BuzzSugar

Tribeca Review: Lioness

BuzzSugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:00:49 -0700

I was compelled to see the documentary Lioness at the Tribeca Film Festival because the basis is so intriguing. In the press notes for the film, this is the description: "Despite written policy banning women from direct ground combat, military commanders have been using women in direct ground warfare as an essential part of their operations since 2003. Though official policy forbids this operation and publicly denies its existence, this initiative and company of women have a name: they are called Team Lioness. Lioness. . .tells the story of the first group of Lionesses who went to Iraq as clerks, mechanics and engineers but returned a year later as America's first female combat veterans."

Much of the film deals with that last detail - that these women went abroad with the military, possessing expertise in certain fields but not having much training in direct combat. Mainly, it appears from the film, they were brought into hostile areas to help calm and placate the Iraqi women during raids, but when violence erupted, they were often forced to engage in direct combat, something official policy blatantly forbids. From here, the issues become not that women can't handle violence, but rather that these women simply weren't trained for that kind of action and that they innately handle the experience differently than men. For more about this complicated issue, read more.

The film primarily follows five female soldiers and their post-Iraq stories. Some are mothers and wives, some are now living with their parents, all of them have harrowing stories of finding themselves in traumatizing situations, like having one moment to decide whether to shoot (and kill) or be shot at. Through one-on-one interviews and from reading journal entries we learn that the women feel a constant need to check their compassion. More than once they wonder aloud, "What would I do if this happened to me?" They see the fear in the faces of the Iraqi women and figure they'd also be pretty upset if a bunch of strangers demolished their homes. And yet, when in combat these thoughts and emotions seem to work against them. One male chief chided a high-ranking female soldier for hugging one of the women after an emotional day, saying, "Remember you're in charge."

Ultimately, they have to find ways of understanding the situation so that they're not entirely overcome with emotion. As one woman puts it, "We just have to put faith in the intel that these people are doing wrong." Another one insists, "To be honest, it's not our place to question," referring to the war and the government's actions.

What they do question, however, is why they seem to be missing from accounts of the Iraq war. Because they aren't technically supposed to be engaging in direct combat, the military is reluctant to bring any kind of light to the Lioness teams. At one point, one of the women has her former Lioness teammates over to watch a History channel special on a particular mission they were a part of, one that was incredibly violent and gruesome, and there is no mention whatsoever about the women who fought alongside the male soldiers. There are, however, plenty of references to the "brave men" who faced this particular ordeal. This ignoring of the women's contributions seems to be at the painful heart of Lioness. As the movie's tag line puts it, "There for the action. Missing from history." Though it's not an easy movie to watch, it is an important film, as everyone should be aware of the actions and sacrifices of these courageous women.

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Tribeca Review: Gotta Dance

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:31:06 -0700

OK, that's it. I think I'm tapped out on the ridiculously heartwarming documentaries about elderly folks doing things like singing Coldplay songs or learning hip-hop to perform during basketball games. It's not that I'm sick of them, it's that they reduce me to an overemotional puddle on the floor. And movie theater floors are sticky. Of course, I think other people should seek out these movies. I've just learned that they're like my emotional kryptonite. . . in a good way.

Gotta Dance is similar to the recent documentary Young@Heart in many ways. Both focus on groups of older people doing things that most older people don't do: singing "the young peoples' music" and "dancing the young peoples' dances." The joy this brings them, and the sense of self-worth and aliveness is so inspiring it brings tears to my eyes. Gotta Dance differs, however, in that these people are physically pushing themselves to do the dances, so there is a much heavier emphasis on the subject of growing old and what kinds of limitations one faces. More than merely having a difference in taste (Young@Heart features elderly people who, though it's not necessarily their taste in music, sing rock songs) this kind of activity poses physical challenges that end up making the dancers feel both old and young. To see what else happens and for more of my thoughts, read more.

The film starts with the auditions for the first-ever senior hip-hop dance team for the New Jersey Nets. We get to know a handful of the hopefuls who end up getting spots on the team and who we follow throughout the film. The team ultimately consists of 11 women and one man and we watch as they learn the moves for their first show, gradually becoming more confident until the nerve-racking debut on the court.

Of course, the show is a smash hit and they soon find their pictures in the newspaper, followed by invitations to appear on morning shows. As the team becomes more popular, their pride grows and their routines become tougher. By this point, I felt like these people were my relatives and friends, and I could have watched them bond over learning how to shake, swivel and stomp to Jay-Z for many more hours. I also enjoyed watching the team's choreographers and leaders, young women from the Nets dance team who treat the seniors with respect and patience, but also determinedly whip them into shape during practice.

The filmmakers (and the folks behind the Tribeca Film Festival) did well to feature the movie at Tribeca, as New York plays its own part in the film. Most of the seniors live in New Jersey, though a few live in New York City. One of them was even dubbed "Miss Subways" back in the day, and others remembered seeing her face plastered on the subway cars.

So many documentaries are somber, frightening or provocative - and they're often important to see. But this makes Gotta Dance a huge relief within a genre somewhat glutted with fear and sadness. The joie de vivre in this film is completely infectious, and just like with Young@Heart, it makes growing old seem like a damn good time.

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Tribeca Review: Tennessee

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:36:06 -0700

Here's the good thing I can say about Tennessee: The effort behind the film is commendable. "A" for effort. "D" for most everything else. And you know, I wasn't altogether convinced that it would be a terrible movie simply because Mariah Carey was in it. I wanted to give Tennessee the benefit of the doubt, so I did, but now I just want those 95 minutes of my life back.

On paper, maybe a touching drama about road trips and brotherly love looked like cinematic gold. And some of the shots of bronzey Southwest sunsets are quite striking. But that's where the "pros" of this movie end. You know how sometimes a series of slow and quiet scenes can be evocative, tense and rich? Not so much here. In this case it just makes for an incredibly flat, boring film. The story comes out lackluster and cliché, and none of it is helped by Mariah Carey's mumbling, careless shrug of a performance. It’s not even worth it to go into the details of the plot, really, but still, read more.

Two brothers in New Mexico, one abusive dad in Tennessee. When one brother learns he has leukemia, the two men set off to find their dad, hoping for a match for a bone marrow transplant. The car breaks down, a sad waitress/aspiring singer quickly decides to leave her abusive husband and drives the brothers as far as Nashville. From there, some absurd, melodramatic "twists" take place before the inevitable ending.

At one point I wrote "Crossroads" in my notes because parts of this film strongly reminded me of that road trip thing Britney Spears did in 2002. Tennessee is certainly just as frustrating and just as cringe-inducing (really, there's a singer-songwriter competition with a first-place prize of exactly the amount of money they need?! I wonder what's going to happen!). But the worst thing of all is that Tennessee is also trying so hard to be poignant, it ends up being simply pitiable.

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Tribeca Review: Bart Got a Room

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:29:54 -0700

Bart Got a Room isn't high art and it's not fall-down funny, but it's easily the sweetest of all the Tribeca films I caught and the one movie I would wholeheartedly recommend. It's silly and goofy and fun, all the while washed in bright hypercolor Florida shades of pink and turquoise. It trots along quickly to swinging, squealing Big Band tunes, which is a funny juxtaposition of the old timers' Florida retirement community with the painfully hilarious adolescent experience at the center of the plot. At times the film seems to be reaching for something it can't quite grasp, but it still shakes out to be a great indie comedy.

Steven Kaplan plays high school senior Danny Stein, whose life’s challenge has come down to finding a date to the prom. Despite receiving an invitation from his best friend Camille (Alia Shawkat), Daniel wants a girl he can take back to the hotel room after the dance. And the hotel room has become the most important factor of all now that word has gotten around that "even Bart got a room.” The significance of this - and the elusive Bart's identity - is a mystery until the very end, but it’s clear that if even Bart's getting a room, then Danny Stein surely must have a prom to remember. So he goes on a quest for a prom date with the support of his divorced parents (William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines) who are each experiencing their own romantic adventures.

To see what else I thought of Bart Got a Room, read more.

The framing of time in the movie, with cards coming up to indicate “3 Months to Prom,” “2 Months to Prom,” etc. gives it a satisfying structure as Danny's quest for a prom date grows more and more frantic. Meanwhile, he dives into some of his biggest questions and concerns about relationships in general. He wonders if his parents maybe didn’t have to get divorced if they'd been more realistic about what relationships entail ("What's wrong with a little boredom?" he asks of his dad). He starts to realize that his date - and his prom experience overall - doesn’t have to be perfect, either. This whole movie is just sweet and lighthearted with an ending that left me wiping tears even as I laughed, not at all unlike the ending of Little Miss Sunshine. If you liked that movie, and funny indie films about bumbling high schoolers might make you laugh, you’d do well to check out Bart Got a Room someday.

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Live From the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, Part II

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:30:57 -0700

OK, all this rain quickly went from comforting and good for snuggling up in movie theaters to just plain dreary. But it can't dampen my movie-loving spirit! The Tribeca Film Festival continues to deliver some awesome stuff - and now I have the pictures to prove it.

My time here in New York is soon to draw to a close, but it's been an exciting and thought-provoking four days. I can't wait until next year's festival! Check out some of my thoughts below and a slideshow of pictures here.

I stood on the red carpet for War, Inc., that surreal wartime movie that was co-written by John Cusack and stars Hilary Duff and Marisa Tomei. Cusack bailed on Tribeca altogether, but Marisa Tomei and Hilary Duff looked spectacular on the red carpet. Duff was whisked by me, so I didn't get to ask her about all the things that perplexed me about her role (was it really a live scorpion that she put down her pants in this film? Really?).

More thoughts and stuff if you read more.

I also didn't get to chat with Marisa Tomei (though she seemed like a truly warm person, and she looked stunning) but I managed to snap a few photos of her. Then, as I approached my hotel I noticed that there were tons of "paps" outside, and apparently a bunch of celebs are staying in my hotel, including Famke Janssen, Leelee Sobieski (who is approximately 15 feet tall), and Liv Tyler. So, I snagged a few pictures outside my own hotel, though I felt a little strange standing in the middle of a throng of screaming photographers.

At the red carpet I met Anna, the cool gal checking in press people, and she is apparently a big BuzzSugar fan, which I obviously love to hear! So, Anna's awesome.
The sweetest feature film I've seen so far is Bart Got a Room, with its stellar cast (William H. Macy, Cheryl Hines, Alia Shawkat) and funny-yet-touching story about one kid's high school prom.
Having watched Young@Heart and now the similarly themed documentary Gotta Dance, I think I need to avoid the heartwarming docs about elderly people. I'm just so overcome with emotion - mostly joy, but all the tears come anyway - by the end. It's too much! Which isn't to say you shouldn't seek out Gotta Dance. It's wonderful.
I still have yet to see the screening of Tennessee, though I'm getting the impression that people aren't so jazzed about it here. I overheard one guy say that it was "like a car that just wouldn't start." Well, surely it can't be all Mariah's fault. . .

2008 Tribeca Film Festival

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:28:23 -0700

Check out some of the pics I snapped during my time at the Tribeca Film Festival!

View Slideshow ›

Tribeca Review: The Wackness

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:30:52 -0700

Previously, I'd mostly known The Wackness as that weird-looking Sundance movie in which an Olsen twin makes out with Ben Kingsley and which features a ton of pot smoking. While those things are true, I also gotta say I really liked this weirdo pot-smoking movie. I can easily see why The Wackness won the audience award at Sundance this year: it's funny, it's got that tender boy-grows-up storyline, and there's plenty of sex, drugs and a ridiculously awesome, rap-heavy soundtrack.

Also, it's got Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby and Ben Kingsley at the heart of it, which is what ended up endearing this movie to me most of all. Peck plays Luke Shapiro, a kid on the Upper East Side who deals pot and feels alone amongst his classmates. He lives with parents who fight about money nonstop and he sees a therapist, Dr. Squires (Kingsley) in exchange for weed. Luke soon graduates high school and starts another summer of peddling his goods from out of an ices cart. He befriends his therapist's stepdaughter Stephanie (Thirlby) and then quickly falls in love with her. That's not all, though, so read more.

Discovering that his family might be getting evicted, Luke solicits Dr. Squires' help with his business, gaining a higher-end clientele so he can more quickly earn cash. Luke and Dr. Squires become close friends just as Squires feels more and more estranged from his wife. Meanwhile, Stephanie's commitment issues start to worry Luke, as she's the first girl he's ever truly loved. Mary-Kate Olsen's part is minimal at best. She plays a trippy flower child who buys from Luke and, well, makes out with Dr. Squires.

Screening this movie at Tribeca was the perfect move, and not just because the script includes countless quips about Mayor Giuliani. It's shot with a great affection for New York, framing many of the scenes in parks or on rooftops, relying on the soft sunlight to imbue a kind of hominess and comfort to this city that never sleeps. It isn't the glamorous, impossibly clean New York of mindless romcoms, it's the hometown to these kids who have grown up on the Upper East Side but still try to talk like gangsters. They've got money to burn and they burn it on pot, rather than fashion. Sometimes the pot theme lends a sleepy quality to it all, though there are also little dreamlike fantasy interludes in which we catch a glimpse inside Luke's imagination and rather than being ridiculous, it's actually adorably endearing. I guess that's the bottom line here: I thought this movie would be ridiculous and instead it wormed its way into my heart.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Live From the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:30:42 -0700

I'm here! 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, New York, New York. And it's like the cloudy, rainy chilliness arrived just in time to make all of us moviegoers feel justified about sitting in darkened theaters all day. Which is precisely what I've been doing, awesomely. So far, I've caught six movies and attended the red carpet event for Tennessee. Here are some of my thoughts so far:

Nothing says drizzly Sunday mornin' like a movie about socialite incest and murder. Savage Grace is heavy on the savage, not so much with the grace. Julianne Moore is phenomenal, but this horrifyingly tragic story is difficult to watch and harder to enjoy.
I came thisclose to a petite man approximately my size before realizing it was Ben Kingsley, but by the time I doubled back toward him, he was being swept away by his people. After seeing his surprisingly hilarious performance in The Wackness, I have this intense urge to pick that guy's brain.

Tribeca Preview: The Documentaries

BuzzSugar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:00:58 -0700

There are tons of amazing-looking documentaries screening at Tribeca this year, but I can only get to see so many! Of the docs listed, the following ones most catch my fancy. Fingers crossed I have the time to see each of these.

Gotta Dance
It's like Young@Heart but with dancing! You know stories like these make me weepy so I'll be seeing this one for sure, probably cushioned by wads of Kleenex. The documentary follows the first-ever, senior citizen hip-hop dance team for the New Jersey Nets Basketball team "from auditions through to center court stardom."

Several more docs if you read more.

Hotel Gramercy Park
This one sounds like a cool peek into the history of one of New York City's most-intriguing historic hotels. The filmmakers check in with everyone from Karl Lagerfeld to Deborah Harry to Paris Hilton about what has made this hotel a rich piece of New York history. The description states, "In its earliest iteration, the hotel lured in those who had arrived in high society - and those who wanted to. The Kennedys rented out a floor. An up-and-coming Humphrey Bogart tied the knot there. In the '70s and '80s, it became popular with creative types of a different sort: the musicians, artists, and junkies who appreciated the management's 'anything goes' attitude." Clearly, this is the perfect documentary for a film festival that celebrates New York.

Lioness
According to the film's description, Lioness tells "the untold story of the first group of women soldiers in US history to be sent into direct-ground combat, in violation of official policy. Together the women's candid narratives and scenes from their lives back home form a portrait of the emotional and psychological effects of war from a female point of view." Everything about this movie piques my curiosity.

My Life Inside
This documentary tells the story of illegal Mexican immigrant Rosa Jiménez who was accused of murdering a child she babysat. Now her challenge lies in convincing a jury to "see past the fact that Rosa came to America illegally."

Gunnin' For That Number One Spot
In this film, "eight of the US's top high-school basketball players compete in the first 'Elite 24' tournament at Rucker Park." It's directed by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch who "combines two of his favorite things in his first nonconcert feature documentary: the excitement of street basketball and some slammin' hip-hop tracks."

Tribeca Preview: Lake City

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:45:58 -0700

The description of this movie caught my eye largely because of the eclectic cast list: Sissy Spacek, Rebecca Romjin, Drea de Mateo, and . . . Dave Matthews. Yup, Dave "Ants Marching" Matthews. The story follows Billy (Troy Garity) and his young son Clayton who are on the run from Billy's wife's (de Mateo) drug dealer (Matthews) after his wife stiffs him and disappears. Desperate, Billy hides out at his mother's (Spacek) countryside house in Virginia where he "reconnects with his childhood friend, now a local police officer (Rebecca Romijn), and begins to confront his troubled past" in the midst of escalating threats against his family.

I love seeing Sissy Spacek still getting work, and a family drama seems best suited for her (though she is also pretty funny as Andy Samberg's mom in Hot Rod). Also, after his turn on House, I'm curious to see what Dave Matthews can do with this threatening drug-dealer role.