Movies to see:
Images
"The Assault"
"The Assault" is a powerful film that poignantly conveys the terror of the 1994 hijacking of a plane in Algiers. Writer-director Julien Leclercq realistically retells the three-day-long crisis of four terrorists violently taking over an Air France plane. The film captures the claustrophobic atmosphere that permeated the plane while balancing the emotional side story of a SWAT officer and father. Leclercq's crisp cinematography, inclusion of actual footage and the film's unrelenting intensity transports the audience into seats onboard the plane, absorbing viewers into the petrifying drama along with the characters. — Erin Whitney Faigh
"The Bang Bang Club"
Based on the real life story of four photographers, "The Bang Bang Club" hauntingly shows the strife and horrors of post-Apartheid-era South Africa. The film provides a deep look into the psychology of the photographers and the moral and personal challenges they faced in the violence they documented. Despite the serious nature of events, "The Bang Bang Club" also manages to squeeze some lighter moments, thanks to a recognizable and well-cast group of actors. — Jonathon Dornbush
"Last Night"
There are few surprises in "Last Night," a slow-paced, average flick in which a couple's fidelity is challenged by the temptations of love and lust. However, Massy Tadjenin's ("The Jacket") delicate screenplay and casual directing are more concerned with scrutinizing the little, everyday moments in life that we forget to notice. Elaborate dialogue proves unnecessary when close-ups of Joanna's (Keira Knightley) subtle eye movements reveal more about her wavering emotional state. It is hard to deny some pleasure in watching "Last Night's" predictable plot unfold, put forth as it is by unpretentious characters and tranquil sequences that beg appreciation of life's and love's little moments. — Erin Whitney Faigh
"Patang"
"Patang" follows a once-upper-middle-class family on the day of a kite-flying festival in Ahmedabad, India. The family struggles against financial ruin and deep resentments among its members to enjoy the kite-flying. The characters are not very subtly depicted; they are more sketches than fully fleshed-out individuals. But the movie is worth watching just to see the shots of the sky clouded with brightly colored kites, and the members of the family are pleasantly charming and appealing. "Patang" is a sweet and sincerely felt film. — Mel Zahnd
Movies to miss:
"Beyond the Black Rainbow"
I wish I could like "Beyond the Black Rainbow." It is campy and ridiculous and tries so hard to make you think. But, I am embarrassed to say, "Beyond the Black Rainbow" is just too strange for me. I like to think I am not very needy in the realms of plot or traditional character development, but I do at least need some plot of some kind. As far as I can tell, "Beyond the Black Rainbow" is the story of a mad scientist who has been keeping a girl trapped in his laboratory. Although I sat through this movie for almost two hours, that is really all I know about its story. However, it was not so much the lack of plot that bothered me as it was the lack of striking images. With allegorical scenes of mytho-poetic violence and sexuality, director Panos Cosmatos was clearly trying to tap into the audience's visceral unconscious. But honestly, so many of the images, like the hairless child in the giant space suit, were just weird, not mind-blowing. — Mel Zahnd
"Stuck Between Stations"
"Stuck Between Stations," the story of one night shared by two 20-somethings reunited after years apart, is not the great romance it could have been. Avoiding a cliché ending to such a love story is welcome, and focusing on one night keeps the film at a smart pace, but the two main characters meant to carry the movie feel less like real people and more like actors in a movie. — Jonathon Dornbush
Be sure to check back for full coverage of the Tribeca Film Festival next week.
