Conventioneers

"Conventioneers" was one of at least two films inspired by "Medium Cool" screened at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival and the only one to recall the central relationship in that film.

The context and setting at the 2004 Republican convention in New York City are as intrinsic to the film's story as Fred Zinnemann's "The Search" in post-war Germany or Louis Malle's pre-casino "Atlantic City." Debut director Mora Stephens makes marvelous use of the flexibility of digital cameras to pick up the details of that hot and somewhat bizarre week in August as aliens landed in the cacophony of committed Kerry Country (and yes, I remember it well). She and co-writer/husband Joel Viertel, with the help of appealing actors, graft a convincing romance on top of these events, at least until the last ten seconds which unfortunately destroy much of the story's credibility.

It is believable that two bright young twenty-somethings renew a college friendship in those intense days in the Big Apple, though now she's a literally engaged but somewhat flighty Democratic protester and he's a married and devoted Republican delegate.

There are countless films of the big city gal converted to home spun values by the love of a country boy, from "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" to "The Electric Horseman" to "Sweet Home Alabama" and on, but Matthew Mabe does a convincingly intelligent Jimmy Stewart who seriously questions his assumptions and beliefs, and seeks answers to the identity crisis he undergoes away from home by falling in love with his opposite (the actors in the Q & A after the film said they spent considerable time developing the characters' back stories through improvisation and it shows). He comes across as honest about himself and his feelings while the city sophisticate seems duplicitous and hypocritical, but maybe it is because we learn more about his other relationships than we do about hers.

There's a particularly thoughtful scene at a faith-based group-run food pantry where he discusses issues with an activist nun, one of the few political scenes where I wasn't restless to get back to the hot romance already. While his fellow Republicans repetitively talk about just staying on target with their message, the protesters have endless meetings about tactics and theatrics for their demonstrations, though the filming of the final staged rally is effective.

The chance involvement of a member of the cast on the convention floor adds significant suspense and realism to the film (even if his choices don't quite come across as purely as the director claimed in the Q & A for that character's motivations as he seems a bit hen-pecked).

If the closing monologue (which caused the audience to gasp) is meant to make a point about the current administration's compassionate conservatives, as the camera pans to the U.S. Capitol, then it is spitefully out of balance with the rest of the film as much as it is out of character for the speaker or it's a new take on the feminist adage that all politics is personal.

The Barenaked Ladies' song "Conventioneers" from the Maroon CD is used amusingly.

Conventioneers is a very good first film for Mora Stephens.

The romance in the film really worked. I believed that these two people were in love and I liked the "Romeo and Juliet" complexity that their love put them in.

The two main actors were very good, especially Matthew Mabe. He's very attractive and I loved his portrayal of a Republican. The depth of character he gave Dave Massey with his polite manners and gentlemanly nature was very true to life. As was his traits of being willing to listen to others and reach out to them. Massey's optimism is incredibly attractive and you can see why the Democrat Lea Jones (Woodwyn Koons) is drawn to him.

The politics of the film is somewhat balanced, though the filmmakers are clearly left wing, which is evidenced in the quantity of footage of the protests that surrounded the RNC in New York. There are obsessive amounts of footage of Bush/Hitler, Bush is Evil, and Republicans are Stupid signs....ad nauseam! The filmmakers seem to be in awe of the protesters and the political theater they create. Actually the film, perhaps unintentionally, shows just how little protesting accomplishes or matters in the scheme of things.

The telephone call at the end is startling and seems out of character for Massey. However, if the film is trying to say that Massey's character became hardened and cynical from his experiences with "the other side". If that was the film's intention, to make a statement about the breakdown and nastiness of political discourse in America and that this country needs more pre-relationship Massey's in the world, I applaud the film.

This unscripted movie filmed in the middle of protesters is leaving me surprised to say the least.The producer,operator and director had been arrested between 17-40 hours.

As a person not involved politically yet bummed by the "lack" of protests on the American political scene I had benefited from a believable lesson based on political backgrounds that actually happened in Summer of 2004 in the Big Apple(500 000 protesters).

So palpable and flexible in filming the protesting against Bush political stand,casualties and censorship.There are shots of the march of one thousand coffins (in which one of the actors took active part) and shots from a real soup kitcken/pantry played with collaboration of non actors.

So provocative and fresh, an eye opening experience.An introspection into media censorship that reminded me to search deeper for the raw news .We are also presented with a lesson on prejudice via two caracthers representing the liberal and conservative Texan points of view.With regard to romance we learn of two human beings who reconnect at different,conflicting levels ultimately.The movie is a gentle suggestion for citizens who choose to not vote and the openness of one's mind.When judgments are eliminated people can find common grounds no matter what the circumstances are.

Interesting in its premise, Conventioneers quickly devolves into by-the-numbers characterization and shallow politics. The main story, concerning a Republican delegate (male) and a liberal activist (female) is set against the actual spectacle of the 2004 RNC in New York. The idea of staging fictions against real events is full of potential, though in this case it fails - mostly because the characters are simply uninteresting and can't sustain the story for 100 minutes. I'm told that the scenes were mostly improvised, and it shows. Their identities are hewn from 'left' and 'right' stereotypes, and leave no room for ambiguity. After the Republican and Democrat hook up about 40 minutes into the film, there's nothing left but for all of the characters to follow the forced march of the plot.

Visually the film has nothing to offer but talking heads; I often closed my eyes and listened to the movie and didn't miss a thing. The contrived and/or cringe-worthy moments come with increasing frequency as the movie progresses. Most galling was a musical montage in the middle of the movie - including a catchy beat, hotel room sex romps and a Ground Zero visit - yecch.

It's one thing to oppose GW and the neocons; but mantras spouted by the 'left' characters in this picture are every bit as dogmatic and closed-minded as the conservatives. It's an earnest but immature work.

I saw this movie at the Tribeca Film Festival. The premise seems interesting. A male Republican delegate in NYC for the 2004 RNC Convention runs into an old female friend from college who is preparing for the protests against President Bush outside the Convention hall. He's married and she's engaged, and they wonder why they never became a couple. You can figure out what happens next. Over the next few days, they discover each other and explore their passions and their differences. The film does not have a standard Hollywood ending and it may offend some viewers. But I'm glad the film took a risk.

As for a criticism, many of the scenes between the two lead actors seemed forced and unnatural. Frankly, I didn't buy into their attraction to each other and the dialogue was choppy as was the editing. Nonetheless, the footage of the protests was fascinating. They filmed many of the scenes right there in the middle of the parades with thousands upon thousands of people surrounding them. In fact, the Director revealed that she along with several other crew members were arrested during one of the NYPD's "sweeps" of the protesters. All charges were dropped and the filmmakers are apparently seeking civil damages for false arrest.

The footage of the protests alone make the film worth seeing.