Inside Sundance

So, I just remembered that I had these last few pix in the camera, thought you folks out there might enjoy them.

I hope you enjoyed following this report, now that Sundance has wrapped (to use a film term), I think I'm gonna put this away for a while.  Hope it's been informative, enjoyable, even possibly amusing.

See you next year!

Ori

ori2006 at 9:37:54 PM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

Not so much mine, as most of the time I only saw two or maybe three films per day, and always with a long break in between, but I heard a number of press people talking at the screenings, and a number of them mentioned how exhausted they were after seeing five movies a day for 10 days straight.  Just because a reviewer didn't like a film, doesn't mean it wasn't good - it may mean that the reviewer just had no energy left to spend paying attention to the small details and may have missed out on a number of things.

Now, on to the awards:

Ori's top 3 films at Sundance:

 "Why We Fight" by Eugene Jarecki. This won the American Documentary Jury prize and it's well worth it.  As the days have gone by since seeing it, it has really stuck with me, and just how futile it is to think that we won't continue to enter global conflicts in order to justify the money we spend on the military-industrial conflict.  A friend asked me if Sundance ever takes films with a more conservative viewpoint... I asked Jarecki the same question and his answer was, "they would love to have one... if it was any good."

"The Devil and Daniel Johnston" - Amazing visuals and a great exploration of a widely acknowledged artistic genius.

"Murderball" - The guys in this film may not think of themselves as anything special, but in my mind they're more inspiring than any athlete out there - if only for how perfectly normal they are, despite being quadriplegic.  This won the Audience Documentary award.

The other official Sundance winners in the Dramatic competition were "Forty Shades of Blue" by Ira Sachs (Jury winner).  Interesting Park City connection is that Ira's father lives here and is a well-known ladies man, and the main character in the film is loosely based on him.

Audience Award winner was "Hustle and Flow" by Craig Brewer.  As the film got picked up for a Sundance record $9 million early in the festival, I wonder how much of this award is based on industry buzz.  I really wanted to see it, but didn't get a chance, so I can't really judge...we'll see in a few months when this hits theaters.

ori2006 at 8:26:29 PM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

So many movies, so little time...now it's gotten to the point that I can barely remeber what I've seen...

"The Girl From Monday" - Directed by Hal Hartley.  A not-to-distant future has people working to increase their personal market value by having sex with attractive, available individuals.  Cool digital visual style, but missing much of the trademark rapid-fire Hartley dialogue.  One of my colleagues thought this was the worst movie of the festival, but I enjoyed it.  B

"The Dying Gaul" - Tremendous performances by Campbell Scott, Patricia Clarkson and and Peter Sarsgaard in a touching story of a gay screenwriter (Sarsgaard) and the Hollywood producer who uses him (Scott).  The film really had me going right up until the end, when a completely out of left-field ending spoiled the emotions we had spent 90 minutes building up.  The writer-director was quoted later as saying that he would very likely do some post-Sundance editing, and his publicist had asked for comments from those who saw the screening, let's hope so.  B-

"Thumbsucker" - Just to see Keanu Reeves as a New Age orthodontist, or Vince Vaughn as a slightly off-center debate team coach, this one will be popular on DVD or cable. The story of a high school senior who still turns to his opposable digit for solace, this was actually one of the few films at Sundance with a somewhat uplifting ending.  The movie has comic elements, but isn't really a comedy, it does tackle a lot of issues like over-prescribing Ritalin to our kids, and just what constitutes "normal."  B

ori2006 at 7:55:00 PM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

It hasn't all been movies, movies, movies...I've had a chance to get out to a couple of other events these past two days, and if I wasn't so interested in seeing movies, I'd probably try to go to even more.

Tuesday night, I was at the IFC party at the Heineken Green Room.  Played a round of "Ultimate Film Fanatic" and got summarily crushed by the eventual winner (a former College Bowl player who went home with the 42" plasma TV).  It wasn't like I didn't know the answers, but he was faster on the buzzer.  Still, free sushi (all marinated or battered in Heineken... mmmmm...), free drinks, a lot of fun.  I even got a couple of interviews scheduled, and was allowed to plug my show, so it wasn't all bad.  In addition to host Chris Gore, also seen at the party were Kevin Dillon ("Entourage") and Judah Friedlander ("American Splendor").

Last night, I had a chance to go see Daniel Johnston perform live.  Based on what I'd seen in the film (see below), I had a feeling this would be an odd show, but seeing how revered he is in the music community, I thought this might be a "buzz-worthy" event.  Guess not.  The place wasn't even full, if there were music celebs in the crowd, I didn't see them.  At the end of the day, I think many people in the crowd were like me, I'd heard so much about this legendary artist, but then hearing a guy who sounded like some guy playing in the subway was a little disappointing.  Johnston fans said it wasn't the best venue (too many people talking), and one even admitted to me that it wasn't his best performance.  It's hard trying to be hip sometimes (though I'm sure I'll tell my grandkids that I once saw Daniel Johnston play live, and they'll be as reverent as if my folks told me they saw the Beatles play at the Cavern Club).

Speaking of music, we were lucky enough to be able to broadcast live from the Sundance Music Cafe yesterday, and I saw a great new singer/songwriter named Anna Nalick.  She's 20-years-old, super-cute and has a great voice.  As one of her songs was about falling in love with the sound of a DJ's voice on the radio, how could I not appreciate that?  :-)

Also got to hear a bit of Suzanne Vega, and Lori McKenna -the former I'm sure you know, the latter, you should.  She had a great set, despite spending 10 hours on a plane coming from Boston to SLC (they were frozen in, and when they de-iced the plane, the left the vents open, which flooded the cabin with fumes, oops), and basically going straight from the airport to the stage.

ori2006 at 9:41:38 AM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Sorry it's taken me so long to tell you about the films I've seen, basically I've been leaving the house around 10am and have been getting home around 1am after a full day of movies, working, parties and more.  Anyway, here are some quick hit reviews of films I've seen:

"Grizzly Man" - Famed director Werner Herzog combines footage shot by Tim Treadwell, the man who spent 12 summers living with grizzlies in Alaska, with his own interviews.  In Treadwell's 13th summer, however, he ended up being eaten by one of the bears, so this film is a study of a number of things - was Treadwell crazy for thinking he could "become" a bear? Should people even try to do stuff like this?  In addition, it's a study of Treadwell the filmmaker, and how he saw himself in the world.  Fascinating film, with some amazing wildlife footage.  B+

"The Devil and Daniel Johnston" - For music afficionados, Daniel Johnston is a god.  The singer/songwriter has influenced everyone from Sonic Youth to Nirvana (Kurt Cobain used to wear a D.J. t-shirt in all his photo shoots).  Many consider him a musical genius.  Like so many geniuses, he also has many mental problems - bipolar, obsessions, etc. and spends time in and out of hospitals and even jail.  He doesn't play guitar particularly well, has a, shall we say, "unique" singing style, and his lyrics, while touching, are often bizarre stream of consciousness words ("Walking the Cow").  Despite all this, the film is an amazing look at the rise and fall and rise again of this legendary performer.  A-

"Mysterious Skin" - Directed by Greg Araki.  A tough movie about two boys, one who was molested by his baseball coach as a child and grows up to be a gay hustler, and the other who has regular blackouts and believes he was abducted by aliens.  The film was a bit on the slow side, and didn't really do much for me, though the acting, particularly by Joseph Gordon-Leavitt (from "Third Rock...") was great.  Some of these issues have been tackled before, in films like "My Own Private Idaho" and this didn't do much for me.  C+

"Strangers With Candy" - The film version of the Comedy Central TV show, starring Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert.  The first half of the film, where we're introduced to the characters, was hilarious, but then the jokes start to get repetitive.  Colbert steals the film and is the best part about it.  B-

"Reefer Madness" - Not the 1930's propaganda film, but a musical update (based on the Off-Broadway production).  Some great music (I think it's the first time "transubstantiate" has been used as a lyric), and a tremendous dance scene, but overall, nothing special.  It's going to be shown on Showtime in the coming months, so check it out if campy musical theater is your bag.  B-

ori2006 at 9:25:22 AM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

So, apparently the media doesn't rule this town during the festival (as if that ever really happened).  I tried to get into the Snoop Dogg show last night at Harry O's, but after my movie got out late, I didn't get there until about 11pm, and was literally laughed at by the guy working the door, who said "Media got in about 2 hours ago, move along."

Hung out for about 20 more minutes, watched as some vaguely familiar actor, along with 4-5 large Russian-speaking bodyguards got in, then saw Shannen Doherty stroll right up with her entourage and cruise in.  I understand that Snoop didn't show up until wayyyy late, so probably a good thing I didn't stick around.

More movie reviews to come later...saw a great documentary, "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" about the singer/songwriter, and an interesting study called "Grizzly Man" by Werner Herzog about a guy who lived with grizzlies for 13 summers...before being eaten by them (bonus at that screening was the director and the guy who did the score - legendary guitarist Richard Thompson).

Tonight, I'm hoping to get a chance to play "The Ultimate Film Fanatic" at the IFC party... we'll see how I do.

ori2006 at 8:52:35 AM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

One of the things I find quite interesting about Sundance is how, despite the general impersonality of the folks here to see and cover the events (typical of most big city dwellers), you can feel pretty open about chatting with people in large part because many people are wearing enormous nametags -- at least those with festival passes (either press, filmmaker, or just filmgoers).  It's sort of like that "Seinfeld" episode where Kramer suggested to the Mayor's assitant Lloyd Braun that everyone should wear nametags, as it would make people more friendly.

Another advantage, for me at least, is that it lets me know who people work for, and you can get into some interesting chats.  I saw someone with a NetFlix badge and just had to thank them for their wonderful service.  I got to put a face to LA Times/NPR reviewer Kenneth Turan and The New Yorker's Ken Tucker.  Hey, it may not be Ted Danson (seen driving a Ford Excursion this afternoon), but it's something.

ori2006 at 11:02:17 PM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Quick thoughts on the movies I saw this weekend:

"Rize" - by David LaChapelle.  The story of the growth of "krumping" an aggressive, frenetic dance that is popular in South Central L.A.  Made by the well known commercial and music video director, this was a great story of how kids in the inner city are using dance to create something positive in their lives.  At times though, I really wondered about the highly sexualized dance being done by these little kids.  The dancers tried to play it off as "just being dance" but I think there's something there that needs to be addressed.  Also, with the aggressive nature of the form, and the emphasis on different schools of dance and the battles between them, there's always an undercurrent of violence that puts them only a step or two away from the gangs that they all say they're trying to avoid.  Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have kids having dance battles than drive-by's, but you wonder how long these peaceful battles will remain so.  B+

"Lonesome Jim" - Directed by Steve Buscemi.  An ultra-morose Casey Affleck returns to Indiana from the Big Apple where's he's failed as a writer.  He moves home with his ultra-cheerful mom, gruff dad, and divorced older brother.  Somehow, there are a number of scenes where you can't help but laughing, but in general this story was already told in "Garden State" and frankly, done better there.  I really had higher hopes for a Buscemi flick after he directed one of the best episodes of "The Sopranos" (where Christopher and Paulie get stuck in the Pine Barrens), but this one wasn't it.  C

"The Emperor's Journey" - Incredible footage of a year in the life of an emperor penguin. As I collect penguins, I was really looking forward to this.  The film itself was great, but as befits a film produced by Buena Vista Entertainment (France) - aka Disney - I was a bit put off by the anthropomorphizing of the animals, with some pseudo-poetic dialogue, and off-putting French pop tunes.  I'm sure it'll get released here in the U.S. with new voiceover by Jessica Simpson and Liam Neeson, with tunes by Beyonce, etc.  Kids will love it (but might get scared by some scenes of violent penguin death). B

"Why We Fight" - Directed by Eugene Jarecki.  A friend asked me if Sundance ever includes films that have a, shall we say, more conservative bent to them.  This one is not it.  Consider it a companion piece to "Farenheit 9/11" and "The Fog of War."  It's an examination of the military industrial complex and how it has become so ingrained in our culture and intertwined with our government, that it seems to drive us into war in order to justify its existence.  Bush bashers will use it to further their claims of how the current administration manipulates the public to get what it wants, but Jarecki correctly points out that this same thing has been happening since Eisenhower left office in 1960, and that Democrats are no more immune than Republicans to meeting the needs of the defense industry. A truly fascinating study, especially for a former history major like myself.  A-

"212" - Your typical indie film study of six New Yorkers and how their lives inevitably intertwine.  Beautifully shot, and terrific music, but there was something missing, a certain energy to lift this into something beyond the art-house.  B

ori2006 at 10:54:47 PM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Women wearing fur coats: 1

Men wearing fur coats: 3

Women wearing Chewbacca-style fur boots: 3

Temperature in downtown Park City yesterday: 45 degrees

Celebs spotted: Officially, 1 - Glenn Close at the Fountains of Wayne/Dashboard Confessionals show at Harry O's.  I say "officially" because I looked up into the VIP area at the show, and I thought I saw someone who might have been Rachel Bilson (Summer from "The O.C."), or it could have just been some other cute looking brunette.

That's one of the weird things about Sundance, you know the celebs are out there, so you start seeing folks who look similar and you're just not quite sure...especially in the dark.  The girls all look sort of like Mary-Kate Olsen, and the guys all resemble someone from "One Tree Hill."  The really laughable thing about the concert last night was seeing the guys just trying so hard to look like they were still in L.A. (striped shirts, over-gelled hair, sunglasses at night) mixing with the ones who realized that they were in Park City and could just be casual.

I also saw one of the comics who appears regularly on VH1's "I Love the ___'s" shows..does that make him a celeb?  I'm not sure.

Also got word that Tobey Maguire was at the Utah Olympic Park taking the skeleton intro camp, see, once again, I'm ahead of the trend on cool sports. :)

ori2006 at 3:10:21 PM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Well, let's just call today an interesting one... two out of six scheduled guests showed up (though one did call to apologize, so he goes back into good graces). The folks I did talk with were great, however, so all things worked out.

I interviewed Pi Ware and Susan Kraker about their film "The Act." They are a husband/wife team who wrote & directed this film as well as the current full-length feature release 'Solitude'.  They were fun and witty, and I expect you'll hear more about them in the next few years.

The other guys I talked to were the Zellner brothers.  They've got shorts in both Sundance ("Flotsam/Jetsam") and Slamdance ("Foxy and the Weight of the World").  The Sundance movie is based on a recurring fever dream one of them has had for a while about a man stuck in the ocean on a raft made of luggage, with nothing but a vacuum cleaner and a chicken.  Ohhhhh-kay.  Sounds like a classic, "art-school" production... until you find out that the shoot was a disaster and the star was bitten by a shark, and in order to save him, they egged the shark to distract it.  Sort of a "Lost in La Mancha" meets "Open Water."  They gave me a copy, so I'll give it a full review later.

I did call Chris Gore, founder of "Film Threat" magazine, and author of "The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide," to reschedule him for an interview, and he said he loves these guys, and that his company released one of their earlier projects.  I expect you'll see them directing the next "American Pie" in the not too distant future.

Speaking of reviews, Lori and I watched "West Bank Story" last night... not a bad effort.  Lots of funny gags, great music with some OK lyrics.  You don't have to be familiar with the Middle East (or with the pleasures of a good falafel), but it doesn't hurt.

I also made it to the press screening of "Murderball" - a documentary about the USA Quadriplegic Rugby Team.  These are some incredible athletes, and this is a great story of how some of them came to the team, and the battle they have with former Team USA star-turned Team Canada Head Coach.  It's your classic sports movie tale, with last-second wins and losses, but you really get an understanding of who these guys are and how important it is for them to be athletes again.

Celeb sighting of the day: Not actually from me, but for the host of KPCW's Local Music Series.  I hooked him up with a credential for the Blender concert series and sent him to interview Kings of Leon for his show.  He got the interview, and then on his way back, saw Susan Sarandon walking up Main Street.  He thought quickly and asked her to record a quick liner ("You're listening to your Park City connection, KPCW"), and she obliged.  Of course, when he got back to the station and told us all about it, we wanted to hear the tape... turned out he forgot to turn the microphone on, and had recorded 20 minutes of nothing.  Oh well, live and learn.

Speaking of the Blender sessions, apparently that is one of the hottest parties in town.  It's gonna be hard to decide between Fountains of Wayne tomorrow night and the Method Fest party which should have some great food.  Maybe I can do both!

ori2006 at 10:28:41 PM MST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own