Tribeca Film Festival – Mega Review

Time to showcase key moments from the Tribeca Film Festival! What a wonderful joy to be able to cover the 25th Annual Tribeca Film Festival! Hope you enjoy and plenty more to come!

“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass“

Welcome to an ode to “The Wizard of Oz” because there is some serious homages to Dorthy’s iconic shoes and gingham dress on Zoey Deutch’s Gail Daughtry. In a compact 93 minute runtime you have an enjoyable film that had its New York premiere At Tribeca Film Festival.

What could be coined as a little campy, but very fun you have the terminology of “celebrity sex pass” take on a literal meaning. We’re introduced to Gail Daughtry (Deutch) who is a hair stylist that hasn’t left the comfort of Willwbrook, Kansas and is engaged to her high school sweetheart, Tom (played by Michael Cassidy). Gail’s world is small, but you better believe she’s about to explode onto a whole new adventure. 

Gail ends up joining her friend and fellow hairstylist Otto (Mlies Gutierrez-Riley) to Los Angeles and much havoc ensues. Why does Gail join Otto? I don’t want to spoil it since the film is due out on July 10th, but the amount of betrayal and cameos in this project are extremely impressive. I was flabbergasted by how cohesive and locked in I was during the film that was able to homage Hollywood and poke fun at it as well. Some places for you to keep an eye out for is Chateau Marmont and Creative Artists Agency Headquarters. 

Director David Wain does a wonderful job at balancing out his ensemble cast of Zoey Deutch, Jon Hamm, John Slattery, Ken Marino, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Ben Wang, Joe Lo Truglio, and Sabrina Impacciatore. There’s a balance of genres that is blended between Italian mobsters, scream girls drama and the eagerness of roadtrip adventure all within the larger than life town of Los Angeles. 

I will say that Jon Hamm in particular is a standout in this film knowing that he’s been having quite a moment in the spotlight with “Landman”, “Your Friends & Neighbors” and “The Morning Show”. He plays himself in the film and is able to jab at himself and embrace the wildness of this story. In many ways you have a coming of age story for Gail Daughtry in many ways and Jon Hamm plays a pivotal part to her blossoming of the story. 

I do hope you catch it in theatres because it’s a fun time with plenty of upbeat moments and Deutch being a star that I hope gets more leading roles.

3.5/5

“In Memoriam“

Having its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival, “In Memoriam” is a culmination of heartfelt dramaedy with an ode to the love of one’s career. Lead by Marc Maron, he stars as Langston who provides some morbid humour in a film that could feel redundant ends up with giving us a satisfying journey. As hinted in the title we have our lead character Langston (Maron) who ends up with a terminal diagnosis and a limited timeline placed before him. Chaos ensues in the time he has left with a strong ensemble cast that makes Langston shine. 

Langston lives in the heyday of the good ole days in a period of his life where he’s respected/recognized as an actor, but does he fall short of accomplished potential? Well that’s what we get to see throughout the film and see how Langston’s journey with his family, friends, career and health end up colliding altogether. One of the strongest standouts is Lily Gladstone who plays Langston’s therapist Samantha and keeps him on the edge of his seat and humor. Additionally, we also have Michael McKean, Judy Greer, Talia Ryder, Sharon Stone and Justin Long who round out the cast and give strong insight to Langston’s journey.

One standout as a plot device to the film is Langston’s desperation to make sure he’s included in the “In Memoriam” segment of the Academy awards made me howl. As someone who’s engrained in the industry it really hits the charm of those who have any sort of connection to the industry and how important these little things are that could mean the world to others. However, Langston is someone wants to make sure his legacy is forever cemented in Hollywood’s history, but at what cost? The play on the title and allowing it to grow in its premise and meaning is solidly directed and written by Rob Burnett. 

Overall, you’ll understand why this film is not only spotlighted in Tribeca Film Festival, but hopefully will gain a distributor soon. It’s able to balance its with the heartfelt beats but you’re heavily invested in Langston’s and Talia Ryder’s journey throughout the film. I don’t want to give away Ryder’s role but to see how Maron and Ryder play off each other so well in this film shows strength in their cast and memorable liners from the screenplay. 

As soon as this film has a distributor I’ll be covering it with spoilers. Hope for it to be soon!

3.5/5

“Killing Castro“

Being able to attend the world premiere of “Killing Castro” was reverting. The cast was in attendance including Diego Boneta, Xolo Maridueña, Kiki Layne, Kendrick Sampson and Al Pacino. What serves as a slice of history in a sharp run time of 90 minutes. Taking place during Fidel Castro’s stay at Harlem’s Hotel Theresa in September 1960. 

Director Elf Rivera makes his directorial review with this film and is able to capture the grittiness of the 1960’s during the heightened popularity of Castro’s (Diego Boneta) rise in power. This particular snippet of “Killing Castro” encapsulates Castro visit in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and he was facing backlash and hostility during the initial start of his visit. This leads to Malcolm X (Kendrick Sampson) extending Fidel Castro an invitation to Hotel Theresa in Harlem for the remainder of his stay. 

However, we have the issue of this film’s title being defeated at its premise – Fidel Castro did not die, but it can’t be said his enemies and the American government certainty didn’t try. There are a number of government entities including the CIA, the FBI and even the mob to play in the mix, but the real standout in all of this is Al Pacino who portrays Robert Maher who was the real-life CIA operative that was involved in trying to get Castro killed. Pacino walks into this film with a seasoned air and a humourous delivery that makes Director Rivera’s debut feature a real crowd pleaser. 

Other standouts are Xolo Maridueña and Kiki Layne. Maridueña plays Leo who is a bellboy at Hotel Theresa and becomes intwined with Fidel Castro (Boneta) because he comes his translator. However, don’t underestimate Maridueña’s role in this film because he continues to show that his range is vast and can do much with a layered role. Kiki Layne’s character in the film plays a hotel worker and also gets caught int he drama of the Castro storm, but she holds her own in a film where she could’ve felt small and she shines brilliantly. 

I do hope you catch this film when it releases, but it hasn’t been acquired yet for distribution rights. However, I have no doubt that I’ll be seeing more of director Elf Rivera in the upcoming years because “Killing Castro” served as a strong debut and I want to know what’s next. 

3/5

“The Long Haul“

Spotlighted at the festival is “The Long Haul” starring Margo Martindale as CJ Montague and gives a grizzled performance. CJ is at a crossroads where retirement comes into focus and not be the terms CJ expects. Having been driving and running her own company named CJM trucking, no silliness is tolerated. What CJ struggles with is change and the resistance to it. There’s even a point in the film where we learn that CJ doesn’t even have an email address. 

However, as learn throughout the film there is a reason why CJ refuses to move into the digital era: her daughter Straling is murdered. We see that CJ is unable to resist change and much less moving on. This is why the life of a trucker became a solace to CJ because there is no need to stay still but the need to be restless becomes the main factor in CJ’s life. 

What happens in CJ’s life becomes a whirlwind since Starling’s murdered, Wayne (Jefferson White) becomes eligible for parole. This sends CJ into a flight or fight mode and we end up with a journey consumed by fear, repression and loss. Additionally, you have Cole Spouse who has a small supporting role here, but is excellent in what he delivers as Junior and becomes an opposing reflection to CJ’s state.

It hasn’t been picked up yet by a distributor, but I do hope you catch Margo Martindale’s performance that standouts in this character study. It’s no surprise though as Martindale is no stranger to accolades with three Emmy in under her belt.

3/5

I’ll have “Hadestown: The Musical” review in a few weeks since I wasn’t able to catch it at the Festival, but stay tuned!