journal entry from 1.26.2006 - Sundance

Well! I finally made it to Sundance film festival this year. It is a lotta fun. Park City is beautiful. Sleep who needs it right? Here's the quickie Sundance Roundup from my friend Jeff Gund:

THE FILMS!

Almost all the films I saw this year were in the thumbs up category (the benefits of waiting to hear the buzz before choosing what films to see - you really can't tell a thing from the description in the film guide!)

THUMBS UP ...

KINKY BOOTS Although the film's title may make a few wonder about the subject matter, it's actually quite tame, and is one of the most wonderful, heartwarming films of the festival. In a nutshell, it's the story of how a failing shoe factory that produces boring work shoes makes a big comeback by teaming with a flamboyant transvestite to produce a line of shoes that is anything but boring (and maybe for a different sort of "workplace"). :) When you start out with a great script and combine it with great directing, you can't go too wrong - especially when the cast is made up of truly talented actors. Chiwetal Ejiofor, a British actor who has played a range of roles (from Serenity, to Dirty Pretty Things, to 4 Brothers) has created an endearing, interesting, and multi-layered character in Lola the transvestite, and with the help of wonderful performances from the rest of the cast, has helped to create truly one of the standout films of the festival.

ALPHA DOG Written and directed by Nick Cassavetes, this is also one of the standout films of the festival. Alpha Dog is a gritty story based on the true life account of Jesse James Hollywood, one of the youngest drug dealers to make the FBI's most wanted list. And for those who wondered if Justin Timberlake can act, all I'll say is that I'm sure he'll have no shortage of offers after his performance in this film. Featuring a great cast including names such as Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Harry Dean Stanton, and Dominique Swain, one of the real standout performances in this film came from Ben Foster, who steals every scene he is in. Looking forward to seeing his work in the upcoming X-Men 3. The rest of the rather sizeable cast all deliver great performances as well, including up and comer Anton Yelchin's endearing portrayal of Zack, the younger brother. Cassavetes' extraction of a well told and focused storyline from the huge amount of information and eye witness accounts is a credit to his writing and directing abilities. Definitely a film to catch.

THE DESCENT If you like a good scary thriller, then you should run (don't walk!) to the theater to catch this one the moment it opens. Easily one of the scariest movies I've seen in quite some time. Already released in the UK, and picked up by Lion's Gate in the US, The Descent should place Writer/Director Neil Marshall at the top of the studio list of people to work with. I'm not so much a fan of horror/thriller films that rely on gore alone to keep the audience interested - The Descent, however, employs a good storyline, and true, well delivered suspense to keep you at the edge of your seat. While he uses some of the cliché techniques of the sudden jolt/loud sound effect/etc., it's obvious that Marshall uses these only as the occasional tool to remind us of the genre we're watching, as an addition to - rather than instead of - good storytelling, suspense, and thrills, which he has indeed proven his adeptness at. My only complaint is the how and why one of the characters dies towards the end (I don't want to give too much away, but you'll know exactly what I mean after you see the film). A not-to-be-missed film for anyone who likes to be scared!

GOD GREW TIRED OF US This film won both the Audience Award and the Jury Prize for Best Documentary. A truly inspiring look at three Sudanese refugees - it gives us a peek into another culture, and more importantly, give us a unique look at our own through the eyes of someone else. Some absolutely delightful moments, as well as thought provoking and dramatic issues.

A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS Dito Montiel took home the Dramatic Directing Award for this inspired film, which also won for best performance by an ensemble cast. A great film, and worthy of both awards, which shows off some great performances by Robert Downey Jr., Diane Weist, and particularly Chaz Palminteri. Rosario Dawson had small screen time, but made up for with her usual ability to deliver an inspired performance as well (and, of course, looking stunning in the process...) And last, but certainly not least, the cast of up and comers Shia LaBeouf, Channing Tatum, Adam Scarimbolo, and Peter Tambakis gave top notch performances that had as much to do with the award as any of the big names. Melonie Diaz and Eleonore Hendricks also gave great performances as the girlfriends.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE An enjoyable feel-good film, and great performances by Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Colette, and the rest of the cast - the most enjoyable moments for me came from the underutilized Grandpa character, wonderfully played by Alan Arkin. The meandering focus brought this otherwise very enjoyable film down one notch, but still a treat due to the many great moments.

THE ILLUSIONIST One of the Premieres (i.e., not in competition), this was a very enjoyable film - a period piece set in 1900 Vienna about a Magician who uses his skills at magic to get his true love and outwit the Crown Prince and Chief Inspector. Some great twists in this intricately written script where all the pieces ultimately come together at the end. Definitely an enjoyable ride, both plotwise, and cinematographically. My only complaint about this film is that the script focuses so much on the intricacies of the plot that the characters don't have much depth or space to evolve - and with such fine actors as Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti (who give great performances within the limits of their characters), it's almost a waste. But you won't mind too much, as Neil Burger's excellent script and direction put all the other pieces most definitely in place.

HOUSE OF SAND The previous winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Award have always been good films in my opinion, and this year's winner House of Sand is no exception. In Brazilian Portuguese with subtitles, it's the story of a woman and her family who by circumstance are stuck in the middle of a desolate Brazilian desert (I never knew Brazil had vast deserts like this!). The film helps bring you into their world by mirroring that desolation and emptiness - i.e., long scenes with sparse dialogue. It moves very slow, so it's not one to see while you're sleepy (what, who's not well rested at Sundance? :) ) However, the stunning cinematography, good storyline, and excellent performances more than make up for the pace, which is necessary to put you in their world.

WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY Now this is one great example of fresh filmmaking. Delightful characters combined with a script that's whacko in just the right way come together for one enjoyable romp of a movie. Ever wonder what happens to those who off themselves? This movie may not give you the answers, but you'll enjoy every minute of it nonetheless - even the black hole on the floor of the car through which items are lost and never found again (I'm sure there's one of these in my car as well, and I think it's also connected to my washing machine...) So, if you're planning on offing yourself, at least wait until you see this movie first...

STEEL CITY Well done are two words that come to mind when describing this heartfelt film. Brian Jun has created characters that you can identify immediately, but that still have depth, believability, and sincerity. It's the story about the relationships between the men in a somewhat dysfunctional family in a rural steel town. Tom Guiry's performance is full of integrity and is the ballast against which the real standout performances from veteran actor Raymond Barry (as Uncle Vic), who dominated every scene he was in, and Clayne Crawford who played the lousy trailer trash brother you love to hate.