Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage
Tribeca Film Festival Coverage 2009
APRIL 22 - MAY 3
Click to Read Gerald's Tribeca Overview
Tribeca Conclusion
"CITY ISLAND"
USA - WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by: Raymond De Felitta
Running time: 100 mins.
The Rizzo family is a dysfunctional family that lives in a sleepy and quaint community outside of the Bronx. This is a picturesque little island where things are not as quiet and subdue as it professes to be. Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) is a State Correctional Officer near by, his wife Joyce (Julianna Marguiles) is a legal receptionist. Vivian is a college student and Vince Jr. is a High School student.
It sounds like a wholesome family portrait, however the complete family holds secrets from each other. Vince is taking acting lessons from acting coach played Alan Arkin and partners with Marly (Emily Mortimer) a struggling actress with a past behind Joyce's back. Vince hides the fact that he's still smoking cigarettes and Joyce thinks she's hiding the same from him. Vince has a bigger secret that will shock the family. One prisoner at the prison is his illegitimate son he never met. He gets his son Tony released in his custody, but never tells him who he really is. Meanwhile Vivian was suspended from college and is now working as a stripper. That leaves Vince Jr. who has a "Big Woman" fetish that links him to the 300 pound Internet sexy neighbor.
This film builds laughter as it crisply paces itself to its final scenes. It is a hilarious romp on how secrets can haunt. In this amusing movie, the Rizzo family finds out that revealing secrets can help.
"AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK"
UK - North American Premiere
Directed by: Richard Laxton
Genre: Drama, Comedy and Biographic
Quentin Crisp (John Hurt), the English writer and raconteur rose to iconic stardom after the publication of his 1968 memoir, The Naked Civl Servant. His celebration of queer sexuality, defiant exhibitionism, and eyebrow-raising gender-bending drew admiration and curiosity alongside hostility and violence.
Now, more than 30 years later, Hurt revisits the role, as director Richard Laxton constructs a portrait of Crisp's later live in New York, where he move in 1981 at the age of 72.
This is a smart and sensitive drama depicting Crisp's life in the East Village and capturing the shifting sensibilities within New York's gay and lesbian communities during that pivotal era. John Hurt's performance is brilliant as the witty person of the homosexual culture. This film also has great performances by Cynthia Nixon, who portrays Penny Arcade, the bizarre free spirited performer who does shows with Crisp. Swoosie Kurtz adeptly plays his Public Relations agent. The film is gives merit to a man who will be remembered. Jonathan Tucker and Dennis O'Hare colorfully round out the excellent supporting cast in this excellent film.
"MOON"
UK - New York Premiere
Directed by: Duncan Jones (directorial debut)
Genre: Drama and Science Fiction
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Moon is a unique character study and sci-fi thriller. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is the lone astronaut stationed at a Helium mining moon base that has been his home for almost three years.
But Sam's contact with Lunar industries is almost up, and soon he will be able to reunite on Earth with his wife and three year old little girl, who he has only communicated with by thought tape messages. The closest thing he gets to interaction is with "Gerty" (voiced by Kevin Spacey) the base's computer.
Suddenly, in this suspenseful plot, Sam begins to experience painful headaches and hallucinations, and finds himself in confusing situation. Sam Rockwell is the only visible character on screen, and he gives a masterful performance in what I considered a mysterious flick. This claustrophobic setting along with Sam Rockwell's engaging performance enhances the eerie aura of the film
For a schedule of the films and other information go to www.tribecafilmfestival.org.
|
>