The Vulture Festival’s Special Screening Of ‘The Overnight’

Rating:

*Note: This review appeared originally on June 3rd.

Let me start by mentioning this, I have always been a fan of the Netflix Original Series “Orange is the New Black” most notably of the character ‘Piper Chapman’ portrayed by the actress Taylor Schilling. So when I was told that the New York Vulture Festival had invited ShowBizCafe.com to the special screening of the film “The Overnight” starting Taylor Schilling, I was pleased that I would be able to see her as a character other then ‘Piper Chapman’ which I am so used to. I arrived at the Tribeca Theaters in Varick Street well before showtime. As I entered the theater I was greeted by the Vulture Festival staff, had a small chat with them about how much we were looking forward to this film and Schilling’s portrayal of not ‘Piper Chapman.’

I grabbed some refreshments and headed to my seat in the small charming theater, which is nothing like I am used to. Never before did I see so many individuals enter a theater room so well dressed; some men wore suits while others like myself had button-up shirts and khaki pants. The ladies were all wearing flowery dresses with lavish hats. Soon, as I sat quietly getting ready for the film to begin I noticed by the murmur of those around me that fellow faithful movie goes surrounded me, all of us looking forward for the screening to begin and hoping that our expectations could be fulfilled.

The lights faded down and a gentleman from the Vulture Festival appeared, welcomed us all. He explained what the night’s program was going to be. First we were going to watch the film. Secondly, there was going to be a discussion moderated by New York Magazine’s David Edelstein with two of the film’s stars Judith Godreche and Jason Schwartzman, as well as the films director Patrick Brice.

The lights go off and the film begins. It was about, Alex (Adam Scott), Emily (Taylor Schilling), and their son, RJ, who recently moved to Los Angeles’s Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at his home with his wife Charlotte (Judith Godreche) and their son Max. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing as the couples begin to open up.

It was such an awkward, candid and hilarious comedy that caught everyone by surprise. Why? Because the cast did such great work with the portrayal of the story that, even in the uncomfortable moments of in the film, which there were many, you could hear laughter from the audience. I think that is what ultimately made the movie a success.

Jason Schwartzman was probably the most outstanding of the cast. He was pinpoint perfect in his representation of what is the typical hipster Los Angeles resident. Silky smooth with his way of talking and hilarious with his actions, he stood out. As for Taylor Schilling, she delivered a new persona, which is what I was particularly looking forward to. She left the now strong ‘Piper’ from her show, and gave us Emily. An awkward mom who is a little bit of a square, but at the same time a self-less loving family member who thinks about her husband and son before herself. It was just a relief because there are times, when you see bits and pieces of other characters in actors while they try to portray someone else. I was happy to see her deviate from that. It was overall a great film that I definitely recommend.

Afterwards, the discussion was quick. It was unlike any discussion I ever attended, most of the time the moderator Mr. David Edelstein tried making jokes about the amount of nudity in the film. There was a point when movie director Patrick Brice cut Edelstein off and said “So you’re asking me if we showed too much penis in the movie? If so, then yes we did, but it was funny!” Schwartzman joined Brice by telling the story about a gentleman in a screening in California who kept screaming the words ‘NO! NO!’ Every time there was a nude scene.

Judith Godreche stayed away from the nudity subject and instead told her story on how becoming a cast member in this film; led her to permanently move to Los Angeles. “I was here doing another job and was getting ready to go back to Paris, when Patrick called and told me about the movie, I got the script and from then on I stayed in America.”

Finally, a few pictures were taken in the reception and people were just enjoying their time with the stars. Jason left early; Judith and Brice stuck around with the fans and talked more about the film. It was overall a success, the film was great and the event went very nicely. “The Overnight,” a film that I will definitely be watching again, once it’s released to the public June 19^th.