One of the great things about smaller independent films is that the freedom they explore in not getting pigeon-holed into one specific genre. As the recently-passed Tribeca Festival caters to the independents it follows that they reap the benefits of this formula. Case in point is one of the festival’s better selections this year ASHBY which combines drama, comedy (or dark comedy) sprinkled with a bit of teen angst, romance, action and even neo-noir.

The six Angulo brothers have spent their entire lives locked away from society in an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Nicknamed "the Wolfpack," they're all very bright, home-schooled, have no acquaintances outside their family and have practically never left their home. All they know of the outside world is gleaned from the films they watch obsessively and recreate meticulously,

Every year, thousands of gamers, programmers, and journalists converge at the Penny Arcade eXpo (PAX) to celebrate video game culture. As one of the world’s premier gaming conventions, the booths and hallways are choked with endless screens of pixelated carnage and mayhem. All except for one, that is. At this booth, a quiet middle-aged man guides players towards a video game that isn’t about killing and destruction but survival and life.

Elle (Lily Tomlin) is an academic/erstwhile poet with an acerbic tongue and a combative attitude. When Elle’s granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) arrives at her doorstep with an unwanted pregnancy and little money, they embark on a journey that involves Elle ringing up old acquaintances to collect enough money for an abortion. What ensues is a day of episodic reunions, some painful, some joyful, and most raucous and downright funny.

Måns Månsson and Hongqi Li’s STRANDED IN CANTON is a [...]

Onur Tukel’s APPLESAUCE is a mess. But the problem is that I’m almost certain that it was intended to be a mess from the very beginning. Like an Ornette Coleman record, the unity comes from the disunity and spontaneity of non-harmonious elements blended together around a central theme. In the case of APPLESAUCE, that theme is perhaps the necessity of empathy. Spurred on by a controversial radio host who encourages people

John Maclean’s SLOW WEST is foremost a showcase film. His [...]