Tribeca Film Festival 2010

The Tribeca Film Festival is well underway at various venues throughout the city. I was fortunate enough to attend premiere screenings for two interesting character driven movies.

On Sunday, I checked out "Cairo Time" starring Patricia Clarkson. Although we've all seen Ms. Clarkson in countless movies, this one marks the first time she has played the romantic lead (I was stunned when I first learned this as well). Patricia plays the part of Juliette, a woman who goes to Egypt to visit her United Nations employed husband for a long-awaited vacation. When he is unable to join her, he sends his former security advisor Tareq, a charming and handsome Egyptian who provides protection, guidance, and assistance in this isolating foreign land. There is crazy chemistry brewing between the two and a too-close-for-comfort friendship develops.

Glamazon and TT strolling the red carpet before the movie

The scene inside the BMCC Tribeca PAC theater before the start of the movie

The director, Ruba Nadda, introducing the film's stars and producers

Next up, was last night's premiere of "Legacy" starring Idris Elba, Eamonn Walker, and Monique Gabriela Curnen.

"Legacy" is about a former Black Ops soldier, played by Idris, who is sent on a mission to capture an arms dealer, but finds himself beaten and tortured. When he learns that the operation was a mission in fultility, he returns to the U.S. to with plans to rectify the situation.

The singular setting of a dingy Brooklyn hotel room sets the backdrop for one of the most riveting performances I've seen from Idris. As a man deeply wounded, (emotionally, mentally, and physically) he fully embodies the character and transforms into something other than the cocky and swaggerific Brit we've come to love.

Idris Elba and Thomas Ikimi

After the movie, the cast and director answered some audience questions. The Nigerian born director, Thomas Ikimi, is smart, funny, and passionate about filmmaking. His desire to bring back the fundamentals of good cinema is to be applauded because, unfortunately, it's not all that common these days.

If I had to describe this movie in one phrase, I would say, "I Am Legend meets the direction of Alfred Hitchcock."

The Tribeca Film Festival runs through May 2. If you are in the NYC area, do yourself a favor and check out a screening or two. For all others, the festival is an annual affair so, be prepared to be here next year:-)

I'd Like To Call It Beauty

Despite Bowler Boy's reluctance to bring me back an official British copy of Corinne Bailey Rae's cd, I got it anyway from iTunes this past weekend and I'm eternally grateful that I did. I completely confess to having a perfectly healthy girl crush on Ms. Rae.

You see, in my head she lives the life in reality that I, in my head, live. I imagine that she has a great collection of eccentric and fabulous vintage clothing with some modern designs from a plethora of indie and major labels thrown into the mix. She wastes away afternoons in patisseries, museums, and galleries with a great group of culturally diverse friends and she attends private screenings of smart artistically crafted films. But most importantly, she lives authentically and loves completely. It's a wholly romantic life don't you think? And that brings us to her latest offering, "The Sea." Her first album since the untimely death of her husband, Jason Rae in 2008.

"The Sea" is Ms. Rae's second release and there are no signs of the sophomore slump. For me, it's an album of contrasts. It's moody and consistent. It's mournful and celebratory. It's sad and hopeful. It's all the emotions and thoughts one would suspect would rush through your heart and mind if you had lost the person you felt was your soul mate to the silliness of an accidental overdose. It's soul, blues, rock, folk, and R&B. Even in it's grief, I find a mature sensuality definitely not present in her first album.

Rolling Stone magazine commented that on the track "The Blackest Lily" that she is "confronting death with the greatest weapon: life, fully lived." The New York Times says, "The album is a major creative leap from her debut. Ms. Rae's voice is deeper, capable of carrying the weight of this sad album. The music is richer."

I wanted to be able to list my favorite tracks, but like a proud mother, I can't pick out any. It's as though I've created them myself because I cannot succeed in breaking them apart and rewarding one over the other. It's a complete body of work that I'm pleased with. Sure, there are some that I like more than others, but I hesitate to point them out for fear that listeners wouldn't give the whole work it's due credit.

The album has pre and post-death songs on it. "I'd Do It All Again" was written pre-death after an argument with her late husband. Just as the title suggests, she'd do it all again. Enjoy....



Her record label prevents the embedding of the actual music video, but I find this live version just as enjoyable.