Tribeca Film Festival 2011 Announces Awards: Carice van Houten, Shami Bizimana take top honors

TheTribeca Film Festivalannounced its 2011 award winners Thursday evening in a ceremony at theW Union Square Hotel. Festival foundersRobert De NiroandJane Rosenthalpersonally honored the Best Feature Film,"She Monkeys,"about rivals on a girls’ equestrian team inSweden."Turn Me On, Goddammit,"about a young Norwegian woman's sexual coming of age, won the Best Screenplay award, and Park Jungbum was named Best New Director for his drama,"The Journals of Musan,"in which a North Korean defector begins a new life inSouth Korea.

The acting prizes went toShami Bizimanafor his turn as a persistentRwandanfilmmaker in"Grey Matter,"andCarice van Houten, who plays true-life poetIngrid Jonkerin"Black Butterflies."Jurors for the narrative features includedDianne Wiest,Atom Egoyan,Zoe Kazan, andRainn Wilson.

The Best Documentary award was given to Alma Har'el's experimental vision of theSalton Sea,"Bombay Beach,"while the Best New Documentary Director wasPablo Croce, who made"Like Water,"a portrait of Ultimate Fighting championAnderson Silva."Semper Fi,"the non-fiction chronicle of a Marine's toughest battle, earned a Best Editing award.Whoopi Goldberg,Michael Cera, andLauren Huttonwere among the jurors voting in the documentary categories.

Short film winners included theUKcrime thriller"Man and Boy"and"Incident in NewBaghdad,"which explores an American soldier’s experience inIraq.

The Tribeca (Online) Film Festival winners were"Donor Unknown,"a documentary about the many children born from a single sperm donor, and the fantasy gaming satire“The Dungeon Master.” Votes for the Tribeca (Online) awards were open to those who visited the festival’s website.

The Audience Award, which is also open to viewers, will be announced on Saturday night, and all the winners will be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on Sunday. For schedules and tickets, visitwww.tribecafilm.com.

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Nordic track: Chris Hemsworth traveled a rough road to win the role of'Thor'

To get the most coveted role in all of Midgard— Earth to non-Vikings —Chris Hemsworthhad to endure more than just an audition.

He overcame a gauntlet.

"Thor"directorKenneth Branaghdesigned trials befitting a God of Thunder: Hemsworth first would have to tell a braggart's tale of past victories. Then he would have to convincingly slam down Mjolnir, or at least a prop version of the hammer whose blows were once believed to unleash lightning.

Finally, he must fight his way through a brace of stunt men.

"We {created} an enormous lightning blast for him, so we could see how he reacted to what it's like when you have the most powerful weapon in the world in your hand,"says Branagh.

"He had to kick and throw people, he had to wear that cape and feel completely at ease with it, and he needed to tell stories because Thor is a storyteller as well."

Two years later, the 27-year-old Australian still can't believe that he earned the right to play the legendaryMarvel Comicssuperhero. The movie arrives Friday.

"It was the first audition I picked up where it said, 'Must be over 6-feet-1,'"says Hemsworth, who had 2 inches to spare."It was the most vivid sort of audition I've ever had. Normally you just come in and you sit down and read a couple of scenes."

But there's nothing normal about Thor, a superhero who isn't nearly as recognizable asSpider-Manor Superman. Though Vikings worshipped the Thunder God for hundreds of years, Thor had been an afterthought for centuries
— untilStan LeeandJack Kirbybrainstormed up a comic book version.

The stakes are high for Thor to vanquish his foes at the box office— including the formidable, just-released"Fast Five,"the latest inVin Diesel's car franchise. And the pressure goes beyond just one movie: Hemsworth will joinRobert Downey Jr.(Iron Man),Chris Evans(Captain America) andMark Ruffalo(The Hulk) in next year's franchise-within-a-franchise
starter,"The Avengers."

"There is a lot of pressure,"saysPaul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst forHollywood.com."And also remember, a year ago 'Iron Man 2' opened to $128 million on the same weekend.

"Each Avengers character has to have a draw in order to make the Avengers movie the huge blockbuster it seems to be destined to be. Each of these characters is an important cog in the wheel."

So Marvel Studios handpicked Branagh, anOscar-nominatedactor-writer-director, to lend some Shakespearean heft to the story of a brash prince longing to prove his mettle as a future king to his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins).

"As much as he's a god, he can travel through space and he has these superpowers and this super-strength— but I think what's very arresting in the story, to be paradoxical and contrary about it, is the human element,"says Branagh.

And the story does have its nods to the Bard with its themes of sibling rivalry and father and son acceptance. Eager to prove his right to rule Asgard— a golden city on another planet linked by a hole in space to Earth, where his people were once mistakenly worshipped as gods by the Vikings — Thor breaks the kingdom's uneasy peace with the Frost Giants.

Banished to Earth for plunging his people into war, he must find some humility in the hardscrabble desert ofNew Mexico, with a doe-eyed astrophysicist (Natalie Portman) as his guide.

Only then can he earn his birthright and smite the enemies taking advantage of his absence at Asgard, where his mischievous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) covets the throne.

"There's an exterior strength and toughness to him, but underneath there's at times a lot of confusion and vulnerability
and that was great to explore,"says Hemsworth.

Don't tell Branagh that this tale is just another entry in a summer clogged with big-budget superhero movies. (The X-Men,Green Lanternand Captain America all are ready for their closeup in the next few months.) The 50-year-old has been waiting for this chance since he was a little boy buying Thor comic books at his local sweet-shop inBelfast.

"It just seemed to me that that Thor— that the comic itself — was carved out of granite,"he says.

"Frankly, no one in the process {of making a movie like this} ever loses that kid-in-the-candy-shop feeling."

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'Fast Five'review: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker take'Furious'franchise fans on a high-octane ride

Action sequel about a high-stakes heist. With Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson. Director: Justin Lin (2:10). PG-13: language, violence. At area theaters.

Now this is how you make a summer movie.

So what if it's only April?"Fast Five"is determined to kick off popcorn season in high-octane style. And while you may not leave enlightened, you'll definitely be entertained.

Having also helmed the last two"Fast and the Furious"sequels, director Justin Lin has become something of an autoeur, with a clear understanding of what makes these movies work: cool cars, tight chases, and characters we can root for.

The latter is key; without a moral center, the franchise would have fallen apart long before we got to number five. Holding it all together is Dom (Vin Diesel), a big-hearted con who honors family above all. So it's no surprise when his sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) and her BF—and Dom's BFF—Brian (Paul Walker) risk everything to break him out of prison.

This puts them all on the radar of unstoppable agent Hobbs (Dwayne"the Rock"Johnson), who soon learns Dom wants to rob Brazil's richest man (Joaquim de Almeida).

Coming along for this 180mph ride are several cohorts from other films, including Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Chris"Ludacris"Bridges), who proved much-needed comic relief. As the team works furiously to plan the heist, Hobbes moves ever closer to his target.

Johnson has always been a good sport, so he gamely pretends the entirely-unthreatening Diesel is his match.

In reality, it's almost comical to see them face off, though there is enough testosterone here to burn a hole through the screen.

Fortunately, Lin and returning writer Chris Morgan know how to work a balancing act. They bring in a stronger female presence to add some human interest; alternate action with emotion; and follow every serious moment with a head-snapping surprise.

Sure, a lot of the dialogue is dopey, and the eternally stiff leads once again compete for blankest delivery. But Lin distracts us well, packing deftly-shot races, explosions, and getaways into every corner.

In fact, the biggest problem is that the movie is way too long: he and Morgan keep throwing out ending after ending, as if they can't bear to let us go.

In a way, though, that's a welcome instinct. Even if you pay extra for Imax (well worth it),"Fast Five"feels like a genuine attempt to give us a good time, rather than the typically-cynical grab for our wallets.

It's not often you leave a sequel this far into a series and think,"How quick can they make number six?"

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Justin Bieber, Mark Wahlberg to be costars: Film will revolve around street basketball

This could be the greatest idea ever . . . or the worst.

Academy Award-nominated actorMark Wahlbergwill be co-starring with none other than teen singing sensationJustin Bieberin an upcoming film about street basketball, according toDeadline.

In fact, it was Wahlberg's idea.

The actor, who would also serve as producer, took notice of Bieber's hoops skills in February when the teen was partaking in theNBA All-StarWeekend celebrity game and then went toParamountto pitch a film idea starring the two.

Deadline is describing the vehicle as"The Color of Money"meets"The Karate Kid."

Although this would be the first film Bieber would act in, he has proven his box-office draw.

His tour documentary,"Never Say Never,"grossed $97 million worldwide; it only cost $13 million to make.

Bieber has already showed off his acting chops in numerous skits on"Saturday Night Live"and two episodes of"CSI."

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Tribeca Film Festival 2011: Unpredictable spring weather doesn't deter fans from star-studded events

The spring weather was reliably unpredictable, but that wasn't enough to deter thousands of film fans who came out for the opening weekend of theTribeca Film Festival.

For many, the highlight wasBrian Williams' interview with an unusually talkativeRobert De Niro, who shared family stories, reminisced about past projects, and waxed philosophical over politics.

Meanwhile, high-wattage premieres for movies like"The Good Doctor,""Angels Crest"and"Jesus Henry Christ"drew stars and star-spotters alike.

Families gathered for outdoor screenings at the World Financial Plaza, and the very patient waited in the drizzle to grab the last seats at buzzed-about titles like"Catching Hell,"Alex Gibney's empathetic documentary aboutAmerica's unluckiest baseball fan.

Between now and next weekend, you'll find smaller crowds. Among the titles you might want to catch Monday is"The Swell Season,"which charts the offscreen relationship of"Once"stars and co-Oscar winnersGlen Hansardand Markéta Irglová.

TheJulia Roberts-produced"Jesus Henry Christ"is another film getting some attention for its comic take on an unconventional family. And those who've seen"Gnarr"have been charmed by its subject, an Icelandic comedian who becomes mayor ofReykjavik(imagineJon Stewartreplacing Bloomberg).

But should you really want to be part of a jostling crowd, you'll get that chance, too. Monday evening's big premiere is"Last Night,"an intimate, intelligent relationship drama starringKeira Knightley,"Avatar'sSam WorthingtonandEva Mendes. There will be a line for those who don't yet have tickets, but before you subject yourself to the madness, remember this: It'll be screening again, without all the chaos, Tuesday.

The Tribeca Film Festival runs through May 1. For schedules, tickets and directions, visit www.tribecafilm.com.

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'Madea's Big Happy Family'comes in #2 at box office: Tyler Perry comedy performs worst in franchise

HaveTyler Perryfans had enough of Madea?

The writer-director-actor extraordinare's 10th film in six years,"Madea's Big Happy Family,"performed the worst of the franchise -- which stars the sassy matriarch (Perry in drag) -- when Madea's name is in the title, according toThe Washington Post.

Although"Madea's Big Happy Family"pulled in $25.8 million at the box office, it still only came in second behind the animated adventure"Rio,"featuring the voices ofAnne HathawayandJesse Eisenberg, which debuted the week before also at number one.

That makes"Big Happy Family"-- which cost $25 million to make -- the weakest opening ever for a Perry flick.

By comparison,"Tyler Perry'sMadea's Family Reunion"opened with $30 million in 2006 and"Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail"made $41 million in it opening weekend in 2009.

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Summer already? A week-by-week movie guide of the season of sequels, superheroes and silly stuff

FAST FIVE (April 29)
Remember whenVin Dieselthought he was too cool for the fast and furious movies that made his name? Whether he's grown up or just faced reality, it looks like he's now in it for the long haul. The story never changes much (big plans, angry enemies, lots of car chases), but directorJustin Linalways inserts new scenery. For the fi fth entry, the boys head toBrazil, where a heist attracts the unwanted attention of fed-
eral agentDwayne (The Rock) Johnson.
Bottom line:Will this franchise ever run out of gas? Maybe not, if the producers are wise enough to keep upgrading with stars like Johnson. E.W.

THOR (May 6)
The fi rst superhero movie out of the gate tells ofMarvel Comics' Norse God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth), banished to Earth by his angry dad Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and then forced to battle his evil half-brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston).Natalie Port-
man andIdris Elbaco-star.
Bottom line:The pop mythology comes courtesy of directorKenneth Branagh, who isn't that insane a choice when you combine his"Henry V"with his"Frankenstein."If that's some-
thing you really want to do, this may hit you like a hammer. J.N.

JUMPING THE BROOM (May 6)
There aren't nearly enough smart dramedies for adult urban audiences. Prospects look very promising for the big-screen debut fromSalim Akil("Girlfriends,""The Game").Paula PattonandLaz Alonsoare the bride and groom who just want to make it through the wedding, once their mothers-in-law (Angela BassettandLoretta Devine) start meddling.
Bottom line:When you get a proposal from a cast that also includesMike Epps,Tasha Smith,Meagan GoodandJulie Bowen, you defi nitely say,"I do."E.W.

Chris Hemsworth forges ahead in 'Thor.'

SOMETHING BORROWED May 6
ANew Yorkattorney (Kate Hudson) makes a drunken confession on her 30th birthday: She loves her best friend's fiancé (John Krasinski). Uh-oh, he loves her too, which makes her palGinnifer Goodwinunhappy.
Bottom line:Before"Sex and the City"afi cionados get excited about this chick fl ick, they should note that directorLuke Greenfield previously madeRob Schneider's"The Animal"and the teens-meet-a-porn star lark"The Girl Next Door."Apparently, Greenfi eld got a tour of rom-com duty to pay for his crimes. J.N.

THE BEAVER May 6
We try to avoid punch lines that write themselves, so we'll just share the facts and allow you to draw your own conclusions.Mel Gibsonstars as a deeply troubled man who has pushed everyone so far that his only means of communication is a ratty animal puppet he hopes will charm us— sorry, them — into forgiveness.
Bottom line:Director Jodie Foster, who co-stars as Gibson's wife, has been working on this project for years. But now it bears a much heavier burden than when they both began. E.W.

EVERYTHING MUST GO May 6
Will Ferrellgoes for wry drama again (as he did in the indie"Winter Passing") by playing an alcoholic regrouping after losing his wife and job. First order of business: hold a huge yard sale to make some booze money.
Bottom line:Ferrell does down-and-out well (remember him in"Wedding Crashers"? Ah, that one people saw!), but will he click in a film based on a short story byRaymond Carver? J.N.

THERE BE DRAGONS May 6
Director Roland Joffé ("The Killing Fields") directed this dramatic thriller about an investigative journalist (Dougray Scott) who visitsSpainfor a story and discovers his father (Wes Bentley) was a founder of the secretive organization known asOpus Dei.
Bottom line:"The Da Vinci Code: The Early Years,"kinda? J.N.

BRIDESMAIDS May 13
A"Hangover"for the ladies? A starring role forKristen Wiig? Yes, please. We're also thrilled that TV'sPaul Feig("Arrested Development,""The Offi ce") is planning this shindig, which looks like a suitably wild ride. Wiig is the eternally single lady who has no idea what she's getting into when newly engagedMaya Rudolphasks her to be maid of honor.
Bottom line:Apologies to Will and Kate, but this is surely the most fun to be had at a wedding this year. And you don't even have to squeeze yourself into taffeta. E.W.

PRIEST May 13
No, this isn't a 3-D remake of the controversial 1995 drama about a gay man of the cloth. It's a postapocalyptic actioner about a warrior padre fi ghting vam-
pires and kicking undead butt.
Bottom line:Paul Bettany— who played a similar role in"Legion"— is the title character. See, werewolves never have to worry about guys like this. J.N.

HESHER May 13
It wouldn't surprise us ifJoseph Gordon-Levittearned anOscar nominationsomeday. He has the ability to totally transform himself when needed. And it's a good sign that David Michôd, who made last year's impressive thriller"Animal Kingdom,"co-wrote this edgy tale of a boy who befriends Gordon-Levitt's drug-addicted sociopath.
Bottom line:Gordon-Levitt is about to erase any lingering images from"(500) Days of Summer."We're having a harder time buyingNatalie Portmanas a nerdy supermarket cashier. E.W.

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