Tribeca Film Festival Pt. IV
Bonus Content Includes Tribeca Highlights & Film Reviews of "Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road" and "Love Spreads"
Youthquake here, your one and only source into the nostalgia of the pop culture elite (past & present). Today’s pop culture highlight is on film/documentary.
Last week and this week’s Youthquake schedule pause is due to happily covering the Tribeca Film Festival. This bonus edition features film reviews of Love Spreads. So if you’re new, happy to have you; get into it below.
💣 Day 5 highlights include:
Musician and cultural icon A$AP Rocky attended the premiere of his film Stockholm Syndrome at The Battery and producers Matthew Perniciaro and Michael Sherman. Also, executive producers Tim Lee, Mimi Rode, and Osita Onugha. A$AP Ferg, A$AP Twelvvy, Kelsey Oluk, and Kathryn Robson were all in red carpet attendance.
For the Animated Shorts program curated by EGOT Award-Winning Whoopi Goldberg, Tribeca Festival’s co-founder Jane Rosenthal introduced Whoopi.
Whoopi said, “these films gave us all that we needed. They gave us hope, humor, love, and understanding. Pardon my French if there are little kids out here in the audience, but shit happens. And it happened. And these films captured that.”Catch the Fair One also made its world premiere; lookout for my interview with the film’s star Kali Reis (coming very soon). Kali spoke of the importance of an Indigenous woman being portrayed on screen. Also in attendance from the film are cast Tiffany Chu, Michael Drayer, Kimberly Guerrero, and Shelly Vincent. Also, Nathan Halpern (music), Josef Kubota Wladyka (director/co-writer), and executive producer Darren Aronofsky.
Like A Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres had its premiere with director Suzanne Joi Kai on hand. Also, executive producers Bryn Mooser and Andy Hsieh, and Ben Fong-Torres (expect that review very soon).
💣 Day 6 with premieres, conversations, and highlights below:
New York and all-around icon Fran Lebowitz introduced the world premiere screening of Bernstein’s Wall at The Battery. The documentary looks at one of the greatest classical music figures of the 20th century, Leonard Bernstein.
Bernadette Wegenstein, Annette Porter, Marin Alsop, John Benam, and Tong Zhang were all in attendance at tonight’s world premiere of The Conductor. Alsop, Porter, and Wegenstein came together for an exclusive conversation about the need to empower and elevate female conductors to celebrate their ode to artistry, energy, and classical concerts worldwide.
The 2020 Official Selections in Features— Jacinta and She Paradise saw their New York premieres. Jacinta is a documentary that follows three generations of women struggling to find stability amid years of dependency.
Her Paradise is about Sparkle, a naive 17-year-old girl navigating a thrilling yet sinister world that revolves around nightlife and cash, all led by misogyny.Art and Soul celebrated music and dance that soothe the soul. Part of the Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective of more than 70 women and non-binary singers, even gave an outstanding performance with crowd audience unison.
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road is a magnetic visual biography for any fan of documentaries but especially for music fans of the Beach Boys.
Director Brent Wilson, no relation, unearths some intimate moments that fans rarely get to see, a day in the life with Brian Wilson. Also along for the ride is Rolling Stone Editor (and Wilson’s longtime friend), Jason Fine, cruise around Los Angeles.
Cruising through the city, Fine offers some soothing musical relief as they relive and reflect on Brian’s music and life. Viewers can see Brian revisit his hometown of Hawthorne and Paradise Cove, the famous photo session site in Malibu for the Beach Boys’ first LP. Going through a visual time capsule of memories and music, Brian and Jason provide a solid mini road trip playlist as they spin his favorite songs along the drive.
The most nostalgically wistful moments come from Brian’s most troubling periods. His volatile relationship with his emotionally and physically abusive father Murray and his emotionally absent mother (Bill Pohlad’s Love & Mercy— with Paul Dano and John Cusack also features Brian’s incredible journey). Although heads up because it’ll move you, I can’t watch either without tearing up due to Brian’s resilience and strength.
The documentary also features Brian’s nine-year “prison sentence” and combative relationship while under the care and “guidance” of Dr. Landy.
Expanding our presumed opinions on Brian Wilson’s history, the documentary is respectful. Discussion topics slowly ebb and flow about his mental health journey and his love for his brothers, Dennis and Carl. Handling with finesse and care to honor a great musical hero, Brent provides a closer, more personal look into who Brian’s always been. Just Brian Wilson, avid music lover, and coincidental music genius.
Also featured in the documentary is Al Jardine, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Jakob Dylan, Nick Jonas, and Linda Perry. Fans and viewers will be treated with plenty of concerts, studio, and interview footage— as well as hearing a triumphant new song, Right Where I Belong.
Recorded specifically for this documentary, this entertaining, informative, at times heart-tugging road trip provides both a first-hand, intimate look into Wilson’s storied life and further inspiration to anyone whom his music has touched. The documentary is a stunning visual love letter dedicated to one of the greatest living legends.
It was an honor to get invited to an advanced screening ahead of its Tribeca premiere and a Zoom press conference with the musical icon himself.
Seemingly and rightfully nervous, Wilson was asked why he agreed to a documentary, and he candidly said, “I don’t know. I just made up my mind.” Although his answers were short, they were honest. His desire to play music is there, which is exciting to see him feel that want. We were also treated to a little musical styling of his piano, which made my entire year.
Love Spreads intriguingly plays like a delicate spotlight documentary on a known indie band starring Glass Heart. Think of the film as a Triple AAA pass into the recording process as the crew grapples with the success of their debut and the added pressure to evade the ‘sophomore slump.’ Fully deciding to dive into their new album, Glass Heart secludes itself at Rockfield Studios for five weeks in the picturesque English countryside.
Written and directed by Jamie Adams (Wild Honey Pie! and Bittersweet Symphony) centers the film around the complexities of a band’s dynamic and how crucial trust but overall energy can make a difference.
Kelly (Alia Shawkat) is in her head and can’t make sense of the creative block in the way. Meanwhile, guitarist Alice (Tara Lee) seizes the opportunity to demo her seemingly undervalued original music. This inevitable tension shifts the dynamics as inflated egos and accusations begin to clash; their unnoticing band manager Mark (Nick Helm), is caught between bandmates, somehow never able to say the right thing confidently.
The tension between the band grows, so does the boiling pressure from the record label, who are losing patience in their investment. Mark unable to be presently aware since he’s mentally at home with his beloved wife (Dolly Wells) and kid, but he can’t seem to muster the confidence he once had and allows himself to get walked all over by the band and label. Finally, almost to his wit’s end, Mark makes an executive decision which sent forth a domino effect.
Providing a new perspective and a breath of chill fresh air of SoCal vibes is guitar replacement Patricia (Eiza González). Despite Pat’s breezy personality, the uncertainty of Glass Heart’s future is on the line. Is the project worth it, or can they make sense of any new possibilities— Check it out for yourself; Love Spreads debuts in theater and VOD today.
My Tribeca coverage is almost complete; I still have my review of the Migos executive-produced documentary Ice Cold; I was fortunate enough to see that ahead of its upcoming world premiere on Sunday, June 20th. My reviews on Rolling Stone Magazine legend Ben Fong-Torres’ doc; Catch the Fair One and LFG, starring Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Kelley O’Hara.