Tag: clearview

TFF 2013 DAILY RECAP: Friday April 19th

Tribeca Coverage Logo

I want to start off by apologizing for the delay in my coverage this year. I thought I’d get everything written & posted sooner this year since I was actually staying in the city but I have been getting back to the room exhausted every day. I am taking the next few days off from the festival to catch up and watch a few more of the films available in the online screening room. But before I get to that, let’s start at the beginning…

TFF press lounge

As always, my first experience of the Tribeca Film Festival was picking up my press badge at the Cadillac Press Lounge. It also doesn’t matter how early it is, this experience is always marked by my first of hopefully many free Magnum Ice Cream bars. After browsing the tables for film postcards / fliers, which there were practically none, I made my way over to Clearview Cinemas Chelsea for my first screening.

tff almost christmas

ALMOST CHRISTMAS is almost a good movie. I know that seems like a pretty easy jab but the film actually opens itself up to it quite well. With everything going for this production, especially the fantastic casting of Paul Rudd & Paul Giamatti, this film could have (and should have) been so much more. My expectations probably had a lot to do with my level of enjoyment but in the end, if this really was meant to be a comedy, it simply is not funny.

Following my first screening (and first major disappointment) of the festival, I randomly bumped into Alan LaFave of the Hells Half Mile Film + Music Festival in the theater lobby. I had seen him the last two years at Tribeca so we hung out for a little to catch up. Now that I am a board member for the Orlando Film Festival (Submissions open NOW), we talked a bit about running a smaller festival as compared to TFF. Afterward, I made my way to the next screening.

TFF Adult World

ADULT WORLD was the most packed I have ever seen a Tribeca press/industry screening. While ALMOST CHRISTMAS was a disappointment because of the quality compared to the cast involved, this film was quite the opposite. ADULT WORLD is a good film mainly because of all the talent involved. It is easy to see how this could have been a mess or at least far less interesting had it not been for the fantastic performances and great skill behind the camera. ADULT WORLD may not be the most original coming of age story but it is a satisfying and darkly funny film.

TFF Clearview

Outside the theater I again bumped into Alan LaFave. These random meetings may give the illusion of TFF being a small intimate gathering but I promise the festival is actually spread out all around Manhattan (and ironically mostly outside of the Tribeca area). We both decided to check out the RIDER AND THE STORM premiere party a few blocks away at SPIN NYC. Despite Olivia Wilde’s name being plastered all over my invite, I did not see her in attendance but there were a lot of really nice and fascinating people that I did get to meet. One of them being Bryn Mooser, co-director of RIDER AND THE STORM and co-founder of RYOT.ORG. I have not had a chance yet to view his film but I hope that changes before the end of the festival. I left the party after about 90 minutes, thus ending my first day at TFF 2013.

 Jerry Cavallaro  – @GetStuck  –  www.JerryCavallaro.com

Tribeca 2012 Daily Recap: April 25th

It is close to 2 am and I need to be out of my house before 8 to make my first screening tomorrow so I will try to make this quick. Rather than kick things off with a trip to the press lounge this morning, I went straight to the AMC Village 7 Theater for the first time this year.

Partially inspired by my Tribeca experience, I made a comment on Twitter the other night that the only comedies festivals seem to program are “authentic” dramedies about “real-world relationships” that tend to go nowhere. That is a fairly accurate description of YOUR SISTER’S SISTER except for one major exception; the film actually takes you on a bit of an emotional journey and it is quite a fun trip. I was surprised by how much I loved the film. This was a public screening and easily the most packed I had seen any theater at the festival thus far. I had not even planned to see this film but heard such good things from other press that I added it to my list. I’m so glad I did. This smart, funny and expertly crafted flick is easily one of the best films at Tribeca.

Following the screening, I checked into the film via GetGlue just like I’m programmed to do after constantly watching the ads telling us to share our Tribeca experience via the wonders of social media. I received a response on Twitter from @ConradHotels asking about my #TFF screening schedule. After a few tweets, they told me they’d have a surprise for me after my last screening of the day. Intrigued, I began my hike to the Clearview Cinemas Chelsea. Of course there were a few stops along the way: Best Buy for Blu-Rays I don’t really need, Press lounge for water & ice cream and a lunch break at 2 Bros. for $1 pizza slices! Tired, full and a little curious, I made it with plenty of time to spare to my second (and final) screening of the day.

THE GIANT MECHNICAL MAN was a bit of a letdown for me. While enjoyable as is, the film never lives up to its full comedic potential. It works best when dealing with the rom-com aspects of the story but falters a little with mostly unnecessary dramatic beats that feel too repetitive. I can’t help but feel like this film would have been far more entertaining if all the main characters were not so damn depressed. At least Topher Grace was spot on as a cocky motivational speaker.

The post-screening Q & A was equally disappointing. Not because Jenna Fischer wasn’t there (although that did suck) but because only a handful of fairly boring questions were thrown at writer/director Lee Kirk who seemed to have a lot more to say. On my way out, I received yet another tweet from @ConradHotels alerting me they’d be at the theater in less than 20 minutes. I waited outside for just a few before being met by the 2 lovely ladies I had apparently been tweeting with. And they came bearing gifts!

Courtesy of Conrad Hotels & the Pop-Up Conrad Concierge, I received a $100 gift card and a Mophie Juice Pack Plus iphone case. This was truly awesome and incredibly useful for many reasons. Whether you are at the festival or not, I suggest you follow @ConradHotels since they seem to be giving away a lot of cool stuff. (Please note: This is NOT an official endorsement on behalf of WAMG) They took a video of the entire thing which I will link to in a future update if they post it.

With my backpack a little fuller, I decided to stop by the filmmaker lounge for an Industry Cocktail party prior to hopping the bus home. Just like last  time, a few minutes turned into 3 hours chatting with people like Alan LaFave (Festival Director of Hell’s Half Mile Film + Music Festival), Aaron Moorhead (co-director of RESOLUTION), and Matt Watkajtys & Jeff Hodges of Izkara distribution. Filling my backpack just a little bit more with free Smart water, I finally made my way home. And now I will finally get to bed!

Jerry Cavallaro – @GetStuck – JerryCavallaro.com