Tag Archives: tribeca

Kevin Spacey is sassy, Michael Shannon is sarcastic, totally entertaining Johnny Knoxville at the press conference for ‘Elvis & Nixon’

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Elvis & Nixon press conferenceFirst to come to the table was Michael Shannon, sporting a jean jacket with one of his latest movies, Midnight Special, on the back. That movie recently opened, and Shannon has three movies playing at this year’s festival. Elvis & Nixon, Wolves and Poor Boy.

Elvis & Nixon premieres tonight!

Kevin Spacey was asked the most questions, but had lots of fun with his answers. He describes Nixon as “remarkably uncomfortable in chairs.”

Johnny Knoxville laughed uproariously at almost everything Spacey or Shannon said, saying that to “hear Kevin swear as Nixon is very satisfying.”

Shannon describes sitting next to Jerry Schilling driving around Memphis, when Schilling received a phone call from Priscilla [Presley]. “It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life.”

Elvis & Nixon

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Jerry Schilling (left) and Alex Pettyfer (righ) on the set of ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Jerry Schilling (left) and Alex Pettyfer (righ) on the set of ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
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Michael Shannon stars as Elvis Presley in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Michael Shannon stars as Elvis Presley in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Alex Pettyfer stars as Jerry Schilling in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Alex Pettyfer stars as Jerry Schilling in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Colin Hanks stars as Egil Krogh (left) and Evan Peters stars as Dwight Chapin (right) in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Colin Hanks stars as Egil Krogh (left) and Evan Peters stars as Dwight Chapin (right) in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Michael Shannon stars as Elvis Presley (center) with Johnny Knoxville as Sonny (left) and Alex Pettyfer as Jerry Schilling (right) in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Michael Shannon stars as Elvis Presley (center) with Johnny Knoxville as Sonny (left) and Alex Pettyfer as Jerry Schilling (right) in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Johnny Knoxville stars as Sonny in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Johnny Knoxville stars as Sonny in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Kevin Spacey stars as Richard Nixon (left) and Michael Shannon stars as Elvis Presley (right) in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Kevin Spacey stars as Richard Nixon (left) and Michael Shannon stars as Elvis Presley (right) in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
(Left to Right) Egil "Bud" Krogh, Evan Peters, Kevin Spacey, Johnny Knoxville, Michael Shannon, Jerry Schilling, and Alex Pettyfer on the set of ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
(Left to Right) Egil “Bud” Krogh, Evan Peters, Kevin Spacey, Johnny Knoxville, Michael Shannon, Jerry Schilling, and Alex Pettyfer on the set of ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Kevin Spacey stars as Richard Nixon in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Kevin Spacey stars as Richard Nixon in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
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Colin Hanks stars as Egil Krogh in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Colin Hanks stars as Egil Krogh in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Kevin Spacey stars as Richard Nixon in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Kevin Spacey stars as Richard Nixon in Liza Johnson’s ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Director Liza Johnson and Kevin Spacey on the set of ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.
Director Liza Johnson and Kevin Spacey on the set of ELVIS & NIXON, an Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street release.

Tribeca Interview/Review: Razor sharp ‘Women Who Kill’ from NYC director Ingrid Jungermann

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women who kilIn Women Who Kill, Morgan and Jean are an ex-couple who live together and host a podcast together on women serial killers in Park Slope, Brooklyn. When Morgan starts dating someone new, Jean suspects the mysterious, Simone, to be a serial killer herself. Original and hilarious, you never quite know what to believe.

The banter between Morgan and Jean is silly and witty. I really enjoyed seeing an ex-couple portrayed as people who are much better as friends than as lovers. It’s odd how often you don’t see that.

The term “first time director” is used to describe Ingrid Jungermann, who writes, directs and stars as Morgan, but she’s not a novice. She may be a first time feature director, but Jungermann has produced two different web series, The Slope and F to 7th with several A-list actors. She’s been writing and acting for over 20 years and you would never guess this is her first feature.

Episode 1: “Miserable Animals” from The Slope on Vimeo.

I got a chance to have a lovely conversation with Jungermann where we talked about everything from video stores to virtual reality. I felt an immediate connection with her after reading about her growing up in a small town and working in a video store. Both of us have a love for the escapism of the movies but unlike me, she pursued acting and directing to create her own movies.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Jungermann started acting in high school and when she realized that there weren’t many parts for her and her friends, she decided to create them herself.

I asked her what made her decide to go from short form to feature, she explains, “it was all part of the plan.” She also says, “the web series was a way for me to make my own rules and taught me about feature filmmaking.” During the second season of F to 7th, she was working on her feature and developing the three act structure.

I had never considered the difference between, but it’s all about structure. In her web series, F to 7th, each episode is about 5 minutes long and each play out as scenes as part of the entire series. They aren’t directly related, but are connected through the characters. Jungermann uses several of the stories and characters from the series in her feature, and it comes together brilliantly.

“I don’t think I really understood feature filmmaking until this film. But what I didn’t realize is how much I love web series.” She describes that she really couldn’t get a grasp on short films and when she discovered a web series option, she jumped at it.

Jungermann would also love to write a virtual reality comedy. She won me over she defended it saying that it won’t ruin movies, “it’s another dimension.”

Jungermann is working on a new sci-fi feminist thriller with Stewart Thorndike who directed Lyle (below) with Gaby Hoffman.


Also recommended was Krishna, which is playing in theaters in New York right now.

7 documentaries to see at the Tribeca Film Festival

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Ghostheads

Brendan Mertens’ documentary exploring the many faces of Ghostbusters fandom and celebrating 30 years of one of cinema’s most iconic franchises.Featuring interviews with Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman, Sigourney Weaver, and Paul Feig.

HaveababyHaveababy

Infertility is just the beginning of a long road in the quest to have a child for the couples at the center of haveababy, Amanda Micheli’s documentary profile of patients of a Las Vegas fertility clinic. Each year, the clinic hosts a YouTube-based competition called “I Believe,” which gives one lucky couple a shot at an in vitro fertilization treatment they could not otherwise afford. Hundreds of couples apply, yet there can be only one winner. Even after the competition ends, Micheli’s sensitive lens continues to follow the ups and downs of the various competitors—depicting the enormous physical and emotional toll of this journey, and for some, the inspirational rewards on the other side.

—Genna Terranova

life animated

Life, Animated

I had actually heard of Owen’s story when it was featured on a RadioLab episode. As a Disney fan and as a former teacher working with children on the spectrum, seeing this family’s story on the big screen really touched my heart. I adored the integration of hand drawn animation in telling stories from Owen’s past. It’s an important film for so many families struggling to understand that they are not alone. I am excited for it’s release in July. – Liz

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Midsummer In Newtown

In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a theater production comes to Newtown, Connecticut, seeking to cast local children in a rock-pop version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The project is aimed at healing the hearts and minds of a community devastated by the school shooting that occurred just over one year prior to production. From auditions and read-throughs to dress rehearsals; we witness the children find their voice, build their self-confidence, and ultimately shine on opening night. In parallel, we see a grieving family honor their daughter through the creation of a jazz album dedicated to her memory. The film culminates in a moving performance by Jimmy Greene and the pensive words of Nelba Márquez-Greene. Midsummer in Newtown is a testament to the transformative force of artistic expression to pierce through the shadow cast by trauma, and to the resilience of a community that is fighting to not be defined by tragedy.

The Grammy-nominated Jimmy Greene Quartet will perform after the premiere screening.

—Marina Hanna

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My Scientology Movie

‘I find that the most inexplicable behavior is motivated by very relatable human impulses,’ comments Louis Theroux as he heads to Los Angeles for his feature documentary, in collaboration with director John Dower and two-time Academy Award–winning producer Simon Chinn, exploring the Church of Scientology. Following a long fascination with the religion and with much experience in dealing with eccentric, unpalatable, and unexpected human behavior, the beguilingly unassuming Theroux won’t take no for an answer when his request to enter the Church’s headquarters is turned down. Inspired by the Church’s use of filming techniques and aided by ex-members of the organization, Theroux uses actors to replay some incidents people claim they experienced as members in an attempt to better understand the way it operates. In a bizarre twist, it becomes clear that the Church is also making a film about Louis Theroux. Suffused with a good dose of humor and moments worthy of a Hollywood script, My Scientology Movie is as outlandish as it is revealing.

—Shayna Weingast

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Pistol Shrimps

Brent Hodge and Morgan Spurlock (A Brony Tale, TFF 2014) spin a variation on the classic underdog story told in fun-loving and free-wheeling style. Their focus: an eclectic group of actresses, musicians, writers, comedians, and moms who compete in the Los Angeles women’s recreational basketball league. With team names guaranteed to make you smile (Shecago Bulls, Traveling Pants, Space Glam, Ba Dunka Dunks, LA Nail Clippers), this documentary shows that girls not only wanna have fun, they wanna ball too. The team that started it all is the Pistol Shrimps, whose lineup includes Aubrey Plaza (Parks & Recreation). From inspiring a podcast to creating their own merchandise, this group of exceptional women proves that organized sports can be enjoyed at any age and any skill level. Talented both on and off the court, they prove all the haters wrong as they full-court press their way to glory. Haters beware!

—Karen Kemmerle

team foxcatcher tribeca 2016

Team Foxcatcher

Meant to be a retreat for elite American athletes, Foxcatcher Farms, and all it was intended to represent, was lost in the paranoid downward spiral of its troubled benefactor John Du Pont. Heir to the Du Pont family fortune, John Du Pont funneled his considerable resources into his love of sports—wrestling in particular. Aiming to reinvigorate the US Olympic wrestling team, Du Pont created Foxcatcher, and invited gold medal champion Dave Schultz to lead the charge. What began as an idealistic sports idyll soon deteriorated into suspicion, distrust, and ultimately murder.

Through fascinating archival footage and never-before-seen home videos shot during Schultz’s time at the farm, director Jon Greenhalgh’s absorbing film unpacks the events leading up to Foxcatcher’s well-documented tragedy, exploring the complex and contradictory character of Du Pont, while serving as a poignant memoir to the legacy of Schultz as a champion wrestler, husband, and father. Team Foxcatchercharts a true American tragedy of Olympic dreams, ambition, mental illness, and murder.

—Cara Cusumano

Happy 15th Anniversary! TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 started today. Check out some of the films we’re excited about!

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Tribeca-2016-RND

For such a new festival, only 15 years old, the Tribeca Film Festival is well known and becomes more attended every year with almost 500 screenings and over 467,000 attendees in 2015. The screenings take place at 5 different venues throughout lower Manhattan and represent over 40 countries.

“Over 400 films have been acquired after premiering at Tribeca. On average, more than half of available films find distribution within a year of their Tribeca premiere.”

Melissa and I are very excited about several movies this year, and we’d like to share which are on our lists. Here’s the top three for each, in no particular order. We’ll be sharing more day by day. We’ve already got a few interviews lined up and we’ll be tweeting and instagramming some of the unique experiences from the Tribeca Hub. Stayed tuned!

devil and the deep blue sea tribeca

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Based on Jason Sudeikis’ brilliant performance in last year’s Tumbledown, I’m excited to see him in another drama. Plus Maisie Williams AND a score by Justin Timberlake, what’s not to look forward to? – Liz

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Women Who Kill

Sharp dialogue and an intriguing premise make this one of my favorites so far. – Melissa

don't think twice tribeca

Don’t Think Twice

Having seen Mike Birbiglia’s comedy in person, his particular brand of humor is something everyone can relate to. Sleepwalk With Me was a Tribeca hit and if Ira Glass is producing your work, well that says a whole lot about the quality. – Liz

Here aloneHere, Alone

Remember those first few episodes of The Walking Dead when life was turned upside down and you watched people change? This movie captures that through the eyes of a young woman trying to survive. Less zombies, more humans = better story. – Melissa

High RiseHigh Rise

Tom Hiddleston and Jeremy Irons are at the helm of this breathtaking adaptation of the J.G. Ballard novel. Being familiar with Ben Wheatley’s other work, I was blown away by the colorful feast I was treated to. The entire ensemble cast is beyond stellar. Wrought with foreshadowing, both auditory and visual, from the music to the cinematic framing, High Rise is an incredibly cool and poignant commentary on class warfare. – Liz

nullWolves

I love a deep drama, and look forward to this story of a boy growing up in New York City. – Melissa

TFF16_SlateAnnoucementGrid_ESPNFeatures-Tribeca 2016

For tickets and more information in the meantime, visit TribecaFilm.com

Review: ‘THE MEND’ shoves a mirror up to adulthood.

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The Mend posterWhat happens when two self destructing brothers come face to face in a small NYC apartment? Chaos and truth are forced into the light in John Magary‘s first full length feature, THE MEND. Josh Lucas and Stephen Plunkett play mind games with one another and themselves in this existential mid-life crisis. The Mend still Stephen and JoshAlan and girlfriend Farrah are on their way out of town but not before throwing an intimate get together as a send off for their travels. Freeloading brother (and oftentimes asshole of a human) Mat shows up after his girlfriend Andrea kicks him out. The two are clearly estranged for reasons that come to light in subtle and brilliant ways as the story progresses. Alan and Farrah leave the next morning and Mat takes it upon himself to squat in the apartment, eventually inviting Andrea and her son Ronnie to join them. The small space leads to confessions on all parts when Alan returns sans Farrah. Three adults and one child in a one bedroom in the city is a sure fire recipe for some serious self analysis and confrontation. Booze, drugs, rage, pity, blame all come into play as these people face the cynicism of adulthood and circumstance. The Men Josh LucasLucas nails this role. His brash, disgusting habits and frankly haggard outwardly appearance make this role extra juicy. He is both unapologetic and somehow down to earth all at once. Plunkett tries to play cool and steady but he is not so secretly a mess. The blatant similarities between the two brothers becomes a beautiful revelation. Lucy Owen as Andrea is an emotional volcano and I loved everything about her vulnerability. Ronnie is played by the spectacular Cory Nichols. Another refreshing performance following up from Tribeca’s KING JACK. What a natural. Magary‘s script and ability to make the familiar seem new is so intriguing. Small seemingly mundane scenes are anything but. The Mend has this throwback feeling to it. Something about the mix of music and watered down hipster mentality makes it quite the work of art. You can catch The Mend today in NYC and next Friday in L.A., with a national release throughout the fall.

Synopsis:

For anyone who’s ever loathed and loved a sibling in equal measure, The Mend is the wonderfully strange and acidic debut comedy from writer / director John Magary. Shot through with the wicked humor and anarchy of Bruce Robinson’s Withnail & I and Mike Leigh’s Naked , The Mend follows a mismatched yin-yang pair of NYC brothers, loose cannon Mat (Josh Lucas in a career-best performance) and put-upon Alan (Stephen Plunkett) as they stagger dimly towards some understanding of love, women, masculinity and what it truly means to be a brother.

Featuring a gorgeous, minimalist score by Michi Wiancko & Judd Greenstein and beautiful, fluid cinematography by Chris Teague (Obvious Child), the film unfolds as three stylistically distinct but interwoven acts, each with its own mesmerizing rhythm. With superb supporting performances by Mickey Sumner (Frances Ha) and Lucy Owen as the brothers’ sharp-tongued girlfriends.

4 FREE Summer Talks you must check out this month at Film Society Lincoln Center! Lily Tomlin, Josh Lucas, Matthew Broderick & Alice Eve

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film-society-of-lincoln-centerFree tickets will be distributed at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center box office (144 West 65th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam) on a first-come, first-served basis starting one hour prior to the talks. Limit one ticket per person, subject to availability. For those unable to attend, video from the event will be available online at filmlinc.org. Check back on the website as well, for updates and additions for Free Fall Talks.

DESCRIPTIONS & SCHEDULE
Grandma_Press_1 TribecaLily Tomlin and Paul Weitz (Grandma)
For decades, Lily Tomlin has been a trailblazer in American comedy with a career that has spanned the big screen, television, Broadway, and comedy recordings. Her latest film project is Grandma, a comedy-drama written, produced, and directed by Paul Weitz.In Grandma, Tomlin plays Ellie, a lesbian poet coping with the recent death of her longtime life partner. After she discovers that her 18-year-old granddaughter is pregnant, the two embark on a road trip to overcome their troubles. Grandma is Tomlin’s first leading role in two decades, following the 1988 comedy Big Business (opposite Bette Midler), and it is her second collaboration with Weitz, who previously directed her in the 2013 film Admission. Writing in Variety, Scott Foundas called Grandma “an initially breezy family comedy about mothers, daughters and abortions that slowly sneaks up on you and packs a major wallop.” Grandma opens theatrically on August 21.Join Tomlin and Weitz at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center’s Amphitheater for a discussion about Grandma and their celebrated careers.
Monday, August 17, 6:30pm
Here’s what Melissa & Liz had to say when they saw it at Tribeca.

We’ve only gotten a tease of Tomlin over the past few years, but she’s back with a comedic performance that rivals any dramatic one. So wrong, yet so perfect, her delivery gives the dialogue an extra edge that almost makes you feel guilty as you laugh out loud. I can’t wait to see her and Jane Fonda in Grace and Frankie on Netflix. – Melissa

 

Tomlin is an indisputable legend. Her comic timing is like watching Mozart create a symphony. This film is an absolute gem that tackles so many relevant issues without one ounce of preachiness. I have always been a huge fan and I am crossing my fingers this garners her an Oscar nod. -Liz

Z for Zachariah 1Chiwetel Ejiofor and Craig Zobel (Z for Zachariah)
Following his Oscar-nominated performance in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor continues to tackle an exciting range of projects, including the miniseries Dancing on the Edge, which earned him an Emmy nomination for his performance as Louis Lester, and, most recently, Craig Zobel’s Z for Zachariah, a post-apocalyptic science-fiction film based on Robert C. O’Brien’s posthumously published novel. In Zobel’s follow-up to his riveting and disturbing Compliance, Z for Zachariah centers on a trio who come together following a mysterious global disaster that spares only a small lush valley. There, a young woman who believes she is the last human on Earth (Margot Robbie), meets John (Chiwetel), a dying scientist searching for survivors. Their relationship becomes tenuous when another survivor (Chris Pine) appears, and as the two men compete for her affections, their primal urges begin to reveal their true nature. Rich with themes of envy, hatred, and desire, Zobel’s latest film has been described as a twist on the Garden of Eden. Z for Zachariah opens theatrically August 28.Join Ejiofor and Zobel in the Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center as they discuss Z for Zachariah, as well as their careers and future projects.

Wednesday, August 19, 6:30pm

the mendJosh Lucas, John Magary, Stephen Plunkett, Lucy Owen, and Austin Pendleton (The Mend)
Actor Josh Lucas is familiar to audiences for his work in American Psycho (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Hulk (2003), Poseidon (2006), among others. And now he stars in The Mend, a wonderfully strange and acidic debut comedy from writer-director John Magary.

The Mend is for anyone who’s ever loathed and loved a sibling in equal measure. It follows a yin-yang pair of brothers in New York City, loose-cannon Mat (Lucas) and put-upon Alan (Stephen Plunkett) as they stagger dimly toward some understanding of love, women, masculinity, and what it truly means to be blood-related. Featuring a gorgeous, minimalist score by Michi Wiancko and Judd Greenstein and beautiful, fluid cinematography by Chris Teague (Obvious Child), The Mend unfolds as three stylistically distinct but interwoven acts, each with its own mesmerizing rhythm. The film also stars Mickey Sumner (Frances Ha) and Lucy Owen as the brothers’ sharp-tongued girlfriends and Austin Pendleton as their uncle. John DeFore praised The Mend in The Hollywood Reporter, noting: “Josh Lucas offers one of his strongest performances to date … A convincing and refreshingly indirect examination of handed down emotional flaws,” and Scott Macaulay said in Filmmaker magazine: “The Mend is a deliciously bitter minuet, gloriously unstable in its scene construction, shifting points of view and tone.”

Lucas and Magary, as well as co-stars Plunkett, Owen, and Pendleton, will appear at the Amphitheater in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center one day before the film’s theatrical release to answer questions about the movie and more.

Thursday, August 20, 6:30pm

Dirty-Weekend_Press_1 TribecaNeil LaBute, Matthew Broderick, and Alice Eve (Dirty Weekend)
Matthew Broderick has been a mainstay of the stage and screen since the early ’80s, appearing as the title character in John Hughes’s iconic comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in addition to memorable roles in Ladyhawke, The Torch Song Trilogy, and Glory. On Broadway, he has received Tony Awards for his performances in Brighton Beach Memoirs and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He also received a Tony nomination for The Producers. Now he returns to big-screen comedy with Dirty Weekend, directed by Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men) and co-starring Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness).

During a layover in Albuquerque, colleagues Les (Matthew Broderick) and Natalie (Alice Eve) discover more about each other than they ever thought possible. Anxious and irritable, Les is drawn back into the city by past experiences he can’t forget (even if he doesn’t really remember the particulars of his previous drunken adventure). Natalie, refusing to leave his side, follows along as her own secrets are slowly revealed, leaving her feeling both vulnerable and unbound. Dirty Weekend opens theatrically on September 4.

Join Matthew Broderick, Alice Eve, and Neil LaBute for the final Summer Talk of the year at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center Amphitheater.
Tuesday, August 25, 6:30pm

ABOUT FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
Founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, the Film Society of Lincoln Center works to recognize established and emerging filmmakers, support important new work, and to enhance the awareness, accessibility, and understanding of the moving image. The Film Society produces the renowned New York Film Festival, a curated selection of the year’s most significant new film work, and presents or collaborates on other annual New York City festivals including Dance on Camera, Film Comment Selects, Human Rights Watch Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, New York African Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival, New York Jewish Film Festival, Open Roads: New Italian Cinema and Rendez-Vous with French Cinema. In addition to publishing the award-winning Film Comment magazine, the Film Society recognizes an artist’s unique achievement in film with the prestigious Chaplin Award, whose 2015 recipient was Robert Redford. The Film Society’s state-of-the-art Walter Reade Theater and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, located at Lincoln Center, provide a home for year-round programs and the New York City film community.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from American Airlines, The New York Times, HBO, Stella Artois, The Kobal Collection, Variety, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.

The most hilarious comedy of the summer ‘Sleeping With Other People’ finally releases a trailer!

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Sleeping With Other People_Press_1 TribecaI loved this movie at Tribeca, as is documented in many places. I laughed so much it hurt. This is not a romantic comedy. It makes no apologies, it’s a sex comedy. I gushed about it often.

Can two serial cheaters get a second chance at love? After a one-night stand in college, New Yorkers Lainey (Alison Brie) and Jake (Jason Sudeikis) meet by chance twelve years later and discover they each have the same problem: because of their monogamy-challenged ways, neither can maintain a relationship. Determined to stay friends despite their mutual attraction, they make a pact to keep it platonic, a deal that proves easier said than done. Fresh, funny, and full of witty insights about modern love, this hilariously heartfelt film “is the rare rom-com that reminds us why we love them so much in the first place” (Time Out New York). Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, Natasha Lyonne, and Jason Mantzoukas co-star.

STARRING: Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Adam Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, Katherine Waterson, Adam Brody, Amanda Peet, Marc Blucas, and Andrea Savage

RELEASE DATE: September 11, 2015

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Leslye Headland

PRODUCED BY: Sidney Kimmel, Jessica Elbaum, Adam McKay, Will Ferrell

DISTRIBUTOR: IFC Films

Check out more: www.sleepingwithotherpeoplefilm.com

 

Melissa’s Review: ‘Hungry Hearts’ creeps up slowly, grabs you & doesn’t let go

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Hungry Hearts poster

Written and directed by Saverio Costanzo, Adam Driver and Alba Rohrwacher star as Jude and Mina, in Hungry Hearts, a drama which has the slow-burning stamina of Rosemary’s Baby. A young couple, just starting out, fawn over each other and are blissfully happy. Once a child comes into the picture, the mother slowly changes and the father must determine what’s best for the child.

Hungry Hearts_4698The opening scene is an adorable meet-cute in the bathroom of a Chinese restaurant, in one long, mesmerizing shot and reflect how the characters are completely in-sync. As the film progresses, different camera lenses underline the distortion in perspective of each of the characters. It’s quite effective and very unnerving.

Hungry Hearts_8190The intentions of a mother are not something that are easily questioned. What makes this story strong is how that bias keeps with you. Just like Jude, I wanted Mina to be misunderstood. I wanted to believe she knew what’s best for her child. But it keep nagging me. I just couldn’t shake the doubt.

Hungry Hearts_7265Adam Driver is amazing and heart-wrenching as the terrified and desperate father. The pain behind his eyes at not only seeing his child suffer, but seeing his wife suffer, was heart-breaking. Alba Rohrwacher is warm, yet cold at the same time. Her body gets progressively thinner and adds another layer to an already troubled mother.

This movie will lose something if you’re not watching it 100% and really follow these characters. Make sure you see it in the theater or with complete attention at home. You’re gonna love it or hate it, there’s not much room in between.

 

 

 

Trailer of the Day: The Anti-Romance – ‘Hungry Hearts’ with Adam Driver

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Hungry Hearts_4698

***WILL BE RELEASED THEATRICALLY IN NEW YORK ON FRIDAY, JUNE 5***

New York City newlyweds Jude (Girls’ Adam Driver) and Mina (I Am Love’s Alba Rohrwacher) have a seemingly perfect relationship. But things take an unsettling turn with the birth of their son. Convinced that the baby must be kept free of all contaminants, Mina develops fanatical obsessions with veganism, cleanliness, and purity that may kill the child unless Jude can stop her. With stunning performances from Driver and Rohrwacher, this intense psychological drama suggests that sometimes a parent’s love can be the scariest thing of all.

DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY: Saverio Costanzo
STARRING: Adam Driver, Alba Rohrwacher
RUN TIME: 118 MINUTES

TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL begins tomorrow! RND has a few (40) recommendations

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tribeca film festival 2015 logoThis year’s fest is bigger and better than ever! We’re very excited here at Reel News Daily to bring you the very best of what’s screening. Get ready for interviews, roundups, special events, and reviews coming your way. Here are the films we recommend… so far!

 

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Tribeca Film Festival 2015 MarqueeDocumentary Selections

INDIAN POINTIndian_POint_Press_3 Tribeca

TFF 2015 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
  • Release Year: 2015
  • Runtime: 94 minutes
  • Directed By: Ivy Meeropol
  • Country: USA
Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant looms just 35 miles from Times Square. With over 50 million people living in close proximity to the aging facility, its continued operation has generated controversy for the surrounding community. In the brewing fight for clean energy and the catastrophic possibilities of complacency, director Ivy Meeropol weaves a startling portrait of our uncertain nuclear future. 

SCREENING TIMES

FRI 4/17 5:30 PM SVA Theater 2 Beatrice
SUN 4/19 3:45 PM Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-1
WED 4/22 3:30 PM Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 6
FRI 4/24 6:15 PM Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 4

Read More →

Tickets to the Tribeca Film Festival Now on Sale!

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Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Marquee

Tickets are on sale now at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets for the general public!

Single tickets cost $18.00 for evening, and weekend screenings, and $10.00 for weekday matinee screenings.

Single tickets can be purchased can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378) or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Regal Cinemas Battery Park (102 North End Avenue) and Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street). The 2015 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks: After the Movie and Directors Series panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.

Monty Python Cast to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail at 2015 Tribeca Film Festival

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International Premiere of the new Python documentary MONTY PYTHON -THE MEANING OF LIVE and Special Screenings of MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN, and MONTY PYTHON’S THE MEANING OF LIFE to play at TFF April 24-26

The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced a special celebration to mark the 40th Anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail including a special screening of the film and the international premiere of the documentary Monty Python – The Meaning of Live directed by Roger Graef and James Rogan. In honor of the anniversary the Festival will also host special screenings of classic Python films Monty Python’s Life of Brian and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. The five surviving members of the legendary comedy group, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, will come together for the special presentation of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, which will screen on Friday April 24 at The Beacon Theatre. Tickets to the cult classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail go on sale on March 23 at www.tribecafilm.com. The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 15-26 in downtown Manhattan.

Tribeca Film Festival 2015 MarqueeContinuing its celebration of the Pythons, the Festival will debut Monty Python – The Meaning of Live. Directed by Roger Graef and James Rogan, this feature-length documentary offers unprecedented access to the preparations and staging of the Pythons’ 2014 reunion shows at The O2 in London and gives a fascinating insight into the personalities, relationships, and circumstances that made the Pythons into a global phenomenon. Dive into the history of Monty Python on stage and discover the genesis of some of its most well-known pieces, as they prepare for their final live show. The documentary will premiere on Saturday, April 25, Monty Python’s Life of Brian will screen on April 25, and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life on April 26. Each film presentation will be followed by a Q&A with some of the members of Monty Python.

“It is hard to believe that Holy Grail was first shown 40 years ago,” said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President, Tribeca Enterprises. “The film is so brilliant and the Pythons’ influence on contemporary comedy in cinema and television is so enduring that it feels as fresh today as it did decades ago. We are honored to welcome the Pythons to Tribeca and to share stories of their groundbreaking process with our audience through the international premiere of Monty Python – The Meaning of Live.”

“It’s amazing how lack of money saved us from mediocrity. We couldn’t afford real horses,” said Terry Gilliam.

Michael Palin said, “The Pythons are looking forward very much to the Tribeca Film Festival and the chance to meet anyone who can remember why we made Monty Python and The Holy Grail. All we know is that it was a documentary about coconuts that rather lost its way. If anyone at Tribeca can explain why we made it and didn’t call it Braveheart then our visit to New York will not have been wasted.”

Eric Idle continued, “I often had the feeling the movie might make a good Broadway musical….”

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones (UK) – Special Screening. Monty Python re-creates England of 932 A.D in their first film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. When King Arthur enlists Knights to join his Round Table, they are inspired by God to go on a quest for the Holy Grail that is constantly interrupted by all manner of challenges.

Exclusive Closing Night "Monty Python Live (Mostly)"

Monty Python – The Meaning of Live, directed by Roger Graef and James Rogan (UK) – International Premiere, documentary.  While perhaps best known for its eminently quotable films, Monty Python has performed its signature, surreal humor in live shows since the group’s earliest days. Dive into the history of Monty Python’s on stage and the genesis of some of its most well-known pieces as they prepare for their last-ever live shows at The O2, London in July 2014. Monty Python – the Meaning of Live is a hilarious and illuminating survey of what is takes to bring Monty Python to the stage.

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Monty Python’s Life of Brian, directed by Terry Jones (UK) – Special Screening. Monty Python delivers an anarchic satire of both religion and Hollywood’s depiction of all things biblical with their second film. Brian Cohen, born in Bethlehem in the stable next door, by a series of absurd circumstances is caught up in the new religion and reluctantly mistaken for the promised messiah.

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Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, directed by Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam (UK) – Special Screening. Monty Python examines birth, life, death and fish in their third, final, and probably most tasteless yet funniest feature film that finally reveals The Meaning of Life.

CONNECT WITH TRIBECA: To keep up with Tribeca, visit www.tribecafilm.com/festival. Like the Tribeca Film Festival Facebook page atfacebook.com/TribecaFilm. Follow us on Twitter @TribecaFilmFest and on Instagram @tribeca and join the conversation by using the hashtag #TFF2015 or #TribecaTogether.

CONNECT WITH MONTY PYTHON on Facebook www.facebook.com/MontyPython or on twitter at @montypython and by using the hastag #MontyPython

Passes and tickets for the 2015 Festival

The new Spring Pass is on sale now at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets. This pass will provide access to Spring Studios, throughout the Festival, including innovation talks, exhibitions, and special events, as well as a resource center, and creative workspace, with food, and drinks. This Pass will also provide reduced ticket prices for select special events. The Spring Pass costs $400, discounted to $300 if purchased before April 15. Pass holders can invite one guest to accompany them to Spring Studios each day of the Festival. An Individual Day Pass for Spring Studios costs $50, discounted to $40 if purchased before April 15.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes are now on sale for American Express Card Members, and on Monday, March 9 for the general public. All advance selection packages and passes can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single tickets cost $18.00 for evening, and weekend screenings, and $10.00 for weekday matinee screenings.

Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 31 for American Express Card Members, Sunday, April 5 for downtown residents, and Monday, April 6 for the general public. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Regal Cinemas Battery Park (102 North End Avenue), Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street), and the Tribeca Film Festival creative hub at Spring Studios (50 Varick Street). The 2015 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks: After the Movie and Directors Series panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.

About the Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

 

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling.

 

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,600 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 4.9 million attendees, and has generated an estimated $900 million in economic activity for New York City.

7th Annual Reelabilities Film Festival New York – Special Guests Rory Culkin – Opens March 12th

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Rory Culkin and RJ Mitte Announced as Special Guests at the 7th Annual Reelabilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival; Opening Night Event on March 12 on the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

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At the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, Liz and I saw the fantastic Gabriel, starring Rory Culkin (and Liz interviewed him!) You get another chance to see this amazing film at this year’s Reelabilities Film Festival.

Festival to play at over 35 venues throughout New York including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Museum of the Moving Image and the New York Public Library, followed by National Tour

The largest edition of ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival includes more celebrated guest speakers than ever before. Opening night at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will include a performance by The Voice season 7’s Blessing Offor and, following the NY premiere of The Finishers, Professor Annette Insdorf will engage in conversation with award-winning director, Nils Tavernier. Rory Culkin, whose lead performance in Lou Howes’ directorial debut, Gabriel, was named “electrifying” by Variety Magazine, will discuss his role in the film after the film’s screening at JCC Manhattan.  The festival’s closing night event will include welcoming remarks from Breaking Bad‘s RJ Mitte along with a special comedy night featuring performers and comedians with disabilities.

Every film at the ReelAbilities film festival is followed by a conversation, as way of further engaging the community with the important topics presented in the films.  Panel discussions and conversations follow each of the festival’s 100+ screenings and events presented throughout the New York Metro area.

For a full list of festival speakers, visit: http://ny.reelabilities.org/guestsReelAbilities will be marking the 25th anniversary of the ADA with a Friday night dinner and screening of three films: The Astronaut’s Secret, On Beauty, and Riding My Way Back, accompanied by a discussion on New York City’s path to disability rights with historian Warren Shaw and Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, moderated by Lawrence Carter-Long (Co-Host of TCM’s The Projected Image.) This is one of over a dozen special events that the festival will be hosting, which include a disability filmmaking workshop with DCTV, art exhibits, author talks, and more.A full list of festival events, visit:http://ny.reelabilities.org/eventsPresented by JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. The festival presents award-winning films in NY and 12 additional cities throughout the USA. Discussions and other engaging programs bring the community together to explore, discuss and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.

Leading the way in accessible film and culture, ReelAbilities is presented in all accessible venues, providing captions, audio description, ASL interpretation, CART (live captioning), and information in Braille. 

Past festival guests include Sigourney Weaver, Mat Fraser, Geri Jewell, Danny Woodburn, John Hockenberry, Ben Lewin, and many others who have moderated and participated in post-screening conversations. These conversations are a core component of the festival, furthering audience understanding and consciousness about ideas raised in the films while providing a platform for in-depth discussions and audience interaction with filmmakers, actors, and issues portrayed in the films.

About The JCC in Manhattan
Located on 76th Street and Amsterdam, the JCC is a vibrant non-profit community center on the Upper West Side. The cornerstone of progressive programming in Manhattan, the JCC serves over 55,000 people annually through 1,200 programs each season that educate, inspire, and transform participants’ minds, bodies, and spirits.  Since its inception, the JCC has been committed to serving the community by offering programs and services that reach beyond neighborhood boundaries.  Programs at the JCC reach people at all stages of their lives, and serve the entire family and community.

 

 

New Trailer: ‘My Own Man’ – Original Documentary From Netflix & Executive Producer Edward Norton

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myownmanNetflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, will premiere the original documentary My Own Man, from executive producer Edward Norton on March 6, 2015. The film was written, produced and directed by David Sampliner (Dirty Work), and will premiere exclusively on Netflix in all territories where Netflix is available. Read More →