Foreign films are the highlights of Tribeca

From the world premiere of "Shrek Forever After," to the 45-year anniversary high-definition restoration of "Doctor Zhivago," this year's Tribeca Film Festival has something for every cinephile. In addition to these more mainstream choices, there is also a selection of films you can't see anywhere else, with a total of 85 feature films and 47 short films showing. Are there any gems among them?

Naturally, narrative feature films are the highlights of the festival. Unfortunately, their quality varies widely. A wonderfully creative masterpiece can precede a total cliche. Edward Burns, who won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival with "The Brothers McMullen," disappoints with "Nice Guy Johnny," a flat, boring drama about married life. Another film that fell short of expectations, despite its star power, was "The Space Between." Melissa Leo stars as a short-tempered flight attendant who encounters Omar, a Muslim child headed for a prestigious prep school in California on full scholarship. As much as I love to see Leo drink shot after shot of vodka, she doesn't do much else, and the film suffers from a lack of content.

Of course, film festivals are places for taking risks. Some, like "The Space Between," fail, while others, such as "Gainsbourg (Vie heroique)," are a great example of a success. The film follows one of France's greatest and most controversial musicians from his days as a mischievous child through his troubled, womanizing adulthood. Kacey Mottet Klein, who plays young Gainsbourg, quickly charms the audience with his unexpected maturity. Eric Elmosnino, as the adult Gainsbourg, effortlessly evolves in age both physically and emotionally. With incredible command of the screen, Elmosnino can change the mood of the film with a mere twitch of his face. The soundtrack, which mostly comprises the original artist's music, fits seamlessly into the body of work. "Gainsbourg" is as provocative as it is entrancing - a true art-house film masterpiece.

Equally successful, but far less serious, is "Loose Cannons," which is basically "The Godfather," except with less violence, more pasta and more homosexuals." Italian heartthrob Riccardo Scamarcio plays Tommasso, a homosexual returning to his hometown in order to announce his sexual orientation to a family friend. His older brother surprises him by coming out first, which gives their homophobic father a heart attack. Now responsible for running the family's pasta business, Tommasso must make a decision between his family and his personal interest. Tackling more than just gay issues, "Loose Cannons" captures an Italian family in transition from a traditional society to a modern one.

As great as some of the feature films are, they are not by any means the only types of films at the festival - there are also a significant number of documentaries. The two I saw, however, proved to be mediocre at best. "Sons of Perdition" tells the story of three teenagers who escape from a life of polygamy under the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Lacking logical direction, "Sons of Perdition" is shallow and counterproductive in many ways. The second documentary, "Vidal Sassoon," is a tribute to the famous stylist's contributions to the hairdressing industry and to modern conceptions of beauty. As cheesy as it is painful to watch, the documentary's rightful home should have been the History Channel or PBS. No one should have to pay anything to hear Vidal Sassoon talk about how great his life has been, not even professional hairdressers.

Often rich in thrills, short films can be a good change of pace and are surprisingly entertaining. Some of the short films at Tribeca this year feature notable stars like Jesse Eisenberg and Kirsten Dunst, but most star fresh faces eager to make an impression. Because short films are not subject to the same economic pressures as feature-length films, directors can experiment with new forms of storytelling, and these films were often more fun to watch than the feature lengths.

There are bound to be disappointments and inconsistencies with such a large number of films, and Tribeca certainly has its share of them. But thanks to a strong lineup of foreign and short films, the festival also offers many movies that will make you laugh, cry and think as you have never done before. Finding these movies after the festival could be difficult, and it is definitely worth it to attend Tribeca and see them now.

3.5 Paws