The 13th Annual Food Film Festival
There is no delicacy better than having flavorful food served to you while watching films about what it is you’re eating. As they say in the art world, you have to know the history of what you’re looking at, in order to understand the piece. The same goes for food. You appreciate it all the more once you know the backstory of the chef and restaurant. The Food Film Festival provides you with that irreplaceable experience.
Upon arrival at AMC Empire 25, VIP guests were shown to the pre-party room, where doors opened at 6:15. The room was detailed with dishes, all prepared by Chef Stephen Yen. As each plate was thoughtfully placed, it enriched the atmosphere of the room, along with the drinks that were served by The Shanty and New York Distilling Company. The food and beverages served at the pre-party represented the diverse neighborhoods that inhabit New York, from lox bagels and roasted nuts to hot dogs, and kimchi fried rice, along with cocktails, wine, and beer. This prelude excited guests, leaving them in cheerful anticipation for what the theater had in store for them.
Afterwards, all GA & VIP guests took their seats, George Motz, Festival Director and co-founder said a few words and then the first film began.
The first film was about Lagunitas Brewery which quenched the guests thirst with Lagunitas IPA. It was the first of seven items to be passed down the rows for all to try. The second film, directed by Liza Mosquito deGuia, featured Erik Ramirez, a chef of a modern Peruvian restaurant. Many of his dishes were showcased, however, when the Tuna ceviche appeared on screen, it appeared in front of the audience as well. This dish filled your mouth with a savory flavor. The third film excited the audience as it centered on a more specialized type of cooking: bugs. While Chef Joseph Yoon spoke about his passion for bugs in the film, everyone else was sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to try the cricket-crusted fried chicken.
The Food Film Festival is such a riveting event that not one but two restaurants revived just for it. The first was Gyro II, which festival co-founder, George Motz, actually directed the film for. The second was Ramen Shack. In between the gyro meat with the famous white sauce being served from Gyro II, and ramen broth from Ramen Shack, carnitas con queso with braised chicken was served. The significant piece in what may seem like a typical carnita is the Piaxtla tortilla. The brothers who now own the company have a family history going back to their father who used to be a driver for the tortilla factory. The concluding dish was a sweet treat: an Indonesian style coconut pancake. The film focuses on their stand that sells this authentic cuisine and how it’s making was due to the lack of its prominence here.
After the films came to an end, the night went on in what was the original VIP party room and the outside terrace. There was a surplus of dishes that were extensions of the Chefs, restaurants, and factories menus shown in the films. With each bite that the attendees took, the food left everyone with radiating smiles.
Janel Tanna’s Resident Magazine Cover Party
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Indie Film Queen, Janel Tanna, illuminated the room as she celebrated her Resident Magazine Cover in New York City at Philippe Chow. Guests gathered in joyous celebration at her launch party for the Summer 2019 Entertainment Issue. A woman of many talents -actress, model, producer, and MD- looked vibrant in a floor length black gown designed by Aya Aygul.
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Janel’s humbling attitude warmed the room as she gave a speech thanking all those who attended in honor of her and her accomplishment. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres such as Lychee Martinis and vegetable dumplings fueled conversation that filled the room between old friends and new ones. Whether the chatter was shared between previous acquaintances or blossoming friendships, what everyone had in common was that they were there for Janel. She also spent the warm summer months being deemed “Best Actress” at the East Hampton TV Festival. Her talent received the same well-earned praise at Northeast Film Festival.
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Not only does she have a glowing personality but looks as well, as she made Maxim's Hot 100 list. The venue’s atmosphere complemented the launch party perfectly as it was both intimate and lively, mirroring the mood of the event. Tables were sprawled about with Resident Magazine’s and Janel on the cover. This detail was a touch that allowed guests a first-hand glance and even more personal experience with the magazine and Janel. It was truly the perfect way to integrate people with the party as it sparked conversation and allowed everyone to flip through the content.
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan)
Some highlighted guests include: Peter Thomas Roth, R. Couri Hay, Violetta Malakhova, Nicole Noonan, Designer Iya Islamova, Photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth, Nancy Chemtob, Sofia Symonds and American Hip-Hop Artist, Consequence. Janel Tanna’s Resident Magazine Cover Party was a night to remember shedding spotlight on a woman of true talent.
The Museum of Sex- Stag: The Illicit Origins of Pornographic Film
Pornhub and the Museum of Sex collaborated to bring naughty secrets of the early 20th century into the 21st century. The exhibition highlights “stags,” the earliest portrayal of sexual and social relations which were typically hidden in historical records because of their illicit nature.
Upon entrance, visitors are immersed in a dark theater-like-room to mimic a stag viewing party. In the 1900s, only heteronormative sexual activities were portrayed, and viewers of these parties were mainly the heterosexual middle class. Thanks to the collaboration between Pornhub and the Museum of Sex, covert stag films are now accessible to people of all classes and sexualities.
Vintage desktop PC playing an adult film
The exhibition also includes individual display screens of different themes in vintage adult films: American Milestones, Femme Fantasies, Bondage, etc.
In the beginning, the salacious films depicted sexual activities in a comical and satirical way, often focusing on the plot of the story.
Toward the late 20th century, adult films came to focus more on the sexual activity itself and professional filmmakers left the industry, making way for amateur producers.
The unveiling of these silent black and white short films aims to celebrate the history of the adult entertainment industry and honor the filmmakers and producers of that time. Stag: The Illicit Origins of Pornographic Film is open to the public from June 21st to October 21st.
Other exhibitions such as Punk Lust: Raw Provocation, Mariette Pathy Allen: Rites of Passage, James Bidgood: Reveries, and the carnival and arcade-like Funland: Pleasures & Perils of the Erotic Farground are also available for viewing.
Visit the Museum of Sex for some interactive 4D fun!
Interview with Melissa Stephens, creator of "Finding the Asshole."
The past few years have been...strange. More and more, it seems that the world is just filled with assholes: big assholes, small assholes, tall assholes and tiny assholes. In fact, don’t be surprised if everyone you know -- including yourself -- is actually a bona fide asshole. It’s a theory explored in the short film series “Finding the Asshole” created by Melissa Stephens, who was nice enough to answer some questions about the conception and creation of her project.
1. What was the inspiration behind Finding the Asshole? Did you draw from any specific real life incidents? The inspiration behind Finding The Asshole is probably my and Tom's frustrations with being a human being in the world. It is definitely based off of real life incidents.
2. What did you find to be the most difficult part of production?
Shooting under time constraints with no money….as you do as a indie filmmaker.
3. Which of the three chapters is your favorite, and why?
Chapter One - I love because it came out almost exactly as I had imagined in my head and as a director one shots are my favorite.
Chapter Two - the color palette and costume design are so on point. They elevate the piece and the production. Also it's one of my biggest pet peeves when walking on the sidewalk.
Chapter Three - as a filmmaker was such an undertaking and I am very proud of the finished product and how many things are going on at once and the layers of darkness and comedy. I'm pretty stoked there is a dildo scene with a woman giving it to a man and the dance battle is so good.
I couldn't pick one... sorry. I'm an asshole.
4. What is one thing (although feel free to share more) that you want people to experience while watching your series? Are there certain emotions or realizations you want them to take away from your piece?
You know when it's really late at night and you know you have to be up in the morning but you have some episodes to still watch of your favorite show? It’s the feeling you get when you decide to watch another episode. I want people to feel that...excitement laced with dread. Or uncomfortable joy -- or one of my favorite new sayings: Bats in the Belfry. I don't want people to take away realizations as much as I want people to say... “Yes, this happens to me all the time.” I want to validate the Asshole part of everyone.
Finding the Asshole is out now! Catch it here: https://www.findingtheasshole.com/chapters
The Brooklyn Film Festival - Are You Glad I'm Here
Wednesday, May 30th. I meet with director Noor Fay at Amber, a sushi restaurant on West 70th street, to discuss her first feature film: Are You Glad I’m Here, recent winner of Best Original Score and Best Feature Narrative at the Brooklyn Film Festival. Having watched the film myself the night before, I’m excited for the chance to pick her brain: where did the idea for the film come from? What was the production process like? Noor answers my questions with ease. She tells me of her Lebanese heritage, and her screenwriter, Sam Anderson’s, studies in Arabic. We discuss the difficulties of filming on a low budget, of finding the perfect cast, and the skill required to bring the soft, specific beauty of the Lebanese countryside to the screen. I tell Noor that I expected the movie to end with her two female leads intertwined in a sexual relationship, and she laughs.
“Yeah, I guess I can see why you’d think that.”
Are You Glad I’m Here is in no way a sexual movie -- it’s refreshing, I realize, to have a drama about a female friendship where there’s no sexual undertone. There is, however, plenty of violence -- at first easy to ignore, like static background music, but then sharp and spiked -- gasps of forte after an entire composition in piano.
The movie opens on Kirsten (Tess Harrison), a young American teaching abroad in Lebanon. She’s at once identifiable as that liberal arts educated expat -- someone with a sense of higher morality who has adopted their own standards of right and wrong: stealing is acceptable, but domestic abuse? Not at all. Her character in is direct contrast to Nadine, played by Marwa Khalil. Unlike Kirsten, Nadine lives by the standards set by her society. She despises her husband, his wandering eye and his violent outbursts, but her fear of shame is greater than her desire for freedom.
Nevertheless, the two women find themselves slipping into an easy friendship. There are several scenes dedicated to the pair laughing, bonding over shared senses of humor and shared bottles of wine, seemingly ignoring the deeper troubles that plague them. This all comes to a head, however, when Nadine, in an act of self defense, strikes and kills her husband in front of a shell-shocked Kirsten.
From then on, there is a drastic shift in the tone and styling of the movie -- so much so that the second half of the film reads like a sequel to the first. Kirsten is on the verge of irrelevance -- the focus is instead on Nadine, dealing with the physical aftermath of her actions, hiding her secret from her family, and navigating how to break the death of her husband to her son.
But the lack of Kirsten is made up for with Nadine’s family. Their dynamic with her is full and beautiful -- the words Nadine exchanges with her brother are near poetic, benefiting from the pleasing sound of Arabic. It’s a relief when they are not revealed to be the tyrants we fear -- we are reassured that Nadine is now in good hands, capable of facing the future with them by her side.
It’s true that Are You Glad I’m Here has flaws -- ones that can’t be compensated for with stylish cinematography or interesting shots. Nonetheless, its ability to blend two cultures and languages into a cohesive, compelling movie, not to mention the clear passion and hard work behind it, makes the film worth a watch. But feel free to decide for yourself: check out the trailer below, or visit the film’s instagram page: @areyougladimhere.
Tribeca Film Festival - TIME'S UP and Natalie Dormer
The eleventh day of the 17th Tribeca Film Festival presented by AT&T collaborated with TIME’S UP to host the Day of Conversation and Action, which featured conversations with a range of women who are playing a pivotal role in raising awareness about inequality in the workplace. Activists, storytellers, business leaders, filmmakers, lawyers, media figures, and more shared their stories. Highlights included:
· Julianne Moore and Jurnee Smollett-Bell opened the day by introducing TIME’S UP with Moore saying that "our understanding of what’s acceptable has been skewed by what is normalized by society,” and calling for change.
· Saru Jayaraman (co-founder of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United) detailed the rampant sexual harassment in the restaurant industry and demanded action.
· Sienna Miller introduced the panel, "A New Direction: Behind the Lens" with female filmmakers, and said, "[we're] not just wives and girlfriends in life...it's on all of us to pave the path and help stories be told."
· Former NFL player and advocate Wade Davis talked about the importance of starting the conversations around sexuality and sexual assault early.
· Lupita Nyong’o, Cynthia Erivo, Mira Sorvino and Amber Tamblyn talked about the roles women are cast in, the importance of telling rich stories on screen, and the impact of portraying powerful female characters in film. Erivo said, "I’m trying to make people aware that we have a choice in the way we are perceived. I see myself differently and I want that to help other young ladies get the permission to also see themselves differently."
· Marisa Tomei talked about the impact of - and introduced - the TIME'S UP Legal Defense Fund, who discussed legal wins.
· Mariska Hargitay introduced a panel about "Activism Through the Ages" during which Robin Morgan fired up the audience and also got them laughing, saying, "the women’s movement is the most fun you can have sitting up."
· Ashley Judd shared a personal letter about the fortitude it has taken and the personal empowerment she has experienced as a survivor.
· The event concluded with a speech from the CMO of TIME'S UP and a performance from the Resistance Revival Chorus.
Elsewhere at the Festival, Natalie Dormer was joined by Director Larysa Kondracki and executive producer Jo Porter for the North American premiere of their new series Picnic at Hanging Rock, a reimagining of the 1975 film. During a panel after the screening, speaking about her character, Hester Appleyard, and other characters she has chosen to play in her career, Dormer said she is attracted to “complicated women” more so than strong women. Appleyard in particular she describes as one of the most complicated, and someone who “really needs to go to therapy”. She also spoke about her hesitance ahead of taking the role, saying, “I’m not doing another corset job” before being blown away by a phone conversation with the writer.
Director Haifaa al-Mansour producer Amy Baer, and actor Douglas Booth were greeted by fans on the red carpet at BMCC for the US premiere of their new film Mary Shelley. The film tells the story of a young Mary Wollstonecraft (Elle Fanning) as she embarks on a whirlwind romance which leads her to invent one of the most iconic horror stories of all time, before she’s even 20 years old.
Laura Poitras, director of Citizenfour, The Oath, and My Country, My Country, participated in a Tribeca Talks conversation today moderated by Sheila Nevins, former president of HBO Documentary Films. Both power women admitted that they were both “mutually intimated” by each other. Nevins praised Poitras’ bravery jokingly asking her if she was “medicated in anyway or if is it natural courage.” Other topics they spoke about were the #metoo movement, the future of streaming platform, and what drew them to documentaries. Nevins even made the statement “if anyone can change the world with a documentary, it would be Laura.”
Nebraska natives Alexander Payne and Dick Cavett took part in the Tribeca Talks: Directors series today. The two traded stories about some of the most prolific actors they’ve worked with throughout their careers, including Jack Nicholson, Mike Nichols, Marlon Brando, and George Clooney, who Payne worked with on 2011’s The Descendants. Speaking about fame, Payne told a story about how Clooney’s Kentucky town approached him about naming a street after him. When they asked what street name they should change to “George Clooney Boulevard,” instead of choosing Main Street, Clooney asked “where does so and so live,” referring to his former bully. That way, Clooney’s former bully would have “George Clooney Blvd” on his driver’s license and every time he writes a check.
Closing night featured the first part of Showtime’s new four-part documentary The Fourth Estate which gives an inside look at The New York Times as they track Trump’s first year in office. Ann Curry moderated a conversation after the screening with The New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet, Washington Bureau Chief Elisabeth Bumiller, White House Correspondent Julie Davis, Washington Investigative Correspondent Mark Mazzetti, director Liz Garbus, and producer Jenny Carchman. Curry noted the term “embedded” in journalism is usually associated with the military, but after seeing this film it does seem that they are in a “war for figuring out what’s truth” during this “unpredictable presidency.” Speaking of Trump, Bumiller responded “he says three different things in the same day, so you do the best you can” which triggered laughter from the audience. The panel then spoke about how Trump and the media have a strained relationship. Garber explained that once “Hillary Clinton [was done being] his main punching bag, it became the press.” Davis said they are “always vetting” their information while Baquet added that the press must cover “aggressive and fair.” Davis noted for this project they made it a point to film the journalists in their homes to show they are “full people, not just by-lines or talking heads” and while filming in the newsroom, Garber said the crew worked with them to “protect their sources and make them feel more comfortable to let us in.”
Tribeca Film Festival - Jordans, Viola Davis
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Social media stars were in attendance at the world premiere of The American Meme, a documentary that follows the journey of four social media disruptors including Paris Hilton, Josh Ostrovsky (@TheFatJew), Brittany Furlan, and Kirill Bichutsky (@slutwhisperer). Other stars who came out to support the cast included Hailey Baldwin, Nicky Hilton and husband James Rothschild, Brittany’s fiance Tommy Lee and more.
On the red carpet, The Fat Jew was showing off the tattoo he got of Paris Hilton’s signature on his arm. Also, Paris Hilton brought her own light to brighten up her interviews on the red carpet.
Real-life husband and wife Julius Tennon and Viola Davis were on hand at the premiere of their new ABC docu series The Last Defense, in which they serve as executive producers. The emotional series exposes flaws in the American justice system through in-depth examinations of death row cases.
During a panel following the screening, Davis referred to James Baldwin’s quote about loving America and reserving the right to criticize it before giving her greatest criticism of the country, one about the criminal justice system. She talked about how our country gives us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but it does not do a good enough job defending that right through the criminal justice system. She went on to talk about the advice she gives her daughter: “I tell my daughter everyday life isn’t fair,” but shared her thoughts that, “in the criminal justice system, it has to be fair.”
Fat Joe, Kid Ink, and Gizzle hyped up the crowd at the end of the night with a musical performance following the world premiere of Dexton Deboree’s new documentary Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 about the creation of the Air Jordan and how it launched the sneaker craze and intersected with music, sports, celebrity, and sociopolitical issues. It features interviews with Spike Lee, Jason Sudeikis, and Michael Jordan. All talent walking the carpet showed up wearing their favorite pair of AJ1s including Deboree who showed up in a pair of red and blacks to match the red carpet.
Photos Courtesy of SunshineSachs
Tribeca Film Festival - McQueen, Jamie Foxx
Fashion elite came out for the premiere of McQueen, where Janet McQueen attended the screening which celebrates her late brother. Other attendees included Chloe Wise and Vanity Fair’s Amy Fine Collins. Later in the evening, Chloe Grace Moretz and Sasha Lane goofed off on the carpet of their film The Miseducation of Cameron Post which centers around a teenage girl who is forced into a gay conversion therapy center by her conservative guardians.
The Crown’s Matt Smith joined sibling co-producers Eliza Dushku and Nathaniel Dushku at the world premiere of Mapplethorpe. Marianne Rendon also took on the red carpet and was supported by her Imposters co-star Inbar Lavi.
Sarah Jessica Parker supported husband Matthew Broderick, who was on the carpet for his film To Dust. The couple was joined by another husband and wife duo and producers of the film, Alessandro Nivola and Emily Mortimer who paused for a moment for a family photo on the carpet with their two boys. Additionally, producer Ron Perlman joined the cast on the carpet.
Cast member Mary Elizabeth Winstead brought Ewan McGregor as her date to the premiere of All About Nina. He snapped pictures of her as she completed interviews on the carpet. Other cast members in attendance included Common, Pam Murphy, and Grace Shen.
Noam Galai/Getty Images
The Tribeca Film Festival also expanded to a new space with a panel about ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcasts and their first serialized season which debuts this spring and focuses on the founder of Bikram Yoga, Bikram Choudhury. Bikram’s producer Julia Lowrie Henderson and host/editor Jody Avirgan lead a conversation about the intricacy of creating a podcast and touched upon the controversy surrounding Choudhury who currently has warrants out for his arrest as well as where the yoga community stands today.
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Jamie Foxx invited select audience members on stage to dance with him as they posed questions during his Tribeca Talks: Storytellers panel. Throughout the session, Foxx kept the crowd on their toes as he peppered in spontaneous moments by bursting out into songs or doing impressions of other stars such as Puff Daddy, Wesley Snipes, Jim Carrey, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Pharrell, Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Sidney Poitier.
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A pregnant Rachel Weisz hit the carpet of her premiere for Disobedience and looked radiant in Chloe. She was joined by fellow cast mates Rachel McAdams, making her first appearance since becoming a new mom herself, and Alessandro Nivola, who brought his wife Emily Mortimer as his date. During the introduction director Sebastián Lelio, fresh off his oscar win for best foreign language film for A Fantastic Woman, noted that this was his first english language film before calling on stage his Holy trinity of McAdams, Weisz, and Nivola - for his Jewish Orthodox lesbian love story!
Photo Credit: Getty Images for Tribeca / Theo Wargo
Alec Baldwin and Spike Lee participated in a Tribeca Talks panel together. Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria Baldwin, was in attendance to support. An audience member asked Lee for his thoughts on the box-office hit Black Panther; he went on to share that he saw it four times and it “changed everything.” The audience then broke out in applause and cheers when Baldwin prompted “well, wait a minute, we’re in a world now that focuses on inclusion, don’t you want to ask me what I thought of Black Panther?”
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Kevin Bacon stopped by the New York City premiere of Studio 54 to support his sister, Karin Bacon who is part of the cast for the documentary about the rise and catastrophic fall of the legendary Manhattan night spot.
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Tribeca also connected the past with the present at the premiere of Cobra Kai, an all-new series that reunites the adversaries from the iconic film franchise The Karate Kid. Fans were ecstatic to see Ralph Macchio and William Zabka together again. During the talk after the screening, Macchio shared he has been hesitant of any reboots or reunions and has been protective of the material for so long to not “taint the legacy” but knows you “got to trust the storyteller and the filmmakers.”
Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal posed for photos with the filmmakers and cast of Nigerian Prince at their premiere screening. The film is the first winner of AT&T’s Untold Stories program, an initiative to support filmmakers that are underrepresented in the industry. The director, Faraday Okoro, received a $1 million grant last year from AT&T to produce his film.
Photos courtesy of SunshineSachs
Tribeca Film Festival After Parties
A true pioneer of celebration - The "Supper Suite" by A-List Communications has been rocking Tribeca with several events and panels thus far for its tenth year in a row during the annual film festival. A-List Communications launched Supper Suite program in New York City almost a decade ago and has become a integral part of every red carpet celebratory destination every year.
On Friday, April 20th, Megu on West 16th street played home to the BACK ROADS pre-screening cocktail party with cast members Alex Pettyfer, Jennifer Morrison, Nicola Peltz, June Carryl followed by the 7 Stages To Achieve Eternal Bliss by Passing Through The Gateway Chosen By The Holy Storsh Post Tribeca screening party, with producer Elijah Wood and actors Sam Huntington, Kate Micucci, Dan Harmon, Josh Brenner, Matt Jones, Mark McKinney and Taika Waititi.
Guests enjoyed Day Owl Rose, Blue Moon Brewing, Ciroc and Deleon plus Altec Lansing's latest audio items, during the “Supper Suite” pop-up events during the Tribeca Film Festival, produced by A-List Communications.
On Saturday, April 21st, The "Supper Suite" also popped up at STK NYC on Little West 12th street, and hosted a press junket for EGG with Christina Hendricks, Alysia Reiner, Gbenga Akinnagbe, David Alan Basche, IN A RELATIONSHIP starring Michael Angarano, Dree Hemingway and Patrick Gibson, LITTLE WOODS starring Tessa Thompson, Lily James and Luke Kirby, STATE LIKE SLEEP starring Katherine Waterson, Michael Shannon and Michiel Huisman, and JONATHAN starring Ansel Elgort and Suki Waterhouse.
On Monday, April 23rd, The "Supper Suite" went back to Megu and hosted "Untogether” Premiere After Party which featured a outstanding cast of: Jemima Kirke (Girls), Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey), Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One: A Star Wars Strory), Lola Kirke (Gone Girl), Scott Caan (Oceans Eleven), Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally), Jennifer Grey (Ferris Buellers Day Off), Alice Eve (She's Out of My League).
Guests did not leave empty handed. Each patron were given Altec Lansing's latest portable audio items, and stayed hydrated with Essential Water during the daytime junket.
Photo Credits: Thomas Concordia
Tribeca Film Festival - Fabled
Refinery29 debuted its all new anthology television series, Fabled, on April 23rd at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival as part of TriBeCa TV: Indie Pilots block. The series, which takes classic fairy tale narratives and puts modern, unconforming twists on their stories, is directed by Jennifer Morrison and written by both Evan Jonigkeit and Zosia Mamet, who married in 2016.
Fabled stars Zosia Mamet and Norbert Leo-Butz were both present for the premiere. I spoke with Zosia as well as writer/producer Evan Jonigkeit at the debut of the first episode of Fabled, which tells the story of Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz coming together after both have been admitted to a mental health facility. This episode is entitled “Anodyne.”
Synopsis: Allie and Dee are both creative young women that blaze their own trails and stray away from societal norms. They crave adventure and dream bigger than what the world tells them is acceptable. After meeting at an extensive behavioral therapy center, they find solace and fortitude in one another. Their bond illustrates the strength of friendship and the power that women can harness when they come together.
When asked about the collaborative creative process of making Fabled, Evan explained that “Writing and producing was great. It was a long road from when the idea got from its infancy to now teaming up with Refinery29 and working with the cast we have. It was amazing to see some words that you put down on paper come together and being able to bring the people together to make that happen. It was incredibly rewarding.”
Zosia went on to say, “Something that was really invaluable in us both being producers on this project and also having our partner Alex Gayner was that when one of us was acting, the other one was able to sort of team up with Alex and we could put on the producer hat . . . That’s definitely one of the benefits of being a team on the same project."
Fabled touches on themes of sexuality, gender, and relationships. I asked Zosia if her role in HBO’s Girls in any way influenced her in this work, and while her two characters in these shows differ greatly, she did say that both “touch on issues dealing with women in modern day society, which is obviously something that was sort of the kernel of the seedling behind Fabled. The Cinderella episode, which Evan and Trace Lysette star in, which was written by our friend Matt Flanders, was actually Evan’s idea of wanting to play with the Cinderella concept using a transition story.”
Fabled definitely offers viewers a reimagined interpretation of fairy tales unlike any other. This Refinery29 series is sure to wow audiences with its talented and inventive writers and actors.
Tribeca Film Festival - Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, and Tribeca Cinema360
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival
On April 22, Robert De Niro sat down with Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper for a Tribeca Talk: Storytellers to discuss Cooper’s career focusing on their past work together including Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, Joy and Limitless. During the talk, Cooper credits De Niro for “changing his life” and “impacting him in a way that he never even knew.” Additionally, Director David O. Russell made a surprise appearance to discuss their past work together including Jennifer Lawrence’s favorite moment from Silver Linings Playbook where De Niro as Cooper’s father calls him a loser. He also reminisced on a story when he first met De Niro with Joe Pesce who said, “You’re going to find out when you hang out with this guy, that if you don't give him what to say, he’s not going to say anything.”
Another point of discussion was focused on Cooper’s upcoming directorial debut, a modern adaptation of A Star is Born, which he also produced, co-wrote, and stars in alongside Lady Gaga. Cooper goes on to say how he prepared for the role which included spending a year and a half taking vocal lessons and singing at major music festivals including Stagecoach and Glastonbury.
Cooper shared a touching story on how he met De Niro right as his dad became ill; his father soon after passed away in between Limitless and Silver Linings Playbook and the actors’ experience playing father and son was the reason they grew so close. He explained: “I got to say the word ‘dad’ all the time after my dad passed away, and I got to say it to you.”
You can view the talk here.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Brent Hodge discussed his new film Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary with the creator of the original television series, Paul Feig, who shared that Seth Rogen only auditioned one time to join the cast. Feig is happy the cult hit, which catapulted Jason Segal, Busy Phillips and many others, has maintained its popularity and Hodge added “it’s lasted because of how honest it is.” Feig joked: “A lot of people are embarassed of their old stuff but everyone was still honored they are a part of the show.”
The Animated Shorts Curated by Whoopi G red carpet was full of smiles as the creators were joined by Whoopi Goldberg who posed for photos with the group. Tara Lipinski was on hand to support her husband Todd Kapostasy who produced a film in the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival: Sports Shorts, Sponsored by Mohegan Sun.
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Director Nia Costa answered with surprise, “Me?!” to fans calling her name outside the red carpet right before stars Tessa Thompson and Lily James met her for the world premiere of Little Woods. And showing support for their daughter Katherine Waterston were parents Sam Waterston and Lynn Louisa at the world premiere of State Like Sleep. Also in attendance were director Meredith Danluck and stars Michael Shannon and Michiel Huisman.
Director Marianna Palka and cast members Christina Hendricks, Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche, and Gbenga Akinnagbe walked the carpet for the world premiere of their film Egg. Ansel Elgort was joined by girlfriend Violetta Komyshan and co-star Suki Waterhouse for the world premiere of his sci-fi drama Jonathan. Members from the cast of The Seagull attended the world premiere of the film at including Annette Bening, Corey Stoll, Michael Zegen, Billy Howle, Brian Dennehy, Jon Tenney, Mare Winningham, Glenn Fleshler and Dana Delany. Also in attendance was Director Michael Mayer, Producer Tom Hulce as well as friend and special guest Alec Baldwin.
The Festival’s centerpiece gala Zoe was celebrated by cast members Ewan McGregor, Léa Seydoux, Matthew Gruber, and Director Drake Doremus who attended the world premiere of their recently acquired Amazon Prime film.
The Tribeca Film Festival took a musical turn with Bathtubs Over Broadway, that follows Late Night with David Letterman writer, Steve Young discovery of Industrial Musicals. Performers sang Broadway-style “industrial musicals” inspired by the film, even breaking out into song about the Tribeca Film Festival itself. Young claimed “performers are performers are performers” speaking on how important the arts and theater are for society.
A new addition to Tribeca Immersive is Tribeca Cinema360, a VR theater featuring four curated screening programs of 360° mobile content which opened today and runs through April 28. Tribeca Cinema360 spotlights four immersive screening programs: VR for Good Creators Lab, This is Climate Change, horror themed It’s Right Behind You, and the breathtaking experimental visions of Horizons.
Link to photos of Tribeca Cinema360 and the Tribeca Virtual Arcade featuring Storyscapes can be found here.
Photos Courtesy of SunshineSachs
Tribeca Film Festival - The Dark
One of the many horror films premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival was The Dark, a chilling story about a young flesh-eating girl who befriends a victim of physical abuse in the woods of her childhood home. Writer and director Justin P. Lange and lead star Nadia Alexander spoke with me about the process of creating this unique and unforgettable story.
Synopsis: Being a teenage girl is already difficult enough—so imagine also being an undead ghoul. That’s the horrible reality for Mina, a young woman who has been cursed to haunt her childhood home in the woods: Nobody gets in, and nobody gets out alive. That is, until she comes across Alex, a blind boy around her once-living age who is dealing with his own trauma. After she effortlessly dispatches his companion, Mina lets Alex live, and, by doing so, she begins to notice some old feelings, such as empathy and love, have resurfaced. It could be just a fluke—or Mina might be more alive than previously thought.
When asked what type of person is going to love The Dark, Nadia jokingly responded “psychotic and crazy.” Justin went on to say that an audience “that goes in with an open mind” and who is “willing to take the twists and turns with [the] characters” will love this film. Justin further commented on the fact that the movie makes audiences leave still processing and contemplating the story.
Nadia calls The Dark “genre-bending” with “a melding of different storytelling techniques.” It is emotional, dark, touching, and horrific. She further talked about the fact that The Dark is “a metaphor of abuse and the damage and monsters that come out of being abused.” Justin thinks of the ending as “bittersweet” and reflective of how the audience views the world.
On taking on her first solo lead role, Nadia explained that the creative process was challenging, complex, and fulfilling. Justin doted on Nadia’s commitment to the role, stating that “this was her movie . . . and she owned it.”
Additionally, Justin discussed the fact that he found it important to create a horror movie from the “perspective of the killer monster” because he knew that he “needed to feel strongly” alongside the character and to be with her “in her violence and in her rage.” Justin connected with this character deeply throughout his writing process, and Nadia fulfilled the role perfectly.
It was a pleasure discussing The Dark with Nadia and Justin, as this horror film undoubtedly left its mark on the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.
https://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/dark-2018
Tribeca Film Festival - Scar Face Reunion, Bethany Hamilton
The first full day of the Tribeca Film Festival kicked off with a bang. Legends, the likes of Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer and Brian DePalma reunited for a special 35th Anniversary screening of Scarface. During the talk after the film, Pacino talked about the gory cult classic and Pfeiffer reminisced about her role in front of a packed house.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Common attended the premiere of their buzzed-about new film Blue Night. Ethan Hawke and Noomi Rapace celebrated their film Stockholm that talks about the inspiration for "Stockholm Syndrome."
Cast members Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Thandie Newton and James Marsden were on hand to premiere the new season of Westworld. During the conversation after the film, James Marsden had the crowd laughing, saying Evan Rachel Woods’ new character is "hot for a second, but then you have to figure out how to stay alive." Following that, Thandie Newton made a not-so-subtle comparison of Westworld to our current political climate, and Evan Rachel Wood discussed how she did not really know her character going into season two.
John Legend discussed his career with Jesus Chris Superstar co-star Sara Bareilles, and then changed his outfit and hit up the premiere of United Skates, a film about African-American roller-rink culture, which he's an executive producer on. During his talk, Legend talked about how he met Kanye West before anyone knew who he was and shared that he'd already started to write songs for his unborn son.
The second day continued with a full day of screenings and events at venues around Lower Manhattan in New York City. Trayvon Martin's parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin joined filmmakers and moderator Joy Reid for a panel following the world premiere of Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, about the tragic death of Martin and its impact on the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The incredibly moving panel following the screening welcomed Martin's parents with two standing ovations. The Martins discussed their struggle to put off grieving to fight for justice, and the importance of the series in helping Trayvon's story live on.
On a panel following the world premiere of National Geographic’s Genius: Picasso, Antonio Banderas spoke about the responsibility he felt to fill the shoes of the most prolific artists of all time, particularly having been born in the same Spanish city and growing up with the artist as an idol. He was joined by castmates Alex Rich, Clémence Poésy, and Samantha Colley, showrunner Ken Biller, executive producers Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo.
Alex Pettyfer‘s directorial debut Back Roads also made its world premiere tonight. His cast members, including Jennifer Morrison and Nicola Peltz, were all at the screening to support the film, which centers around a young man caring for his sisters after their mother is imprisoned for murdering their abusive father. Anwar Hadid was on hand to cheer on his girlfriend, Nicola.
Innovators Tony Faddell, Megan Smith, Joanna Hoffman, Marc Porat, Andy Hertzfeld attended the world premiere of their documentary General Magic, a tribute to their influential tech company. Bethany Hamilton arrived for the world premiere of Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable and reunited on the red carpet with actress AnnaSophia Robb who depicted her in 2011's Soul Surfer. Jeffrey Wright, who portrays a maximum-security prison inmate in Madeleine Sackler’s new film O.G., walked the carpet at the film’s world premiere along with producer Boyd Holbrook and actor William Fichtner while Michael Angarano and Dree Hemingway supported their new film In A Relationship at SVA Theatre.
Photos Courtesy of Sunshine Sachs
Tribeca Film Festival - Cargo
The April 19th premier of Netflix’s Cargo at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival caused a great stir of excitement among filmmakers, stars, and moviegoers alike. This film, produced by Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton of Causeway Films, follows the story of a loving father who is infected by a violent disease in rural Australia. Amidst post apocalyptic mayhem, he struggles to find a safe home for his child.
Cargo stars - Martin Freeman, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter, Caren Pistorius, Kris McQuade, Natasha Wanganeen and David Gulpilil showed up and showed out at the premiere. I had the pleasure of discussing the film with Martin Freeman on the red carpet for premier night.
Cargo, which was originally a short directed by Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling, was sent to Martin alongside the screenplay for the 2018 film. While this film details the hardships that a father must withstand when faced with protecting his child, Martin spoke about why Cargo truly is a movie for everyone.
Martin, who has a daughter of his own, explained that “being a parent does feed into [the storyline], but you don’t need massive amounts of imagination” to understand the extent of what a parent is willing to do for their child. He explained, “Even if I wasn’t a parent, [the story] still would have spoken to me . . . but certainly you are very aware as a parent all the time of the sacrifices that you are prepared to make and the things you are prepared to do to keep your children safe, so I love the fact that this character in this film goes the whole way as far as it could go.”
Tribeca Film Festival Opening Gala
The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, kicked off in a big way with the always festive Opening Night Gala. The place to be this evening was Beacon Theater, where A-listers like Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, and many more packed the historic theater. The opening night transported the guests back to the 1970s with the premiere of Love, Gilda, a film that explores the world of celebrated Emmy® and Grammy® award-winning comedian Gilda Radner who became a cultural icon the moment audiences first laughed with her on Saturday Night Live’s debut episode. Love, Gilda, presented by CNN Films, is directed and produced by Lisa D’Apolito. It weaves together audiotapes, rare home movies, diary entries, and interviews with her friends and those inspired by her.
Tina Fey, introduced the film to a sold out audience and got emotional speaking about Gilda’s legacy and her influence on female comedians. Following the premiere, the Festival opening continued at Tavern on the Green.
The festival officially kicks off tomorrow, for tickets and events please visit: https://www.tribecafilm.com/
Food Film Fest
For the 11th consecutive year, the Food Film Festival returned to AMC Empire 25 to continue its tradition of marrying food and film in the ultimate celebration of gastronomy.
The festival, by far the most sensory experience available to New Yorkers, is unique in that event goers can not only see delectable dishes on screen, but taste them, thanks to restaurants taking the time to recreate the meals. Showcasing the best independent food-films, cinema fans also enjoyed an array of an incredible selection of food, both local and international. Still, the festival is not just a feast of self-indulgence -- it makes an effort to show how each dish has evolved from or contributed to a certain aspect of culture, as seen with the first night of the event, a homage to chef James Beard that featured the film James Beard: America’s First Foodie. Guests feasted on original recipes from Beard’s cookbook, Hors D'oeuvre and Canapés, including his famous Onion Sandwich (complete with his mother’s mayonnaise recipe), Leeks à la Grecque, Strawberry Shortcake, and Crepe Suzette -- all while learning about his life and legacy in American Cuisine.
The next day, the Food Film Festival presented “Hometown Heroes,” which paid tribute to original New York City eats. VIPs enjoyed bites from Win Son, a Brooklyn based Taiwanese Restaurant, before watching the short films 1 Minute Meal: A Documentary Portrait of NYC, The Science of Dry Aging, Seared, Sacred Gin, Hometown Hero: The Legend of New York’s Chopped Cheese, and Why Rappers Love Grey Poupon. Guests were treated both during and after the films to recreations of the featured dishes, including the original chopped cheese from Hajj’s Blue Sky Deli up in Spanish Harlem, dry aged beef from DeBragga, and peanut butter and jelly donuts from Leske’s Bakery.
For the third day of the event, the Food Film Festival brought back its famous Food Porn Party, this time focusing on Japanese Cuisine, with dishes such as ramen and takoyaki. There was a special screening of the cult Japanese film Tampopo, as well as the U.S premiere of Taste of Love, a short film that explored the relationship between food and sexual pleasure.
The event culminated on Sunday morning with (of course) a full on brunch, complete with pastries from Bread’s Bakery and coffee from Q Coffee and films such as The Hungover Origins of Brunch and Finding Pisco. Like most brunches, it was both a celebration of what had happened and a conversation about what was to come -- the festival will return in all its glory next year, with just as satisfying a food and film lineup, so be sure to get your tickets then.
For a full list of participating restaurants and films, check out http://thefoodfilmfestival.com/
PBS/OZY Media’s 'Third Rail with OZY' Live Taping and Premiere
On Friday night, PBS premiered Third Rail with OZY, a new debate show that explores hot-button issues and philosophical dilemmas of the modern age. Each half-hour episode will bring together a panel of expert and celebrity guests to discuss a single hot topic.
At the live taping of Friday’s premiere episode, it was clear from the introduction of the panelists that the audience was in for a lively debate. The night’s lineup included Roxane Gay, acclaimed writer of Bad Feminist and Hunger; Mo Rocca, humorist and journalist known for his Cooking Channel show, “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” and his role on CBS’ “Sunday Morning”; Seth Weathers, a Georgia-based political consultant and former Trump campaign director; and Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a New York Times op-ed columnist and former Google data scientist.
To open the dialogue, Third Rail’s host Carlos Watson asked, “Is the truth overrated?” Despite the ambiguity of the question, each panelist had a quick and resolute reply. Roxane and Mo answered no, representing the “pro-truth” end of the spectrum, while the two Seths took the more cynical “anti-truth” approach and answered that yes, the truth is overrated (although Stephens-Davidowitz was quick to distinguish himself from his Republican counterpart by declaring, “I hate Trump”). The debate that ensued was as murky as one would expect given the abstract nature of the subject. The panel never quite arrived at a consensus on what fundamentally characterizes “truth” to begin with. But Roxane Gay lucidly stated, “There are degrees of mendacity, and… some lies matter more than others." Unsurprisingly, the discussion quickly turned political, touching on slavery in textbooks, Trump and the DACA repeal, Hillary’s emails, and Confederate statues. Despite its inconclusiveness, the conversation was engaging and thought-provoking.
Midway through the show, Malcolm Gladwell was asked to weigh in. Where the panel had struggled to wade through the grayer areas of the debate, the famed writer and journalist was eager to take a more black-and-white approach by analyzing the semantics of the discussion, saying, “I don’t know what… we mean by the word ‘lie’ and ‘truth’ in this context.” He went on to say that while “simple and deliberate misstatements of fact” are incontestably wrong and damaging, more often than not, our disagreements are the result of differences of opinion. According to Gladwell, these differences should be encouraged, as diversity of thought grants more power to individuals and the media and strengthens our society.
The Third Rail concept is new for PBS, and will likely be a successful one. The setup was intimate, with direct audience participation and feedback. Gladwell’s cherished “diversity of thought” was well-represented by the guests on this episode, and future lineups are equally promising. The questions proposed for later episodes are massive and monstrous but intriguing and very necessary (one question, for example, asks whether it is okay to have a racial preference in dating). But the show promises to provide a great weekly fix for viewers who feel limited by polarized media outlets and want to hear some authentic, cross-platform discussion.
To see the debate for yourself and to get a taste of what’s in store for PBS this Fall, watch the Third Rail premiere here.
Photos courtesy od OZY Media
Baby Driver Review
From the brilliant mind of Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Edgar Wright delivers Baby Driver, the story about the best getaway driver, Baby (Ansel Elgort), working for crime lord Doc (Kevin Spacey). While he may be the best at what he does, Baby no longer wants to be part of the criminal life and only works for Doc to repay a debt. Falling in love with a woman named Deborah (Lily James) only makes it harder for him to escape the life of a crime as he is called to one last heist.
Baby Driver is an anomaly of a film because it is the ultimate balance between action, humor, and story. This film had me laughing hysterically. Jokes never feel forced and don’t hit you over the head. Some jokes come out of left field and completely catches the audience off guard. Baby Driver had so much personality that you can definitely feel Edgar Wright’s personal stamp on it. The music is the heartbeat of the film. Music flows and syncs to scenes so seamlessly that it never feels out of place. When the music is silly and fun, you feel that way. When the music is exciting and dramatic, you sense it. When the music is slow and tension building, you experience it. When one thinks of masterful usage of music, one would recall the success of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy and its Awesome Mixes. Baby Driver kicks it up a notch with its own musical flavor.
Baby Driver’s action sequences are so thrilling to watch and listen to. Watching car chases, in general can sometimes make you feel lost when camera shots aren’t edited together properly or they can even feel too slow and disengaged with static shots. However, Baby Driver nails this aspect down perfectly as the car chases in the film are shot and edited so fluidly. The sound mixing is incredible as well. There’s perfect emphasis on the sound of the car’s engine, the sound of the wheels turning and burning against the asphalt, when the music needed to be loud, and when the music needed to tone down and be subtle.
Each character is unique and has their own flavor and backstory. It felt as if every character was a scene stealer, but you can appoint this to great casting, acting, and directing. As explained in the trailers, Baby had an accident when he was a kid that left him with tinnitus (ringing in his ears) so he listens to music to drown the ringing out as well as making him focused while he’s on the job. Ansel Elgort plays Baby perfectly; a confident, but innocent character that wants nothing to do with crime. You can get a real sense of his confidence from the look in his eyes when he’s driving; outmaneuvering cop cars left and right. His facial expressions really show his regret in his actions as he performs unlawful deeds after unlawful deeds. Ironically, the more Baby tried to get out of the life of crime, the deeper he actually got into it.
Kevin Spacey really shines as crime lord Doc as he’s cunning, witty, and compassionate. Baby is indebted to Doc because of their shared past and is almost blackmailing Baby into being his getaway driver. One of the rules of their operation is to never have the same team of people on any given heist. However, Baby is the exception to Doc’s rule because he trusts Baby. Doc frequently stands up for and vouches for Baby when other members of the heist crew doubt Baby. Their relationship is an interesting one in that it contains multiple elements; that of an employer and employee, the blackmailer and victim, friends, and even almost a father-son relationship. Doc is a character you both dislike and love at the same time because of his bad, but smart decision making and the delivery of his sharp lines. I liked the relationship shared between the two characters, up until the end where their relationship takes an unexpected turn which I found questionable, but not overly flawed.
Lily James plays Deborah well, as the innocent love interest of Baby as well as the driving force for Baby to get out of doing crime. Ansel Elgort and Lily James have great chemistry together as their on-screen love is believable and adorable. Their interactions are so natural and their back and forth about music is pleasant to watch. I do feel that there were one too many of their scenes together and could’ve been edited to one scene less. Jamie Foxx’s character Bats is an absolute scene stealer as he’s both hilarious and captivating in all his scenes. He’s so believable as an impulsive, crazy criminal that you’re never sure whether to laugh or be scared of. Bats is comparable to Jamie Foxx’s other character in Horrible Bosses where he plays an ex-con. Foxx is able to flex his acting chops when he’s able to go from a more serious role in Django Unchained to a crazy, funny role in Baby Driver. Jon Hamm is another surprise standout as Buddy, the handsome bank robber that’s crazy about his wife Darling (Eiza Gonzalez). He plays a seemingly good guy that tries to relate to Baby through music as well as trying to stick up for Baby when other crew members question Baby. He plays this type of good guy so convincingly, no one sees the twist coming at the end with his character.
Baby Driver combines thrilling action, laugh-out-loud comedy, and personal storytelling to deliver a perfect summer movie. While I could easily say Baby Driver is the better of the two out of Baby Driver and the entire Fast franchise, Baby Driver is in essence, a different kind of film that’s on another level. The stellar cast, great acting, and sharp writing drives the story and never really stops. Masterfully shot action scenes are fun to watch and just make you want to become a driver on the level of Baby. To anyone reading this out there, I’d tell you to drive to the theater to see this movie, baby. I give this film, 4.5 stars out of 5 and invite you to see Baby Driver.
Transformers: The Last Knight Review
Directed by Michael Bay, Transformers: The Last Knight follows the human, Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) as he hides away from the government with the Autobots. This movie takes place sometime after Transformers: Age of Extinction and Transformers and humans are at odds again because Transformers are still landing on Earth without anyone knowing why. The government sets up a response team called the Transformers Reaction Force that hunts down and kills Transformers. Only this time, Optimus Prime is gone. The absence of Optimus Prime leaves the Autobots leaderless and unable to respond to the threat of the Transformers Reaction Force until they are forced back into action when a mysterious enemy threatens Earth.
In the opening scene, it is revealed to us that humans and Transformers have been in contact for centuries. The concept of Transformers aiding King Arthur is a silly, but cool one. I for one bought into this story element, but the way it plays out later never really satisfies my expectation for hidden secrets of the Transformers universe. Transformers: The Last Knight is a movie jam-packed with characters without any actual character. What I mean by that is, most of the characters are flat, have no development throughout the film, and I never really care about them by the time the credits roll.
Let’s start with Optimus Prime, the head honcho of the Autobots. He was gone for most of the movie and gets turned evil by the Transformer sorceress, Quintessa. Under her evil influence, he fights fan-favorite Bumblebee. As this was a fight I looked forward to because of the trailers; I felt underwhelmed. The fight does not last that long and doesn’t hold as much emotional meaning as I wanted. It ends in a cheap, dissatisfying way that felt like a deus ex machina. When Optimus Prime eventually does become good again (this was expected), his heroic moments feel forced and never have any weight to them. Bumblebee is the most likable Transformer and makes me look forward to the Bumblebee spinoff that’s set to release in a few years. Megatron is supposed to be the big boss of the Decepticons, but I have not felt a very impactful presence from him since the first film in the franchise. Once again, he feels like a second-rate lackey with not much of a real purpose other than to be a bad guy that the good guys shoot at. There were also instances where other Transformers were jammed into the movie for the sole purpose of selling toys. I do like the introduction of Quintessa and the general Transformers mythos the filmmakers were trying to build, but I never fully bought into the way it was executed.
Cade Yeager’s character is supposed to be this noble, cool father that has a good moral compass and the story leads the audience to believe he is meant to have some greater purpose in the movie. However, any emotional moments or character development Cade was supposed to have, were botched by silly dialogue and unfunny one-liners. In general, the humor is either hit or miss. One could feel the notion that the filmmakers try to force as much humor onto us as they can, often sacrificing storytelling for a laugh. Isabela Moner plays a young girl caught in the middle of the human-Transformers war and almost acts as a foster daughter to Mark Wahlberg's character. Moner’s character is brave, smart, and underutilized. She appears at the beginning of the movie, then disappears for a good eternity, and shows up at the end having absolutely zero presence and zero impact on the film. This contrasts the marketing in which her character is used heavily and even featured in her own T.V. spot. While there was great potential for her character, she fell flat and became a missed opportunity. You could take her out of the movie and there wouldn’t be any consequences because of it. Laura Haddock plays Viviane, a professor at the University of Oxford that is important to the “story” and mythos. The reveal of her lineage should’ve been grand and cool, but just feels bland. I feel the filmmakers did not know how to use her or know what to do with her. Anthony Hopkins as Sir Edmund Burton is a fun addition the film. Though off the walls and a little bizarre, he is a likable character, and I get the sense Hopkins had fun playing this role.
Even though this is an action movie, it felt like there were just mindless explosions with humans and Transformers fighting for nothing. When the huge battle at the end happens, I was not sure where these new enemies came from. While the movie is a visual spectacle, it also felt like there was just too much visual noise. The movie, in general, is too much of everything; over the top action, forced humor, too many characters, tons of Michael Bay explosions. At the same time, it’s an empty movie with no character development, no substance, and no story. However, this is not anything new because it sticks to the Transformers formula we have been getting for the past 10 years. Michael Bay has openly said this is his last Transformers movie and I really hope it is. He has directed 5 of them of which most are mediocre to bad. I find him to be a talented director with movies such as Bad Boys and Pain & Gain under his belt, but he really needs to move on from the franchise.
It has been 10 years since the debut of the first Transformers, but the film franchise has not gotten better since then. I hope this franchise transforms into something else because it would be a waste hashing out these bad Transformers movies when there’s so much potential with all the lore behind it. If you’re a fan of the Transformers movies, I would say see this because it sticks to the same formula. If you’re not a fan of the Transformers movies and might be interested in seeing this, I’d invite you to stay at home or watch another movie at the theater. Personally, I’d give Transformers: The Last Knight 2.5 out of 5 stars.
The Little Hours Review
Sex jokes, valley girl accents, and expletive-filled rants -- Giovanni Boccaccio would no doubt be proud of the soon to be released The Little Hours, based on a story from his 14th Century work The Decameron. The film, boasting an ensemble cast with Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Ginevra Micucci, Dave Franco, John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon, manages to retain the the realness and imagination of the original piece while invoking 21st Century humor.
The story takes place in medieval England, in a convent where three Catholic Sisters (Brie, Plaza, and Micucci), vent their frustrations with their lifestyle by berating their hard-working gardener. After the gardener leaves, unable to take any more of the sister’s insults, Father Tommasso (Reilly), head of the convent, replaces him with Masseto (Franco), a young, attractive servant who is escaping death for having slept with his master’s wife. At Father Tommasso’s request, Masseto pretends to be deaf and mute so as to escape to sister’s wrath, but even so, the young women take a shine to him, finding his youth, attractiveness, and inability to resist the perfect tool to ease their lustful desires. What ensues from the competition for Masseto’s….”time” is ninety minutes of half stunned hilarity.
The actors give it their all, and watching them navigate the situation they have ended up in is comedy in itself. Moreover, comedy is not the only thing the film excels at -- the cinematography is pure art, never letting the viewer forget the beautiful English countryside the story is set in, even though the actors all keep their American accents (for the comedy, of course). Cameos from Nick Offerman and Fred Armisen add extra laughs along the way -- in fact, Armisen’s stint as the highly offended and shocked Bishop brought just the right amount of giggles before the uncharacteristically sweet ending.
The Little Hours is raunchy, sexy, and maybe even a little bit offensive -- but it is also brutally funny, and missing it would mean missing a chance to laugh about something, even if it is a little ridiculous.
4/5 stars.
The Little Hours opens everywhere on June 30th