The Tavern
A Phoenix pick
More difficult, perhaps, than getting an independent movie off the ground is
opening a restaurant in Manhattan; first-time director Walter Foote succeeds
admirably at the former in depicting the latter. Ronnie (Cameron Dye), an
underachieving, 40ish bartender, realizes he has just one last chance to grab
the brass ring, so he enlists his best friend, Dave (Kevin Geer), and his dead
brother's widow, Gina (Nancy Ticotin), in fronting some money to buy a thriving
tavern. The establishment becomes more successful as a metaphor for human
aspiration gone awry than as a going venture: Ronnie and Dave struggle with
treacherous competitors, fickle fashions, family feuding, and bad cooking. More
resourceful than his heroes is director Foote, whose understated, oblique
exposition and narrative, delicate balance of comedy and pathos, and expert
handling of a talented cast transform his meat-and-potato premise into a place
where everyone will feel at home, for better and worse. Screens at the
Copley Place Thursday, September 9 at 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. and Friday, September 10 at 12:30, 2:45, and 5
p.m. Director Walter Foote will be present at tonight's 7:15 showing.
Film Festival Feature Films
|
The Minus Man |
The Tavern |
Black Eyed Dog |
The Last September |
A Wake in Providence |
Man of the Century |
Pups |
Dreaming of Joseph Leeds |
Wisdom of Crocodiles |
That's The Way I Like It |
American Beauty |
Mifune |
Black Cat, White Cat |
Hit and Runway |
All the LIttle Animals |
Me Myself I |
The Alchemist and the Virgin |
Trash |
Old Man River |
The Poet and the Con |
Snow Falling on Cedars |
Guinevere |
East is East |
American Movie |
Rivers of Babylon |
Two Ninas |
Rats |
Keepers of the Frame |
The Runner |
More Boston Film Festival information, film descriptions, and show times
|