TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2017 // A REVEW OF "GILBERT"
From television shows like Cribs to E! True Hollywood Story, as a society, we love seeing celebrities behind closed doors. We love the mystique, the secretiveness of it all, and we also love it because, well, vulnerability is attractive. The documentary GILBERT, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, offers a peak into the real man behind the loud, cartoony voice and character we all know, Gilbert Gottfried. The documentary follows Gottfried, his wife Dara, and his friends & colleagues, who reveal the big secret that Gilbert has been hiding all these years: he's a family man.
You know Gottfried as the loud-talking, crass comedian whose career has spanned over three decades. The documentary Gilbert touches on Gottfried's thriving career moments, his career scandals, and his marriage to the only woman up for the job of marrying such a personality, his wife Dara. Friends of Gottfried's testify how Dara 'saved his life' by marrying him, and they raved about how much they love each other. However, on camera something didn't add up, because he never showed affection toward her. Perhaps this was his way of holding on to the last droplets of his edgy image. Nevertheless, in this aspect of the film, he lived up to his reputation as the emotionally incapable person that he jokes about incessantly. Although it tried to catch vulnerable moments, the film left me desiring more, and could have pushed further into truth digging. The most genuine and heartwarming moments came when Gottfried was with his children. The love there was palpable and jumped off the screen.
Overall, Gilbert proved to be a character study of one of the most fascinating and outrageous performers of our time. And of course, the doc showcased the canon of some of his best jokes--so if you're in the market to see this film, get ready to laugh.
DANIELLE'S VERDICT: SEE IT
Written by Neil Berkeley, James Leche Directed by Neil Berkeley Starring Gilbert Gottfried, Jay Leno, Bill Burr, Jeff Ross, Whoopi Goldberg, Howie Mandel Country: USA
The Tribeca Film Festival, running April 19-30th in New York City, offers an assortment of riches when it comes to films. Documentaries, Feature Films, International Films, TV, VR technology, and more. As stated on their website, "Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan to a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the global creative community." The ArtsWire Weekly has been covering the festival since 2013 and this year, Mateo Moreno and Danielle Beckmann will be our voices on from the fest.