Sean Dunne's new documentary “Oxyana” was awarded a Special Jury Prize at the last Tribeca Film Festival, and it's easy to see why. Capitalizing on the current rage over oddball slice-of-life docs (see “The Queen of Versailles,”etc.), Dunne's straightforward portrait of a desolate West Virginia mining town ravaged by prescription drug abuse (Oceana, West Virginia, nicknamed “Oxyana” ... more >
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A royal affair
Danish contender for Oscar has lots going for itself
Alicia Vikander and Mads Mikkelsen
Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
Nikolaj Arcel's sweeping costume drama “A Royal Affair”—Denmark's Oscar entry—follows the struggles of young Queen Caroline (Alicia Vikander) as she tries to adapt to her new role as wife of Denmark's obviously insane King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard). The year is 1766, and Caroline, a native Brit, is forced to make do with her unpredictable husband and strange new surroundings ... more >
The Imposter
An epic identity theft story - a must-see!
Frederic Bourdin, Adam O'Brian and Carey Gibson
Directed by Bart Layton
Director Bart Layton produced and directed several episodes of the T.V. series “Locked Up Abroad,” an experience which prepared him, in all likelihood, for the filming of “The Imposter,” a new documentary full of mistaken identity plots and international intrigue. Nothing could have nevertheless prepared him—or us—for the powerfully bizarre tale he recounted, through interviews and ... more >
“HYSTERIA,” when the world’s most famous toy was invented | REVIEW
A slightly naughty romp, not to be missed
Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jonathan Pryce
Directed by Tanya Wexler
Director Tanya Wexler is no stranger to Hollywood: as Darryl Hannah’s younger half-sister she spent some of her formative years on the set of “Blade Runner” and soon saw filmmaking as a viable career choice. Fortunately for us it's the road she took, her new feature film “Hysteria” marking Wexler’s major debut. The premise is enough to incite giggles among the biggest cynics: an ... more >
“NANCY, PLEASE” a grad student’s worst nightmare
Angry ex-roommate equals a whole host of problems
“Nancy, Please” as a character study that reliably builds up tension incorporates some very strong performances. In fact, acting performances make this new feature film by newcomer Andrew Semans. Paul (Will Rogers) plays a believable (and believably) unraveling academic who's left his dissertation’s source text at his previous apartment and cannot seem to get it back. His motivations for ... more >
TRIBECA FESTIVAL | “Whole lotta sole”
Brendan Fraser leads one of the top comedies at this year's fest
Oscar-winning director Terry George ("Hotel Rwanda," "Reservation Road," "The Shore") isn't known for light-hearted comedies. His latest effort, "Whole lotta sole," however, stands convincingly between "Snatch" and "Notting Hill." Laugh convulsively as you follow several different sets of characters--among them a young father (Martin McCann), a ruthless crime lord (David O'Hara), a grizzled cop ... more >
TRIBECA FESTIVAL | Documenting a struggling Maine fish cannery in “Downeast”-REVIEW
A narrative of resilience--to behold
Downeast is about what at first sounds like the most boring possible cinematic subject: rebuilding a destitute fish cannery. And yet it's anything but. Filmmaker David Redmon and Ashley Sabin manage to pack politics, economics, and a large dollop of human interest into their seventy-six minute film. Though it's not without its significant problems, Downeast brings light to the desperate economic ... more >
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