There has been some recent research by film historians, silent movie academics and classic comedy buffs who have explored the idea that Chaplin and his most enduring character and image, “The Tramp” may not have been his own concept. The theory is that it was, in fact, the brainchild of the most underrated film person in history, silent-movie actress and Hollywood's first female director and producer, Mabel Normand. It was true

This year the academy award for best picture was awarded to “The Artist,” an irony-free throwback to a past era. 2012 also marks the one-hundredth anniversary of Keystone Film, the studio which many believe epitomized silent film. In honor of this anniversary Turner Classic Movies has plans in September to air much of the films which not only helped define this genre but also screen comedy in general. Coinciding with this celebration, the Lib-

Despite the latter half of its title, Seeking puts the charm back in "charming." The film accomplishes this by doing the impossible on two levels...firstly, by making a serious subject something to laugh at without falling into the always too familiar traps of over-the-top parody, satire or spoof. Secondly, the film takes the genre of romantic comedy and gives it edge without too much violence, shock or sadness. This thread-the-needle bal-

Filmmaker Julie Delpy’s latest opus “2 days in New York” is the sequel to 2007's “2 days in Paris” (thankfully the film itself is more original than its recycled title). Delpy, a certified auteur, brought her own writing, directing and acting to the screen via a narrative that’s as personal as it is familiar. Delpy’s relationship with Adam Goldberg , her love interest from “Paris,” has dissolved. She’s since moved to New York where she takes up photographer duties

The old adage “save the best for last” certainly applied to this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, as the last screening I attended was the thought-provoking, emotional journey called “Future Weather.” I had met its writer, director and producer Jenny Deller at the Tribeca Press Reception beforehand, during which she gave me the film’s background. “Future” lives up to expectations. Clearly, this is not the kind of story in which you’ll

Disclosure: “Rubberneck” was a film I was assigned to review, not one I chose. And yet I can’t thank my editor enough, as it’s the most compelling drawn-out thriller I’ve seen in a while. It also serves as illustration for why the Tribeca Film Festival was created in the first place: to provide a venue for the small-budget indies which may otherwise not get much mileage. The hardest part of this essay has been to judge what filmmaker

On Sunday the Tribeca Festival held its Narrative Filmmaker Press [...]