Tribeca 2018: Netizens

Netizens is a documentary that offers an in-depth look at cyber harassment and what is and isn’t being done to stop it. Cyber harassment is one of the worst things about the internet.  Nobody is immune to the dangers of the abuse in the digital era.  What first-time director Cynthia Lowen does is offer insight into what these women are doing as a way of fighting back against the harassment.  Lowen follows three women, including…

"Tribeca 2018: Netizens"

Tribeca 2018: Jellyfish

With the premiere of Jellyfish, director James Gardner has announced his arrival on the scene as a feature film director.  Gardner does so by delivering a film with a breakthrough performance from British actress Liv Hill. Life has been thrust onto Sarah Taylor (Liv Hill) during the middle of her teenage years.  While many high school students would rather be living a life free of responsibility, Sarah has become a second mom to her younger…

"Tribeca 2018: Jellyfish"

Tribeca 2018: Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary

Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary is the perfect way to offer closure to the series should there never be a reboot. In just over an hour, Brent Hodge manages to reunite the cast and crew of Freaks and Geeks by way of contemporary interviews while revisiting the set of the 1999-2000 series.  As the series did so on September 25, 1999, the documentary’s world premiere was also on a Saturday night at 8 PM. Fans…

"Tribeca 2018: Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary"

Tribeca 2018: Call Her Ganda

Call Her Ganda is a documentary that follows the investigation into the murder of Jennifer Laude, a Filipina transgender woman. PJ Raval’s documentary follows attorney Virgie Suarez, transgender journalist Meredith Talusan, and Jennifer’s mother, Julita “Nanay” Laude as they seek justice in the aftermath of the 2014 murder. Jennifer Laude was found dead in a hotel toilet on October 11, 2014 when she was discovered by a friend and receptionist.  The suspect was believed to be…

"Tribeca 2018: Call Her Ganda"

Tribeca 2018: General Magic

General Magic is a documentary that brings to life what Forbes has called “the most important dead company in Silicon Valley.” Because the people profiled had a role in creating the technology, the documentary actually asks that you place your phone in airplane mode or power it off.  It’s a nice meta joke that works at the film’s expense. This documentary features an incredible array of Silicon Valley visionaries with impressive resumes.  General Magic originated…

"Tribeca 2018: General Magic"

Tribeca 2018: In a Relationship

Set against the backdrop of a Los Angeles summer, In a Relationship is a dramedy that tries to get at what is it about a relationship that makes us happy. In making the film, Sam Boyd has marked his feature directorial debut.  He does so by basing the screenplay on his acclaimed 2015 short film.  What the film does in essence is take the romantic comedy genre and takes away a lot of the nonsense…

"Tribeca 2018: In a Relationship"

Tribeca 2018: The Miseducation of Cameron Post

The Miseducation of Cameron Post shines a light into the world of conversion therapy. To most people, Cameron Post (Chloë Grace Moretz) is a normal girl in high school.  However, on prom night, her boyfriend, Jamie, discovers her making out in his car with Coley Taylor (Quinn Shephard).  Next thing she knows, it’s off to G-d’s Promise to help her with her sins.  The place is run by Dr. Lydia Marsh (Jennifer Ehle) and Reverend Rick…

"Tribeca 2018: The Miseducation of Cameron Post"

Tribeca 2018: Love, Gilda celebrates Gilda Radner

Offering insight into the life of Gilda Radner, Love, Gilda is incredibly poignant and touching. When Gilda Radner joined the original Saturday Night Live cast in 1975, nobody expected that she be a household name through creating characters such as Rosanne Rosanadanna, Emily Litella and Baba Wawa.  In doing so, the comedian became an inspiration to so many young women. Director Lisa D’Apolito wisely grounds the narrative by letting Radner tell her own story by way of…

"Tribeca 2018: Love, Gilda celebrates Gilda Radner"

I Feel Pretty doesn’t have laughs

In theory, I Feel Pretty should be a movie full of jokes and laughs.  It has anything in a comedy that one wants–a likeable lead with a solid crew of friends–but the script falls remarkably short with not knowing the direction in which to go. Renee Bennett (Amy Schumer) is holding herself back from being that woman who can take charge and control her own destiny.  She works in a basement office far from the Lily…

"I Feel Pretty doesn’t have laughs"

Tribeca 2018: Stockholm

Stockholm is the film that tells the absurd 1973 story that became the basis for the phrase, “Stockholm Syndrome.” Budreau wisely doesn’t wait around as the film quickly gets right down to business when Lars Nystrom (Ethan Hawke) walks into the Swedish bank.  Lars does so to the tune of a Bob Dylan song.  Lars is very demanding of what the police do.  He wants them to release his best friend, Gunnar Sorensson (Mark Strong), from…

"Tribeca 2018: Stockholm"