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Tribeca Festival · 2008

Tribeca Festival 2008

Spotlight

The organisers say: "From the basketball court of Rucker Park in Harlem to the notorious slums of Rio de Janeiro, and from a Frenchman's death-defying scheme to walk on a high-wire between the World Trade Center towers to the intense drama and family rivalries of wild African meerkats, the films in Spotlight cover a fascinating range of themes spanning everything from war to the artist's process. Presenting a combination of narratives and documentaries adding up to 17 films from eight different countries, these significant works feature high-profile directors, cast members, and timely subjects."

Programme

17 films · 10 reviews

Jump to a film

Baghead

It's not often that a film can be both a hilariously tongue-in-cheek send-up of indie flicks and a brilliantly insightful bit of character drama, but the Duplass brothers (The Puffy Chair) pull it off in this story of four fledgling actors, a rustic cabin, and. . . something. . . in the woods.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass; Writer: Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass; Stars: Steve Zissis, Ross Partridge, Greta Gerwig)

See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day Seven

Before The Rains

Review preview for Before The Rains

Roache acquits himself well, but the rest of the cast clearly struggle with the awful dialogue.

Max Crawford · 2 out of 5
A sweeping period romance set in Colonial India.

(Country: India; Year: 2007; Director: Santosh Sivan; Writer: Cathy Rabin, Dan Verete; Stars: Linus Roache, Rahul Bose, Nandita Das, Jennifer Ehle, John Standing, Leopold Benedict, Lal Paul) , Official site

Full review

Bigger, Stronger, Faster

As entertaining as it is informative, this documentary goes beyond simply examining the truth about anabolic steroids and the athletes - professional and amateur - who use them. Focusing on his own family's personal history, Bell looks at why Americans feel the need to be the biggest, strongest, and fastest.

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Christopher Bell; Writer: Christopher Bell, Alexander Buono, Tamsin Rawa)

Boy A

A former juvenile offender released from prison after 14 years reenters society with the help of his counselor. Newcomer Andrew Garfield gives a stunning performance as the hesitant 24-year-old who must catch up with his peers while keeping his past a secret.

(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: John Crowley; Writer: Mark O'Rowe; Stars: Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Katie Lyons) , Official site

Elite Squad (Tropa De Elite)

Review preview for Elite Squad

The trouble is that the action never quite gels as it should.

Amber Wilkinson · 3 out of 5
A special squad officer in the violent Brazilian slums tries to find a replacement. Read our with José Padilha.

(Country: Brazil; Year: 2007; Director: José Padilha; Writer: Rodrigo Pimentel, Bráulio Mantovani, José Padilha; Stars: Wagner Moura, Caio Junqueira, André Ramiro, Milhem Cortaz, Luiz Gonzaga de Almeida, Fernanda de Freitas, Bruno Delia, Marcelo Escorel, André Felipe, Thelmo Fernandes, Emerson Gomes)

Full review See: Interview with Jose Padilha about Elite Squad , Tribeca 2008 Diary: Day 5 and 6

Finding Amanda

In Tolan's (co-creator, Rescue Me) hysterical feature directing debut, a successful TV writer (Matthew Broderick) comically struggles with his addiction to gambling, drugs, and alcohol, making it that much harder to travel to Las Vegas and convince his troubled niece (Brittany Snow) to go to rehab.

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Peter Tolan; Writer: Peter Tolan; Stars: Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Peter Facinelli, Steve Coogan, Maura Tierney)

Gunnin' For That #1 Spot

Review preview for Gunnin' For That #1 Spot

If only more sport were filmed like this, it might gain a whole new audience.

Jennie Kermode · 3 out of 5
Examination of pre-college American basketball.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Adam Yauch; Stars: Jerryd Bayless, Michael Beasley, Tyreke Evans, Donte Green, Brandon Jennings, Kevin Love, Kyle Singler, Lance Stephenson) , Official site , Trailer

Full review

Kicking It

The lives of homeless people are changed forever through an international soccer competition. This film follows six players as they set off for Cape Town, South Africa to play in the Homeless World Cup.

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Susan Koch; Writer: Susan Koch; Stars: Narrated by Colin Farrell) , Official site

Lou Reed's Berlin

Review preview for Lou Reed's Berlin

An intimate venue coupled with incredibly energetic and heart-felt performances from Reed, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and a string and brass section to die for make for a moving experience.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Concert film of Lou Reed's live rendition of his song cycle album.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Julian Schnabel; Stars: Lou Reed, Antony Hegarty, Emmanuelle Seigner, Sharon Jones) , Official site

Full review See: Tribeca 2008: Day Seven

Man On Wire

Review preview for Man On Wire

This little gem has a narrative structure that Hollywood movies seem to have forgotten how to employ - all the ingredients for a classic thriller are here.

Tony Sullivan · 4.5 out of 5
Documentary about tightrope walker Phillippe Petit's attempt to cross between the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: James Marsh; Writer: James Marsh; Stars: Philippe Petit) , Official site , Trailer

Full review See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day Eight

Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins

Using lively footage of wild African meerkats and Whoopi Goldberg's narration, this film ingeniously tells the story of Flower and her family. As imaginative as any cartoon, it will have kids begging for their very own baby meerkat (not recommended).

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Chris Barker and Mike Slee ) , Official site

Mister Lonely (Mr Lonely)

Review preview for Mister Lonely

The glorious sight of a flying nun, an image Korine has said was one of his inspirations for the film, is both a moving and a joyous one.

Paul Griffiths · 3.5 out of 5
Celebrity lookalikes get to know one another whilst a crazy old priest takes nuns flying.

(Country: UK, US, France, Ireland; Year: 2007; Director: Harmony Korine; Writer: Harmony Korine, Avi Korine; Stars: Diego Luna, Samantha Morton, Denis Lavant, James Fox, Werner Herzog, Anita Pallenberg) , Official site

Full review

My Winnipeg

Review preview for My Winnipeg

One man's quirky, hilarious, and ultimately moving examination of where he has come from, and what he has lost along the way.

Anton Bitel · 4 out of 5
"Docu-fantasia" blurring fact and fiction.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Guy Maddin; Writer: Guy Maddin, George Toles; Stars: Darcy Fehr, Ann Savage, Amy Stewart, Louis Negin, Brendan Cade, Wesley Cade) , Official site

Full review

Savage Grace

Review preview for Savage Grace

Always engrossing, at times decidedly uncomfortable viewing, Savage Grace is accomplished cinematic storytelling that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Paul Griffiths · 4 out of 5
Accomplished telling of a real life upper class family's disturbing meltdown.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Tom Kalin; Writer: Howard A Rodman; Stars: Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne, Elana Anaya, Simon Andreu, Anne Reid) , Official site , Trailer

Full review

The Universe Of Keith Haring

Featuring Madonna, Yoko Ono, Andy Warhol, Fab 5 Freddy, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, this documentary takes an affectionate look at the colorful life of Keith Haring, whose street drawings helped define the 1980s New York art scene.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Christina Clausen; Stars: The Haring Family, Kenny Scharf, Tony Shafrazi, Yoko Ono, Kermit Oswald, Julia Gruen)

The Wackness

Review preview for The Wackness

What really hold the attention in this playful comedy are the central perfomances.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
A teen drug dealer swaps spliffs for psychiatry in the long, hot New York summer of 1994.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Jonathan Levine; Writer: Jonathan Levine; Stars: Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Mary Kate Olsen, Method Man) , Official site , Trailer

Full review See: Tribeca 2008 Diary: Day 3 and 4

War, Inc.

Review preview for War, Inc.

It is as though the cast and scriptwriters are constantly nodding to one another and admiring their own cleverness.

Amber Wilkinson · 1.5 out of 5
A hit man is sent to a fictional war-torn Middle Eastern country where the United States is waging the first fully outsourced war.

(Country: USA; Year: 2008; Director: Joshua Seftel; Writer: Mark Leyner, Jeremy Pikser, John Cusack; Stars: John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Hilary Duff, Ben Kingsley, Ned Bellamy, Velizar Binev, Shirly Brener, Marc Casabani, Ben Cross, Doug Dearth)

Full review See: Tribeca 2008 Diary: Day 1 and 2