Tribeca ’07: Beyond Belief (review)

I want my life to be more than that — I want to move beyond the hatred of that day. Susan Retik and Patti Quigley are two suburban Boston moms who met after tragedy struck: their husbands were both killed on 9/11, both passengers on doomed airplanes. And they channeled their grief and their anger … more…

Tribeca ’07: Falafel (review)

Did you know that one Lebanese girl out of two is an excellent dancer? One night in Beirut, and it’s instantly recognizable to anyone who lives in a major city: neon lights, fast-food joints, busy streets, and a party to be gotten to. It might not be quite fair to say that this affable little … more…

Tribeca ’07: The Cake Eaters (review)

You asked me to marry you, and then you took off without saying good-bye. Three men, three women, and a whole lotta tender secrets, aching desire, and broken hearts fill up the directorial debut of actor Mary Stuart Masterson — so much so that what seems at first like a lean, spare psychic space in … more…

Tribeca ’07: Nobel Son (review)

You’re lucky you’re not a genius. It’s one of those perfect-crime kinda flicks, wrapped up in familial angst as a black-comedy topping. That it’s all rather ridiculous and overly complicates itself in the process is almost beside the point … though not entirely. See, arrogant college prof and working scientist Eli Michaelson (Alan Rickman: Harry … more…

Tribeca ’07: Chasing 3000 (review)

No matter how bad things got, I always had Roger and the game. The year is 1972, and teenage baseball nut Mickey (Trevor Morgan: Off the Black) decides to drive from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh to see Pirate superstar Roberto Clemente make his legendary 3000th hit. Just for fun, he’ll take along his little brother, … more…

Tribeca ’07: Blue State (review)

He’ll be gone in four years! / And then we’ll have to get ready for Jeb! Ah, finally, a romantic comedy for those of us who live in, as we crazy leftwing nutjobs like to say, the reality-based community. After the 2004 election, despondent Kerry campaign worker John (Breckin Meyer: Garfield: A Tail of Two … more…

sad culinary news from the Tribeca Film Festival

I don’t get why people eat in Olive Garden in places like Iowa. I really don’t get why people eat in Olive Garden in the middle of the greatest restaurant city in the world. It deeply shames me that there are at least two of these monstrosities in Manhattan.