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Tribeca Festival · 2013

Tribeca Festival 2013

Spotlight

Tribeca’s Spotlight section offers world premieres and advance premieres with bold-faced names, topics of interest from both established and emerging filmmakers.

Programme

33 films · 14 reviews

Jump to a film

At Any Price

Review preview for At Any Price

Dennis Quaid plays Henry Whipple with so much tension in his face that you might expect a little alien to pop out of his temple at any given moment.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 3.5 out of 5
A story of fathers and sons set against the backdrop of an Iowa farming community.

(Country: US; Year: 2012; Director: Ramin Bahrani; Writer: Ramin Bahrani, Hallie Elizabeth Newton; Stars: Zac Efron, Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham, Clancy Brown, KimDickens, Chelcie Ross)

Full review

New York premiere. Narrative

Adult World

Amy is naïve, awkward and anxious to get her poetry career off of the ground. She begrudgingly accepts a job at the local sex shop, Adult World, while pursuing a surefire kick-start for her success: a mentorship with reclusive writer Rat Billings. As Amy’s world melds with that of Adult World, she slowly learns that inspiration can be found in the most improbable places.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Scott Coffey; Writer: Andy Cochran; Stars: John Cusack, Emma Roberts, Armando Riesco, Shannon Woodward, Chris Riggi, Darin Scott, Scott Coffey)

World premiere. Narrative

All Is Bright (Almost Christmas)

Review preview for All Is Bright

Like the advent calendar Rene gives to Michi to count down the days to Christmas, the film holds a surprising number of sweet treats, despite its austere veneer.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
An ex-con and his erstwhile partner bicker and bond as they try to get rich before Christmas.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Phil Morrison; Writer: Melissa James Gibson; Stars: Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti, Sally Hawkins, Amy Landecker, Peter Hermann, Michael Drayer)

Full review

World premiere. Narrative

Before Midnight

Review preview for Before Midnight

A fairytale for old romantics everywhere, who believe that the weapons of friendship and commitment are as vital in the fight for a relationship, as love.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Jesse and Celine consider their lives together after nine years of living together.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Richard Linklater; Writer: Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater; Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Ariane Labed, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick)

Full review

New York premiere. Narrative

Big Bad Wolves

Review preview for Big Bad Wolves

Definitely one of this year’s most accomplished thrillers.

David Graham · 4 out of 5
Two vigilantes kidnap a suspected child-killer.

(Country: Israel; Year: 2013; Director: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado; Writer: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado; Stars: Lior Ashkenazi, Tzahi Grad, Rotem Keinan, Doval'e Glickman)

Full review

World premiere. Narrative

Bottled Up

Complaining of back pain months after a car accident, Sylvie’s addiction to painkillers is clear to everyone except her mother, Faye. A promising solution appears in Becket, but relationships and loyalty are soon tested when his feelings fall in an unexpected place.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Enid Zentelis; Writer: Enid Zentelis; Stars: Melissa Leo, Marin Ireland, Josh Hamilton)

World premiere. Narrative

Byzantium

Review preview for Byzantium

Neil Jordan skilfully examines the nature of time and the theme that he surveys like no other filmmaker - what it means to physically be in two places at once.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4 out of 5
Two vampires, mother and daughter, open a seaside bordello.

(Country: UK, US, Ireland; Year: 2012; Director: Neil Jordan; Writer: Moira Buffini; Stars: Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Jonny Lee Miller, Sam Riley, Tom Hollander, Caleb Landry Jones)

Full review

US premiere. Narrative

A Case Of You

A young writer woos a cute and quirky barista by creating an embellished online profile. When she falls for his alter ego, he must keep up the act or lose his dream girl.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Kat Coiro; Writer: Christian Long, Justin Long, Keir O'Donnell; Stars: Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Peter Dinklage, Sam Rockwell, Brendan Fraser, Sienna Miller, Vince Vaughn)

World premiere. Narrative

Cycling With Molière (Alceste à bicyclette)

Once-great actor Serge Tanneur now spends his days alone, cycling through the windblown landscape of France’s Île de Ré. Even an offer from his old friend Gauthier to return to the stage in Molière’s The Misanthrope fails to draw his interest. At least, at first.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: Philippe Le Guay; Writer: Philippe Le Guay, Fabrice Luchini; Stars: Fabrice Luchini, Lambert Wilson, Maya Sansa, CAmille Japy, Ged Marlon)

International premiere. Narrative

The Director

How do you make one of the world's most revered fashion brands your own? That is the task facing creative director Frida Giannini in this authoritative look at the past, present and future of The House of Gucci.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Stephen David Brooks; Writer: Stephen David Brooks)

World premiere. Documentary

Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me

Review preview for Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me

Karasawa's film is at its strongest when Stritch is allowed to open up her life to us in all its intimate detail.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Documentary about the broadway legend.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Chiemi Karasawa; Stars: Cherry Jones, Elaine Stritch)

Full review See: An audience with Stritch , Tribeca Film Festival - Gore Vidal: The United States of America, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, Kiss The Water and Teenage

World premiere. Documentary

The English Teacher

Teacher Linda Sinclair balances her staid home life with an incredible passion for her subject, but her routine is forever altered when a former star pupil and his unsupportive father re-enter her life.

(Country: US; Year: 2012; Director: Craig Zisk; Writer: Dan Chariton, Stacy Chariton; Stars: Lily Colins, Julianne Moore, Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Nathan Lane)

World premiere. Narrative

Gasland Part II

Documentary follow-up to Gasland, revealing the extreme circumstances facing those affected by fracking, from earthquakes to the use of federal anti-terror psychological operations tactics.

(Director: Josh Fox)

World premiere. Documentary

G.B.F.

Review preview for G.B.F.

A light, fluffy concoction but one so playful and unpretentious that it's easy to like.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
After being accidentally outed, a shy teenager finds he has become the ultimate fashion accessory - the Gay Best Friend.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Darren Stein; Writer: George Northy; Stars: Michael J Willett, Sasha Pieterse, Evanna Lynch, Megan Mullally, natasha Lyonee, Rebecca Gayheart)

Full review See: Interview with Darren Stein and Michael J Willett about G.B.F.

World premiere. Narrative

Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia

Review preview for Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia

Wrathall's considered, thorough and thoroughly entertaining film gives not just a sense of the man but also the importance to the world of iconoclasts like him.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
Documentary about the fearless essayist.

(Year: 2013; Director: Nicholas Wrathall)

Full review See: Nicholas Wrathall interview on Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia , Tribeca Film Festival preview 2013

World premiere. Documentary

Greetings From Tim Buckley

A biopic chronicling the days leading up to Jeff Buckley's performance at his father's tribute concert.

(Country: US; Year: 2012; Director: Daniel Algrant; Writer: Daniel Algrant, David Brendel; Stars: Penn Badgley, Imogen Poots, William Sadler)

US premiere. Narrative

Haute Cuisine (Les saveurs du Palais)

Review preview for Haute Cuisine

Haute Cuisine is as earth shattering as a lip-smacking mushroom - you will want to have a good dinner afterwards.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 3.5 out of 5
Drama based on the real-life story of the personal chef to former French president François Mitterand.

(Country: France; Year: 2012; Director: Christian Vincent; Writer: Etienne Comar, Christian Vincent, Danièle Mazet-Delpeuch; Stars: Catherine Frot, Arthur Dupont, Jean d'Ormesson, Hippolyte Girardot, Jean-Marc Roulot, Philippe Uchan)

Full review See: Interview with Danièle Delpeuch about Haute Cuisine

North American premiere. Narrative

Inside Out: The People's Art Project

This fascinating documentary tracks the evolution of the world’s largest participatory art project, the wildly popular “Inside Out.” Travel the globe with French artist JR as he motivates communities to define their most important causes by pasting giant portraits in the street, testing the limits of what they thought possible.

(Director: Alastair Siddons)

World premiere. Documentary

In God We Trust

Bernie Madoff ruined many lives before his arrest in 2008. Perhaps no one was so personally affected as his longtime personal secretary, Eleanor Squillari. Meet Squillari in the days and months after the arrest, as her obsession with the case grows into her own unique search for clues. In God We Trust follows Squillari on her personal journey for justice, exposing previously unknown facts about the greatest financial crime ever committed.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Victor Kubicek, Derek Anderson)

World premiere. Documentary

I Got Somethin' to Tell You

Having broken racial and sexual boundaries as a pioneering comic talent, the late Moms Mabley has long been an icon in the comedy world. Now Whoopi Goldberg takes a deep dive into Mabley’s legacy via recently unearthed photography, rediscovered performance footage and the words of numerous celebrated comedians.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Whoopi Goldberg; Stars: Whoopi Goldberg, Moms Mabley)

World premiere. Documentary

Lil Bub & Friendz

alled “the most famous cat on the Internet,” the wide-eyed perma-kitten Lil Bub is the adorable embodiment of the Web’s fascination with all things cats. Join Lil Bub and her owner on wild cross-country romp as they meet the Internet’s most famous cat-lebrities.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Andy Capper, Juliette Eisner)

World premiere. Documentary

McConkey

An all-star roster of sports movie-making talent directs this heartfelt biography of extreme ski trailblazer Shane McConkey, once described as “the most influential skier ever.” McConkey covers forty years and countless high places to track Shane’s conversion from downhill racer to freeskiing marvel to pioneer of a hair-raising new discipline—ski BASE jumping—giving alarming new meaning to the question, how far would you go to be the next big thing?

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Steve Winter, Murray Wais, Scott Gaffney, David Zieff, Rob Bruce)

World premiere. Documentary

The Motivation

Go inside the lives and training regimes of eight of the world’s gutsiest professional skateboarders.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Adam Bhala Lough)

World premiere. Documentary

Prince Avalanche

Review preview for Prince Avalanche

The end result is a kind of funny/kind of sad character study that asks questions about our relationships with others and our environment.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Odd couple comedy about two road workers in the backwaters of Texas.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: David Gordon Green; Writer: David Gordon Green; Stars: Paul Rudd, Emile Hirsch, Lance LeGault, Joyce Payne)

Full review See: David Gordon Green interview about Prince Avalanche

New York premiere. Narrative

The Pretty One

Audrey has all of the qualities that her twin sister Laurel wishes she possessed: confidence, style, independence. When tragedy strikes, Laurel has the opportunity to reinvent herself. In a complex performance, Zoe Kazan poignantly captures Laurel’s complex mix of loss and awakening, especially as she begins a new relationship with her neighbour.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Jenée LaMarque; Writer: Jenée LaMarque; Stars: Jake Johnson, Zoe Kazan, Ron Livingston, Sterling Beaumon, john Carroll)

World premiere. Narrative

The Project

The precarious, real-life story of the Puntland Maritime Police Force, a group of Somali pirate hunters. Taking the hijacking of the African waterways and the kidnapping of innocent citizens into their under-trained hands, the PMPF face mutiny, death and a loss of corporate funding in their dangerous quest to free the Middle East shipping industry from terror. The mercenaries’ epic battle makes for an intense, gripping and disarming ride.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Shawn Efran, Adam Ciralsky)

World premiere. Documentary

Reaching For The Moon

Review preview for Reaching For The Moon

Barreto's film is a stylish feast for the eyes, registering the nuances of the 50s turning into the 60s.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4.5 out of 5
The poet Elizabeth Bishop falls in love and finds inspiration.

(Country: Brazil; Year: 2013; Director: Bruno Barreto; Stars: Miranda Otto, Gloria Pires, Tracy Middendorf, Treat Williams) , Trailer

Full review See: Bruno Barreto on Reaching For The Moon

North American premiere. Narrative

Richard Pryor: Omit The Logic

Review preview for Richard Pryor: Omit The Logic

This may be a jet-ski ride over Pryor's life rather than a deep-sea dive but it offers a firm celebration that's likely to encourage those who have watched it to seek out more material from the man himself - and that can never be a bad thing.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Profile of the stand-up comedian.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Marina Zenovich; Writer: Peter Morgan)

Full review

World premiere. Documentary

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Review preview for The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Through heartfelt and very conventional storytelling Nair simplifies, pleads, and misses the chances to shift the very current problematics into a new light.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 3 out of 5
A successful stockbroker finds his glittering career shattered after the Twin Towers fall, and is drawn back to the conflict in his homeland of Pakistan.

(Country: US, India, Pakistan; Year: 2012; Director: Mira Nair; Writer: William Wheeler, Mohsin Hamid, Ami Boghani; Stars: Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland)

Full review

US premiere. Narrative

A Single Shot

A hunter who accidentally shoots a woman decides to cover up the accident after finding a bag of money.

(Country: US, UK, Canada; Year: 2013; Director: David M. Rosenthal; Stars: Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy, Kelly Reilly, Jason Isaacs, Jeffrey Wright)

North American premiere. Narrative

Some Velvet Morning

Fred arrives at Velvet’s doorstep, suitcases in tow. He tells her that he has finally left his wife to be with her, news to Velvet since she has not seen him in years and is now with Fred’s recently married son. As Fred’s hopes crash to earth during a conversation brimming with passion, remorse, humour and anger, the twisted heart of a fascinating relationship is revealed.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Neil LaBute; Writer: Neil LaBute; Stars: Stanley Tucci, Alice Eve )

World premiere. Narrative

Trust Me

Flailing Hollywood agent Howard seemingly strikes gold after signing the next big child star. What results is an unexpected ride through the nasty inner workings of Hollywood, as Howard desperately tries to make it in an industry that has no interest in recognising his bumbling but ultimately genuine nature.

(Country: US; Year: 2013; Director: Clark Gregg; Writer: Clark Gregg; Stars: Sam Rockwell, Amanda Peet, William H Macy, Allison Janney, Clark Gregg, Felicity Huffman, Molly Shannon)

World premiere. Narrative

Whitewash

Review preview for Whitewash

The absurdly marvellous timing Haden Church has with Labrèche when they discuss glass eyes or the future, makes Whitewash also wonderfully, desperately funny.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4.5 out of 5
A man finds an encounter with a stranger changes his life forever.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2012; Director: Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais; Writer: Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais, Marc Tulin; Stars: Thomas Haden Church, Marc Labrèche, Vincent Hoss-Desmarais, Geneviève Laroche, Isabelle Nélisse)

Full review See: Interview with Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais about Whitewash , Interview with Thomas Haden Church and Marc Labrèche about Whitewash.

World premiere. Narrative