“Like A Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres”
Ben Fong-Torres is one of the essential music journalists in history. The man behind key cover stories on seminal counterculture figures at the height of a creative revolution (i.e., Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, and Marvin Gaye), Fong-Torres, was the writer whom musical icons sought out. Growing up a Chinese immigrant in the 50s, rock ‘n roll and soul represented the sound of being heard for the future Rolling Stones editor, and, in the hands of director Suzanne Joe Kai, “Like A Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres,” looks to be one of the most impassioned docs of the fest. Talking to contemporaries such as Cameron Crowe and Steve Martin, ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ explores art as an expression of everyday values, not simply a means to a stack of greenbacks.
“Mark, Mary, & Some Other People”
The sophomore film of acclaimed actor, writer, producer, and director, Hannah Marks (“After Everything”) sounds like it will make a great future double feature with “Sleeping With Other People.” Having fallen madly in love after their happy relationship leads to marriage after only a year, Mark and Mary (Ben Rosenfield, Hayley Law) make a big decision that shakes up their sex life. Taking Mark by surprise, Mary suggests the idea of opening themselves up to “ethical non-monogamy” and exploring other avenues of courtship. Holding a mirror up to question what the limits of a love story are, Marks’ film looks to take an uncommonly open-minded approach to the idea of what makes for a romance.
“No Sudden Move”
Frankly, Steven Soderbergh can do whatever the hell he wants, and if he wants to treat us to a bunch of projects he cooked up in lockdown, who are we to complain? But what about a heist movie set in 1954 Detroit starring Don Cheadle, Julia Fox, Benicio del Toro, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, Amy Seimetz, Brendan Fraser, and more?! How could any film lover not be sold? “No Sudden Move” follows a cast of crooks hired to steal a simple document, but of course, things aren’t that simple, and plans quickly fall apart (as they do in heist films). We’re especially excited to see one of our favorite filmmakers re-team with Cheadle, perhaps going back to the roots of their earlier, over-the-top character collaborations a la “Out of Sight.”
“Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain”
Anyone who is into anything food culture-related knows Anthony Bourdain’s name and remembers the shock felt by the world when he passed away in 2018. Known for introducing millions of souls to cultural/culinary traditions they normally never would have been exposed to, Bourdain’s passion could not be contained by any border. Directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville (“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”), “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” is sure to be a treat for fans of the iconic foodie. Made up of unseen footage, homemade movies, and reflections from friends who called him “Tony,” ‘Roadrunner’ aims to capture the larger-than-life character’s infectious spirit from beyond the grave.
“Werewolves Within”
Looking to follow-up his debut horror-comedy “Scare Me,” director Josh Ruben’s “Werewolves Within,” sounds like an Edgar Wright-esque hoot, or howl? (Sorry, sorry!) When ranger Finn Wheeler (Sam Richardson from “Veep”) and guests of The Beaverfield Inn are cut off from society, they realize certain folks have mysteriously gone missing, the locals soon having no choice but to fight back against lycanthropic creatures of the night. Based on the VR game of the same name, and also starring comedy performers Milana Vayntrub (“Silicon Valley”), Michaela Watkins (“Casual”), and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do In The Shadows”), Richardson’s not-so-typical action hero must fight back against his fears in this gleefully bloody monster whodunnit.
Honorable Mention:
There’s really a lot of titles that sound great, and there’s only so much space and time. Briefly, keep an eye on the Midnight selection title starring Vince Kartheiser, “Ultrasound,” “Roaring 20,” “Souad,” “Shapeless,” “Wu Hai” the documentary, “All These Sons” from acclaimed doc filmmaker Bing Liu (“Minding the Gap“), “Simple As Water” from Academy Award-winner Megan Mylan (“Lost Boys of Sudan,” “Smile Pinki“), “God’s Waiting Room,” The directorial debut of Tyler Riggs, who starred in “Boomtown” alongside Rachel Brosnahan, Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones‘ pandemic comedy “How It Ends” with Cailee Spaeny from “Mare Of Easttown,” and a lot of celebrity guest appearances and “No Man Of God,” starring Elijah Wood. So much to see. The festival runs June 9-20, so stay tuned for our 2021 Tribeca Film Festival coverage.
