Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu is a hilarious, profound, heartfelt and crowd-pleasing documentary about Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, two comedians and friends, who travel to Peru to hike the Inca Trail together which will lead them to Machu Picchu. Director Michael LaHaie first follows Bob and David as they say goodbye to their loved ones in NYC before embarking on their voyage to Peru. What starts as a funny, witty and amusing travelogue with picturesque scenery turns into so much more as it explores Bob and David's friendship, their insecurities and even little bit about their traumatic childhoods. You'll also learn about their comedy sketch series Mr. Show with Bob and David which they collaborated on in the 90s. There's plenty of humor throughout Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu, though, so it would be ideal to see it with a large crowd. The best way to describe it without giving away any of its surprises is that it hits the same notes as the "documentary" The Trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. You don't have to be a fan of Odenkirk or Cross to enjoy it. Moreover, you might even be inspired to hike the Inca Trail yourself some day if you haven't done so already. At a running time of only 1 hour and 20 minutes, Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu is one of the best films of Tribeca Festival. It's currently seeking distribution.

 

       Did you ever wonder what dictators like to eat? Now's your chance. How to Feed a Dictator is an equally disturbing and mouth-watering documentary about five world dictators, Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Augusto Pinochet and Kim Jong-il, and their private chefs. Director Andrew Neel  interviews the chefs along with scholars who discuss the dictators' atrocities.  He asks them tough questions, at times, which require introspection and critical thinking. The scrumptious sights of most of the dishes leads to tonal whiplash when juxtaposed with the graphic images and descriptions of the atrocities. There's also discussion of cannibalism including archival footage of Idi Amin clearly lying about not being a cannibal by saying that he doesn't eat human flesh because it tastes too salty. Neel also interviews one of Idi Amin's daughters who praises him as a good man and father. This is the kind of documentary that will make you sick to your stomach one minute and hungry the next when there's a shot of a delicious-looking pepperoni pizza. It's not easy to sit through, but it's rewarding for audiences who don't mind being reminded of harsh truths about history and the scary fact that dictators still exist today.  At a running time of 1 hour and 435 minutes, How to Feed a Dictator is currently seeking distribution.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 1




 

      IX XI is an occasionally poignant and well-shot, but only mildly engaging documentary about how 12 different people experienced 9/11.  Director Sean Wilsey Rand doesn't choose any of the 9/11 survivors; just people who witnessed it that day and whose lives were shaped by it.  There's nothing new or revealing in terms of insights, and the use of film clips from films like After Hours are distracting. Also, Rand doesn't get to know his subjects enough to make this a powerful and profoundly moving documentary. There are too many subjects on-screen to achieve that kind of emotional depth. However, their candidness and vivid recollections of that tragic day along with the archival footage keeps the film somewhat engrossing. At a running time of 1 hour and 26 minutes, IX XI is currently seeking distribution.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 1

      Jean-Michel is captivating, well-edited, illuminating, warts-and-all documentary about legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Co-directors Quinn Whitney Wilson and Viridiana Lieberman do more than just introduce the audience to Basquiat's artworks: they allow the audience to get a glimpse of what he was like behind-the-curtain, so-to-speak, to understand what his thought process was like, his emotional battles, and his influences. They interview his friends, artists Kenny Scharf and Maripol, as well as his sisters, Lisane and Jeannine, and Jeffrey Wright, the actor who portrayed Basquiat in Julian Schnabel's 1996 biopic. He was also friends with Madonna back in the 80s. It's equally sad and enraging how much criticism Basquiat faced from art critics when he first entered the art world. He took the criticism to heart and became depressed from it. His struggles with drug addiction and his subsequent death from a drug overdose after the death of Andy Warhol are also discussed. In a powerful moment, one of Basquiat's sisters has an epiphany about her brother in an interview. That moment alone, which comes near the end, is a testament to both the documentary's strength and the filmmakers' terrific interviewing skills. They do a great job of finding the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them emotionally as well as intellectually while concurrently humanizing Basquiat. At a running time of 1 hour and 35 minutes, Jean-Michel is one of the best documentaries of Tribeca Festival. It will be released via Netflix.

Number of times I checked my watch: 1




 

      In Ponderosa, George (Bill Camp), a mysterious older man, forces his way into the life of a young man, Zeke (Jack Dylan Grazer), as his father figure after Zeke' mother, Sandra (Alexis Bledel), loses her job at a restaurant that closed down. Writer/director Rob Rice has made a creepy, unnerving and provocative dark comedy with shades of psychological horror. The plot becomes increasingly bizarre and even a bit surreal with interesting use of symbolism through lighting and use of color. Rice has a great handle on exposition without revealing too much about George or Zeke. It's clear from the start, though, that George must have a hidden motive, especially given how controlling he behaves with Zeke. Ponderosa doesn't offer easy answers and leaves a lot to the audience's own interpretation. Rice trusts the audience's intelligence, imagination and patience. Jack Dylan Grazer gives a breakthrough performance, and Bill Camp gives an effectively eerie, yet charismatic performance as George. At a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, Ponderosa is currently seeking distribution.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 1




 

       Joan (Sasha Frolova), an audio engineer, returns to the New England home of her estranged father, Lawrence (Xander Berkeley), a former artist who's bedridden and been badly burned after an accident in Recluse. Writer/director Henry Chaisson has made a consistently atmospheric, grim and creepy gothic horror film. It's obvious that something supernatural has take place after Joan arrives at father's home. Does it have something to do with her family's dark past? Perhaps it's related to the disappearance of her mother? Perhaps it's something else? The answers to those questions get answered in the twisted third act which suffers from over-explaining, but until then, Recluse remains suspenseful, intelligent and intriguing. A lot happens during the last thirty minutes or so that will disturb and shock audiences. Fortunately, Chaisson doesn't rely on gore to scare the audience; most of the horror remains psychological, so he wisely relies on the imagination of the audience to provide most of the scares. Everything from the lighting (or lack thereof) and the production design creates a foreboding, chilling atmosphere. That said, what's missing here the most is much-needed comic relief or any other form of levity to counterbalance the very serious and dark tone. If you like your horror film served like black coffee, though, without cream or sugar, Recluse will be right up your alley. At a running time of 1 hour and 46 minutes, Recluse is currently seeking distribution.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 1




 

      In  The Wedding Entertainer: The Tale of Moishe Badhan,  Moishe Striker (Shuli Rand), a badchan whose as a badchan, a.k.a. a Jewish wedding MC, was ruined because of his alcoholism, needs to raise $20,000 for the wedding of his daughter, Sarah-Leah (Malky Goldman). He gets a chance to resurrect his career when he accepts a gig as being a co-badchan with a younger badchan, Meshulam  (Elon Gold), for the wedding of the son of his best friend, Bomchik (Tal Friedman. Director Gidi Dar and screenwriter Shuli Rand have made a funny and delightful comedy with a terrific ensemble cast. The humor is often witty and tongue-in-cheek without pandering to the lowest common denominator or becoming mean-spirited. The filmmakers grasp the concept that comedy often derives from tragedy and, most importantly, deftly balance the film's comedy and seriousness while avoiding tonal unevenness. It doesn't have any big surprises nor does it go over-the-top with its humor---this isn't The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob or a Kuni Lemel film---but it's nonetheless a lighthearted, wise and amusing comedy that will lift your spirits. At a running time of 1 hour and 42 minutes, The Wedding Entertainer is one of the best films of Tribeca Festival. It's currently seeking distribution.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 1


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