TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2015 // A FILM REVIEW OF "ANGRY SKY"

BY W DEREK JORDEN

The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, runs April 15th-26th and features hundreds of features, documentaries, short films, and special events all throughout downtown New York City. The ArtsWire Weekly's three featured reviewers Mateo, Derek, & Chrisena are hitting the festival and bringing the reviews right to you! What you should see and what you should skip...

Nick Piantanida was a dashing fellow with a strong, wide, chiseled body, a square jaw, and dark hair cropped into a sweet flattop. He had a look that could have fit him into almost any realm, whether on Capitol Hill or  Wall Street, the battlefield or the board room. Because he could blend into any situation or wear just about any hat maybe he would have made a fine actor.

Well good thing Jeff Tremaine put together ANGRY SKY, which makes Nick posthumously the movie star he never really was. Reminiscent of Edward Bloom or Poppa Neutrino, this man from New Jersey navigated life less bound by many of the conventions most of us feel restricted to. A larger than life figure even from his younger years, Nick quit his high school basketball team, even though he was good enough to play professionally, because the coach said he couldn't smoke cigarettes. He joined the Army, became the first to climb part of Angel Falls in Venezuela, worked on construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and opened an exotic pet store. Around 30-years old, he saw some skydivers and became obsessed. He worked to support his habit (maybe addiction is a better word) and jumped out of airplanes as much as he could. Within months, maybe even minutes, of his first jump he began plotting a scheme to break the world record for highest parachute jump. Many hurdles stood in the way between making his dream a reality, but a supportive wife and determined spirit led him a long way. Twenty-three miles above the earth's surface even. 

Tremaine's documentary used some actor lookalikes to play Nick and others in the film in conjunction with archival footage, early home videos and recent interviews; all very effective. Nick's story has a bunch of sub-stories, and Tremaine could have done a better job filling out those little lines without adding much more length to the film. For instance, after several minutes of Angel Falls talk I wasn't (and still am not) sure whether Nick submited the thing he was trying to submit. 

Nick was born to a pretty normal family and had a typical upbringing. But there was something special about him: his many lofty goals and his drive to achieve them. In his too brief life, Nick Piantanida lead a remarkable life, and Jeff Tremaine does a great job bringing that to our attention.

 

VERDICT: SEE IT

DIRECTED BY Jeff Tremaine CINEMATOGRAPHER Lance Bangs

Playing as part of The 2015 Tribeca International Film Festival. For tickets & schedules: http://www.tribecafilm.com

W. DEREK JORDEN is an actor currently living and working in New York City. He and his wife live on a Spaceship on the top of a building, which makes for some interesting dinner parties.