*** (Three stars)
The first thing that stood out to me about this film is that the picture of Fred Lebow on the Tribeca Film Fest website is a dead ringer for how I will look in roughly 20 years. From the beard to the lofty, self-congratulatory expression, it's downright creepy. However, the uncanny likeness is where my similarities with Mr. Lebow end. This charming oddball, who died from brain cancer in 1994, was the founder of the New York City Marathon and the man most responsible for turning a modest race into the worldwide event that it is today. In addition to having the mercenary sensibilities of a used-car salesman, Lebow was something of a Central Park lothario. Despite this—or perhaps because of it—Lebow was very well loved, and his funeral was a huge affair. Through liberal use of archive footage, as well as interviews with Lebow's contemporaries, this film pays tribute to one memorable character and portrays the can-do immigrant spirit (Lebow was Transylvanian) that made this country great.—Drew Toal, assistant editor
[This is a TONY staff review, written for the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. It is not considered an official review and should not be read as such. Please think of it as a casual impression from a movie-loving friend.]