Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: SACRAMENTO [Tribeca Film Festival 2024 - New York, New York]

The aspect of consequence and responsibility means different things to different people. "Sacramento" [US Narrative Competion) has a weird essence about it but it doesn't make it any less organic. Michael Angarano wrote and directed as well as stars but it is interesting to see his trajectory and how it intersected with his three main co-stars. A publicity shot piants a different picture than what the film actually is, which is perhaps a mix of "Sideways" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". While it is not necessarily as accomplished as either of those, it does have that essence of timelessness. Michae Cera co-stars as Angarano's best friend Glenn who has issues of his own. Cera has always had the great ability to play neurotic but it is interesting to see him as would-be father approaching his 40s. His wife (very pregnant) is played by Kristen Stewart (whom Angarano dated in the early 00s). To add to that (and Variety in their interview article for Tribeca discussed this), Angarano cast Maya Erskime (so wonderful as the lead voice on "Blue Eyed Samurai") as his would-be future partner. They cast the film a long time ago and now they are expecting their second child.

Most films do not have backstory like this. That background even more specifically informs its journey. Angarano's Rickey is a bit too much. Cera's Glenn is a little bit too jittery. But it works. The women know their respective man is no piece of cake and yet in certain moments, they understand that a little help better than no help...and it works. There is one scene on the phone with Cera that Stewart has that is wonderfully played and subtle and comes off as some of her best work (even considering "Spencer"). She is taking character roles that show this humanity in certain ways that the big franchises can't. Two of her other recent movies tried to also do this. "Love Me" is wonderfully subtle as well (though a distinctly different genre). "Sacramento" though iss more a bromance movie but one where even the worst person can bring out the best in another simply by unlocking the right door. Everyone makes mistakes but what "Sacramento" understamds is the venting of it with a little bit of humor to make everything alright. The film is amalgamation of many ideas...and yet it gets alot right. B+

By Tim Wassberg