Tribeca Film Festival: What a weekend!!

Special Note: These were all premieres, and an such, the directors were there for every movie and conducted Q&A sessions afterward!

Friday:
Bomb It: A documentary about the origins of graffiti and how this medium has been developed and adapted in different cities around the world. It was so fascinating to see how graffiti can bring together people dedicated to social change and rebellion the world over!

Planet B-Boy: This movie is insane - if someone you knew were ever to believe that bboying (breakdancing) is not a legitimate form of dance, or that it does not have a tremendously profound effect on those involved, all you'd have to do is show this movie. This documentary follows five teams from different countries as they prepare for the largest and oldest b-boy contest in the world. It's a very touching film, utilizing the personal stories of the dancers to show how this art form can change lives.

My date for these movies hadn't seen much of either graffiti or b-boying before seeing these films, and was floored! These films are both excellent cultural ambassadors, it would seem.

Saturday: (the marathon)
Kristy Messer managed to make it through the marathon with me!

Nobel Son: I got to see Alan Rickman in person! And Bill Pullman! And Eliza Dushku! Oh, and also they showed a decent movie about kidnapping in which all those people starred. Sadly, though, I failed to compliment Bill Pullman on his "this is our independence day!" speech from ID4 during the Q&A. Greatest speech ever. Movie? Meh.

Life Support: A collection of four short films. Tower Block tells the story of two brothers scamming their neighbors [if you've seen Duck Season, which you should have, it's much like that]; Last Dog in Rwanda depicts a photographer trying to make sense of his assignment in the aftermath of genocide; Three Towers is a brilliant and totally enjoyable film based on a short story by Etgar Keret about the life of a couple on a small farm; Illegal ends up, despite whatever intentions the filmaker had, basically comes across as a stupid PSA about not hiring illegal immigrants. Lots of folks laughed at how over-the-top movie-style intense Illegal was, and then we found out the director was in the back of the theater. Awkward.

Heckler: Jamie Kennedy made a documentary about what happens to comics when they are heckled or criticized unfairly. The film was hilarious and made some interesting points about taking responsibility for what you say - and the Q&A afterward with Jamie Kennedy himself and the director was extremely lively and really funny.

Sunday:
The Grand: Woody Harrelson stars in a mocumentary about a poker tournament, with comic assistance from David Cross and a host of others. This movie was very, very funny. I really hope they distribute it more widely - it showcases the talents of a number of comic actors who would usually otherwise be relegated to smaller supporting roles. See it if you can!

Doubletime: Who knew that competitive double dutch was such a big deal? This documentary examines two very disparate teams preparing for the double dutch championship at the Apollo Theater. The sport has a very positive effect on those involved, and displays the tremendous dedication of the coaches who support these kids.

So, yes, I saw seven movies this weekend. Seven! All, with the exception of Illegal, were great fun to watch, and the Festival has been just soooo much fun so far!