by Sam Juliano
The weather has been warming up, and on the movie front Lucille and I are pounding the mat at Tribeca, having seen thirteen films over the past four days after taking in the new release Midnight Special on the Monday before the festival began. It appears that we will be able to work in twenty-one more feature films over the next and final seven days of the festival beginning with the two for this evening. Otherwise we are still in the preparation stage of the science-fiction countdown, which is clearly getting much less interest than the five previous genre projects. Still, I won’t give up the ship until or unless it becomes conclusive it won’t be flying. Group e mails have been sent out and deadlines have been set, and completed ballots are awaited.
On the political front we have the huge New York primary set for tomorrow. Hillary Clinton appears to have a stranglehold in the pollings, though Bernie Sanders has made up some ground. Donald Trump should win the state in a landslide, though his opponents may be able to sneak off with a few of the ninety-five up for grabs. I will be voting in the New Jersey Democratic primary on June 7th.
The list and star ratings for the thirteen (13) features seen at Tribeca:
(Ratings 1 to 5 stars)
After Spring **** (Thursday, April 14) Bow-Tie
Holidays * (Thursday, April 14) Bow-Tie
Wolves *** (Friday, April 15) SVA
Night School **** (Friday, April 15) Bow-Tie
Kicks **** (Saturday, April 16) Bow-Tie
Contemporary Color *** (Sat., April 16) Bow-Tie
As I Open My Eyes *** 1/2 (Sat., April 16) Bow-Tie
Detour **** (Saturday, April 16) Bow-Tie
Dreamland * (Sunday, April 17) Bow-Tie
Junction 48 *** 1/2 (Sunday, April 17) Bow-Tie
Command and Control **** (Sunday, April 17) Bow-Tie
The Ride **** 1/2 (Sunday, April 17) Bow-Tie
Memories of a Penitent Heart **** (Sun, April 17) Bow-Tie
My plans are to write capsule reviews for several more of the lot I managed to see based on favorability ratings. Two have so far been published at WitD: Night School and Kicks.
Before the festival began Lucille, the three boys and I saw Midnight Special, a cathartic science-fiction film that I count as one of the very best films of the year so far:
Midnight Special **** 1/2 (Monday, April 11) Secaucus
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Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
Golly, Sam, I have no idea how you manage to do Tribeca and write about it! You must be typing with your eyeballs by now, and by the end of the festival you’ll be a wreck!
Keep up the good work.
I’m sorry I personally have been so remiss about the SF countdown. I just worry that my selections are likely to be so different from everyone else’s! I’m not averse to contributing essays about movies selected by others, though.
I must try to check out Midnight Special . . .
John, I have a long way to go to catch up to your miraculous exploits in the fields of literature and at-home film watching my friend! After today’s planned quartet the festival will end. I will have seen 35 features, my wife 31. Quite a time, and a number of very fine films I must say!
You are not at all remiss as far as the tentative countdown is concerned. You in fact have been an amazing supporter from the start. Yes I do greatly look forward to your contributions. And I expect you’ll love MIDNIGHT SPECIAL!
Go Sam GO! 🙂 Looks like some interesting films coming out. So appreciate you taking the time to fill us in on your finds.
Thanks so much Terrill! It has been quite a hectic week for sure, but we’ve weathered the demand and today it ends for us with four planned features, which I will be discussing on the new MMD.
Can’t say I am much surprised Sam. You always kill it at the festival every year. Hopefully you’ll run into some big winners in the coming days! Good luck. I hear a lot of good things about Midnight Special!
Thanks so much Frank. The festival did offer up some winners, no doubt about it!
Hello Sam and Everyone!
Well, you are in your festival and I’m in mine! I’m in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and these are some of the films that I’ve seen:
– Hardly a Criminal (1949, Hugo Fregonese) **** A surprise as it manages to be something that would be improbable to think about in 1949 in Argentina. A noir with crime and prison drama that actually delves into the moral issues of the time, as well as being a vindication for the use of location filmmaking. In all its restored glory, this is equal to a run-of-the-mill B-noir from the time in the United States, but in the context of Latin America, this is aces.
– Dream Work (2002, Peter Tscherkassky) **** I will never be able to explain why Tscherkassky works so well with me.
– Engram of Returning (2016, Daichi Saito) **** Beauty under mystery.
– Film (1965, Alan Schneider) ***1/2 Obsessed with its own idea, it ends up being a mostly boring failure, only saved by the histrionics of the pale faced man.
– Hail, Caesar! (2016, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen) **** It certainly is more reductive than other Coen Brothers films, and it surely has some heavy-handed messages about communism and the business of making films… but watching this is a joy for the entire runtime. Here we see the Coens having fun with a big and star-studded cast, making wonderful jumps around old-age genres, making some really interesting special effects work, and having a field day with the cinematography. Sure, the script isn’t entirely well-rounded and it doesn’t follow an arch as much as an structure (or an idea of one) but it does deliver the acting goods from everyone.
– Innocence (2004, Lucile Hadzihalilovic) **** Beautifully shot, edited and constant in all of the visual sense that the movie could have. Even if a bit thematically blunt, I guess that what drives the viewer forward and into this strange world is the need of some sort of resolution, that in the end some of the intricacies of the plot would make some sense, that there was a code, a dictionary, and sure it drove me as well, even if I knew that most probably than not, I wouldn’t have one. It is kinda cheaty in that regard, but I guess its thematic bluntness kinda told me that in advance. It’s still a beautiful, mysterious, haunting film that I wished I could be less smug about.
– Notfilm (2015, Ross Lipman) ***1/2 But, this is obsession on a completely different level. Because I was in a hurry (for another film that I couldn’t get to anyway) I missed the Q&A, and my main question would’ve been WHY. Why would you make a two hour film essay on a 22 minute short film that even the narrator himself admits “isn’t that good”. Where is my four hour masterpiece discussing and analyzing Un Chien Andalour? (Actually, no one do this).
– Queen Kelly (1929, Various Directors) ***1/2 Its incomplete ending robs it from the emotional climax that would’ve had if this had been five hours long if Stroheim would’ve had his way. Still, filled with deep looks and beautiful faces, wonderful framing and a sense of wonderment that fills the screen. It’s a bit uncomfortable to think that the prince burns down a convent just to get to meet a girl once again, but at the same time it gives the plot its motion. The big moment was at the end and we can’t see it, a shame.
– Trees of Syntax, Leaves of Axis (2009, Daichi Saito) **** Rhythmic absence.
That’s all, have a great week Sam!
Doris Roberts (1925-2016)
Watch for Ms. Roberts in a small part opposite Shirley (‘Klute,’ ‘Seven Beauties’) Stoler in Leonard Castle’s cultish ‘The Honeymoon Killers.’ The film plays like Antonioni (severe style) meets John Waters (exultant bad taste). Scorsese was set to direct at one point.
Later, Sam and all
Whoops, it’s Kastle with a K.
Thanks so much for that touching obit Mark. I do remember her in THE HONEYMOON KILLERS indeed. R.I.P.
Sam –
Thirteen films in four days? You definitely met your match in Lucille!
I’m impressed at how many films received 4 stars from you. It looks like THE RIDE is leading the kit-and-caboodle by half-a-star! In league with MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (another 4.5 stars) that you saw the night before the festival began.
Len and I just returned from Madison, Wisconsin where I spoke at the Writers’ Institute (UW-Madison), and then drove down to visit with dear friends in Crown Point, Indiana before heading back home to Boise.
Laurie, after the final day today we will have completed our mission. My total will be 35, Lucille’s 31. We need a rest!! LOL!! I actually overstated the ratings for two films here. CONTEMPORARY COLOR is a 3 star film, not a four star, and SINGING is 3.5, not 4. I have made the corrections. Wow, that was some trip you just completed and I know for sure many are still talking about your talk! Am looking ahead to your new book my friend! Have a great week!
Sam, you guys are amazing! The amount of films watched is impressive. Down here, the weather has been perfect. The humidity and heat have not arrived yet. This week one of our felines went thru a laser procedure on her eye. Hopefully, it will prevent cancer cells from developing. On the movie front, it was all home watching…
Only the Lonely (***1/2)
The Payoff – 1935 (**)
Junebug (****)
and a re-watch of Duel at Diabo (***1/2)
Continue to have a great time at the Festival.
Thanks so much John. To be sure the Tribeca Film Festival is a cinematic jolt every year, and setting up the schedule is always the main challenge. In the end we find with all the sacrifices it is still worth it.
I agree on the rating for DUEL AT DIABLO and like JUNEBUG a bit less. Pretty much in accord of ONLY THE LONELY, but didnt see THE PAYOFF. Thanks so much my friend. I trust you and Dorothy are enjoying your own weekend!
I read a review of Contemporary Color. I see you gave it a very high rating. Hope it opens commercially.
Thanks Ricky! CONTEMPORARY COLOR is actually a 3 star movie, not a four star one. I have completed the revision. I suspect it will indeed get a commercial release.
Sam, great to hear you guys are going as strong as ever at Tribeca. I love receiving the reports of your truly immersive activity.
I am jealous you have already seen Nichols’ latest. I consider him one of the real filmmakers to watch of my generation. He is one of the few younger guys that really delights the critics both here and abroad.
Quieter than I would like here but did manage two viewings this week – Ken Burns’ Jackie Robinson doc and the early Lupino indy, Hard, Fast and Beautiful. I admittedly knew very little of the great Robinson’s life and thoroughly enjoyed Burns’ coverage. And the Lupino impressed most with its expressive camerawork. She had one of these unique touches and feel with the camera that at its very best moments conjures up memories of Welles.
Hope you’re having a great week!
Jeffrey, I agree that Nichols is a major talent indeed, and his latest film is simply unforgettable, one that I am really looking forward to see a second time. Thanks for the heads up on the Jackie Robinson documentary. I love the player and the incomparable Ken Burns! Great point of Lupino conjuring up Welles! Many thanks my friend, and have a terrific upcoming week!