co-founders Jane Rosenthal and Robert DeNiro, to executive director Nancy Schafer and to all the fine, hard working folks at Tribeca Enterprises and Rubinstein Communications, including the hundreds of dedicated volunteers, particularly those working the Filmmaker, Industry & Press Lounge at Union Square Ballroom and Press Office. Long live the Tribeca Film Festival; wherever it may be! (For a complete list of Tribeca Film Festival award winners go to tribecafilm.com/festival/features)
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