John Leguizamo has been so funny for so long that it is easy to forget just how great of a dramatic actor he is. The Green Veil is a scripted series making its world premiere at Tribeca that showcases his immense talents. It is hard to nail down exactly what the show is about after the two episodes that screened at Tribeca, but it is definitely one of the most interesting things to come out of the festival.
Gordon Rogers (Leguizamo) is an FBI agent who throws himself into his work. The only thing that seems to be more important to him is his idea of what the American family is. He wants to live it and he needs everyone around him to see it. There are hints of this in the premiere, but everything boils over in the second episode.
Initially, Rogers seems like a piece of American history best left in the past. The Green Veil is set in the 1950s. Men were men and women knew their place. And just in case his wife Abbie (Hani Furstenberg) forgets, Rogers is there to subtly remind her. What at first seems like a case of old-fashioned misogyny becomes something much scarier as things continue.
Leguizamo is excellent as the controlling federal agent. There is a quiet anger and frustration about him that makes him terrifying. Oppression is a running theme in The Green Veil as Abbie had to give up her job as a fighter pilot while adopted daughter Abbie (Isabelle Poloner) has to hide the fact she is Jewish. The fact everyone in the show is fells forced to cover the truth (sometimes from themselves) adds to the feeling of tension.
The Green Veil is also a science fiction story filled with mystery. UFOs, alien abductions, and betrayal are all are part of the first two episodes. The opening two installments paint a very intriguing picture. The great performances make it impossible to turn away from. It will be interesting to see where the story goes next.
The Tribeca Film Festival takes place from June 8 – June 19. Full lineup, passes, and tickets can be found HERE
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