Hey folks, Harry here with a second report from Cpt. Yossarian at Tribeca. Here he chimes in on 2 films I have seen NIGHT WATCH (I love it) and THE INTERPRETER (Which I like quite a bit, but don't quite love love) - and then two films I haven't seen but definitely want to in ANTIBODIES and RED DOORS. In particular ANTIBODIES sounds great to me. Must see soon! Here's the Cpt...

Cpt. Yossarian reporting from the Tribeca Film Festival today. Been trying to get an interview with this one Major Major director, but he left a message that if I come buy when he’’s in, then he’s out. But as long as he’s out when I’m there, then it’s all right if they tell me that he’s in, but only when he’s out, and not in.

NIGHT WATCH

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov

Starring Vladimir Menshov, Galina Tyunina  

This Russian-language vampire film is anything but conventional; relying on a series of eye bending and mind twisting effects it suggests a world populated with something other than just humanity. instead of mankind ‘the others’ rest at the top of the food chain’a race of powerful beings who can chose to be on the side of good or evil, light or dark. And, according to this mad director, a delicate balance between the two forces has been struck’though it’s threatened constantly by the desire of one faction to overwhelm the other. This film introduces us to the world and ‘The Night Watch’’enforcers from the Light who police the balance. Though the clever effects and provocative visuals sometime overwhelm the film’s internal logic, it is an impressive retelling of a classic genre scenario that’s too often reduced to cliché. Not here though.  

ANTIBODIES

Directed by Christian Alvart

Starring Wotan Wilke Moehring, André Hennicke  

When an insidious serial killer is arrested in Berlin, a young, upstanding part-time cop from a nearby village suspects he also killed a local girl. Drawn into the killer's sick mind-games (ala Hannibal Lecter) through his interrogations, the cop begins to get unhinged while the killer leads him through some deadly deceptions. As his worst nightmare seems to be coming true, director Alvart makes this our nightmare as well; he bangs on all the right buttons at the right time in the narative with just enough distinctive to avoid making this a pastiche of American-styled psycho killer flicks. Turning on a surprisingly effective conclusion, Alvart is a talent to keep an eye on.  

Red Doors

Directed By Georgia Lee

Starring Tzi Ma, Jacqueline Kim  

Employing a cast of relative unknowns, director Lee’s debut feature tells another immigrant family saga with a few twists and a healthy dose of gentle humor. Father Ed Wong grapples with a crisis of meaning as he settles into retirement and thoughts of suicide after the hard working Chinese life; his three daughters (one teenaged, another college student and the eldest facing a questionable wedding) equally wrestle with identity. Whether it be the punky teen’s rebellious acts of vandalism or the middle daughter’s emerging lesbian love affair with a cult sex queen, Lee situates the various traumas within a humorous context that reflects the challenges to traditional values and ideals. Though some of the conclusions and reactions come off as too pat, Lee demonstrates a well-tuned writing sense and skill at getting chuckles.  

THE INTERPRETER

Directed by Sydney Pollack

Starring Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn  

When an interpreter, Kidman, overhears an assassination plot, Secret Service agent Penn is assigned to protect both her and the target, a once popular African leader under investigation for violently suppressing his opponents who is coming to the UN to defend himself. Political intrigue and deception unfold as the plot is revealed. Though this former Oscar winning director has displayed the ability to smoothly unfold a complex story, he only manages to tell an obvious story unveiled in a clunky and less-than-suspenseful manner. Nearly a third of the way in, the identity and motives of the plotters was clear, and the film anti-climatically ran down to its conclusion. Certainly discrepancies in Kidman’s character motivations weren’t managed with much finesse by the actress; lacking a forceful performance from her left Penn little to respond to. Sad too, because had the film’s thinly cloaked connection to the reality of Africa and countries like Zimbabwe been forcefully felt by audiences, the 128 minute film could have served to make people more aware of the unfortunate and often ignored human tragedies going on this continent.