STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN, had its world premiere in the Spotlight Narrative Category at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
The Tribeca Film Festival is a champion of independent film and in its 18th year, the indie films are still in focus.
In his first feature film, Director Matt Ratner brings together an amazing cast of Broadway and screen actors headlined by the comedy legend Billy Crystal. In the after screening Q & A, the director recalled when he first learned it was a dream for Crystal to do this film. The film is also the first feature film written by Peter Hoare, a New York native, and veteran television writer.
The film also stars Ben Schwartz as Scott. After four years of chasing his stand-up comedy dream in Los Angeles, he has crashed and burned in spectacular fashion. Money is short and with no career prospects, Scott must regroup, lick his wounds, and return home to his parentโs house in Long Beach, Long Island a seaside town where everybody knows everybody.
While trying to figure out what to do next, Scott goes down the road of what ifs. He longs to rekindle the romance with his ex, Becky Brookes, played by Chicago Fire star Eloise Mumford. Becky is now a successful photographer and has since married a former friend., Owen played byJohn Behlmann star of Broadwayโs Tootsie.
On a night out at the bar, Scott strikes up an unlikely friendship with an eccentric dermatologist, Marty (Billy Crystal), who is funnier at the bar then Marty has ever been onstage. Marty and Scott both help each other find the courage to face the failures in their lives.
The film is completely shot on location in Long Beach where Billy Crystal was raised. It is one of the reasons he agreed to sign on to the film. In every scene, you can feel the shared emotion of these characters. The camaraderie between Marty and Scott is so easy even though they just met on screen they are easy friends.
The family scenes are filled with the sibling rivalry love of bother and sister. Grace Gummer, star of Mr. Robot and daughter of Meryl Streep plays Scottโs sister Megan. Scott and Megan banter back and forth with pointed jibes and snappy dialogue but the actors make it clear they are siblings who really care for each other. Tony Award winner Debra Monk is a scene stealer as Scottโs mother who is always supportive and always there emotionally and physically. Another familiar face in the cast is Kevin Dunn of HBOโs Veep. He plays Scottโs dad who isnโt thrilled to have his son at back at home.
The film is relatively short at 91 minutes but by the end, I felt I had watched these characters evolve for a whole year even though the movie takes place over the space of a few weeks. STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN is an intimate film that lets the audience get to know the characters.
It has many funny moments and scenes with real emotion. Great performances and wonderful scenery make it a film you should watch when you are in the mood for something with no gimmicks and just people.
-Sia Battle