Sundance 2008 - Adam w/ Hot News From the Cold

Edge, "The Irish don't need teeth to stay happy."

I'm now back from Sundance. After hours of thumbing through notes, I've managed to put together a story that will hopefully give you a little insight into one of the biggest and most reputable film festivals in the world. I'm referring, of course, to the Sundance Film Festival. This was my fourteenth year attending, and from the get-go, the line-up suggested that this would be one of the strongest outings yet for Robert Redford's independent film showcase.

Due to a number of road blocks (including a massive flu and a hectic 9-5 grind that made it difficult to get away) I was only able to attend Sundance for seven of the eleven days. I made the most of those days however, and was able to take in sixteen films and a panel discussion. I even managed to squeeze in screenings of Cloverfield and Rambo. Talk about a chaotic week. Was it worth it? Hell yeah!

In the past few years, there's been a lot of talk about The Sundance Film Festival and what it's become. What started as a modest showcase for independent films in a quaint setting, has snowballed into a massive corporate monster. A hip hot spot that many folk attend simply for the glitz and glamor of it all rather than a true passion for the art. The end result has made it increasingly difficult for those who really love film, to get into screenings. Case in point, this year's Sundance Film Festival was, perhaps, the most crowded ever. Pre-purchase of tickets was next to impossible.

The fine folks at Sundance were kind enough to bless me with press credentials, and I made the most of these credentials, but there were still a handful of screenings I wanted to attend in a regular public setting. This meant braving freezing cold temperatures and hanging out in wait list lines for as long as four hours.

Given all the stress that comes with acquiring a ticket to a Sundance screening, some might wonder if it's all worth it. I have friends and colleagues alike who've become so disenchanted with the process, that they question why I even bother going through the motions year after year. The answer is quite simple really. I love movies. It's as easy as that. I could give a crap about the politics and the headaches that come with an organized film festival. For me, it's all about the movies themselves. Further still, it's about sharing that passion with others. Hanging out in a wait list line talking movies with other folks who share that same passion, can be just as exhilarating as many of the films themselves.

Sundance is a magical experience because you get to see films before there is any buzz barometer. Because so many of the films are being screened for the first time, there is little pre-release hype. Essentially, those of us attending the screenings are ultimately responsible for generating the buzz. True, some of the premieres on the itinerary are directed by familiar film makers (this year, there were efforts from Barry Levinson and Michel Gondry just to name two), and yes, some of the pictures were headlined by some pretty impressive talent (Sundance 2008 featured films choc full of big names like Robert DeNiro, Woody Harrelson, John Malkovich, Danny Glover, Jack Black, Matthew Broderick, Amy Adams, Matthew Perry, Bruce Willis, Paul Giamatti, Billy Crudup, and rockers U2 and CSNY). Ultimately though, Sundance is a celebration of independent cinema. Documentaries, international cinema, experimental flicks, short films, etc. There's something at Sundance for everyone, most notably for those who look at movies as a serious art form. Now, this isn't to say the festival doesn't offer straight up entertainment. It certainly does. At it's heart though, Sundance is really about providing a venue for that next independent voice.

Now that I've spent all this time rambling about the relevance of the festival, let's get to the experience itself. This year, I was accompanied by numerous colleagues and lovers of film. Producer and aspiring film maker Sheldon Demke was on hand to soak in movies and gather footage for our television show "Film Fanatics." Also along for the ride? Our wee Irish pal Bernadette. This was her first year attending the legendary fest, and she was good enough to take photos for us. Even though this was her first year, you'd swear she had been coming for years. During the course of three days, she made connections galore. She was able to pitch her upcoming documentary to actor D.B. Sweeney, she managed to bust us into an exclusive U2 party at a local Park City hot spot (no, the band didn't play a surprise gig), and finally, she realized her life long dream of dancing with Colin Farrell. She even managed to snag a kiss on the cheek from the down to Earth heart throb. To say that Bernie had an amazing first Sundance experience would be a gross understatement.

Seasoned Sundance veterans Chuck Matsler, Dixie Sun entertainment columnist Brent Wilson, and Zboneman.com music guru Kyle England also joined in on the Sundance adventure. As I stated earlier, Sundance is always more exciting when you have someone of equal passion to share it with.

How were the films? That's what this article is really supposed to be about, but as usual, I've gotten carried away with delving into all that other stuff. Sorry about that. Here's an overview of what I was able to see.

TOWELHEAD

Alan Ball's extraordinarily uncomfortable look at middle America suburbanites is a provocative, expose on race, sexuality, politics, and the dark side of human nature. Summer Bishill gives a powerful performance as Jasira, a thirteen year old Arab American whose recently divorced mother (played by Maria Bello) forces the young and confused girl to move in with her strict, Lebanese father (played by Peter Macdissi) in a small Texas neighborhood. While adjusting to her new life, Jasira is either physically or emotionally ubused by just about every person she comes into contact with. Towelhead is one of those pictures that is destined to upset many people with it's frank, honest, and disturbing subject matter. If you do see it and feel compelled to walk out in the first half, stay put. This is a profound piece of film making from the creator of Six Feet Under and the writer of American Beauty, and you need to see the entire film to truly understand it's overall impact. This a stunning movie.

Grade: A-

ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED

During the festival, when folks would come up to me and ask what films I liked most, I was quick to proclaim this fascinating documentary one of the very best films of Sundance 2008. When bringing the documentary up, I'd usually get the dreaded eye roll from those I was talking to. "That Polanski guy belongs in jail," most attendees would say. That may very well be, but that's not really what this insightful documentary is about. It does delve into the infamous statutory rape case, but Wanted and Desired is more of a fierce indictment of the justice system. Through amazing archival footage and interviews with various individuals close to Polanski (including the young girl involved in the statutory rape case), director Marina Zenovich has fashioned an informative and compelling glimpse into the life of one of our most interesting film makers and how a publicity hungry judge manipulated the justice system all but ensuring that Polanski would never return to America. Clearly, Polanski broke the law, but the way the trial was handled was an absolute travesty. Wanted and Desired is riveting and informative. It's loaded with information and insight that I certainly was never aware of. In short, it's everything a great documentary should be.

Grade: A-

CHOKE

Choke is one of the dirtiest films I've seen in a long time, but it also has a great big heart. It would be unfair to dismiss the movie as an exploitive sex show, because it doesn't merely feature sex in the background. Sex is actually a supporting character in the piece. In Choke, Sam Rockwell plays Victor, a sex addict who also gets his rocks off by going to various restaurants and intentionally choking on food. Why would he commit such a seemingly nonsensical act? In the hopes that he might bond with any of the patrons who come to his rescue. Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club), Choke has many layers. It's funny, Freudian, and even spiritual. Actor Clark Gregg (who you may recognize from The New Adventures of Old Christine) makes an auspicious directorial debut with material many thought un-filmable. This is an extremely raunchy movie, but it's also really funny, surprisingly dramatic, and incredibly smart.

Grade: B+

U2 3-D

I suppose I'm biased ranking this as one of my favorite movies at the festival because I'm such a huge fan of the band. The fact remains that U2 3-D was a truly exhilarating experience. It didn't hurt that the band was sitting about ten rows behind us. The energy in the theater was electric. Come to think of it, it really was like being at a rock concert. Culled from several dates on their Vertigo Tour in South America, U2 3-D is a concert film unlike any you've ever seen. At one point, I couldn't tell if the cheers I was hearing were coming from the audio track or from the attendees sitting around me. This film incorporates the digital 3-D process to startling effect. While 3-D remains a gimmick this isn't anything like the process used in Jaws 3-D or Friday the 13th Part 3. U2 doesn't spend ninety minutes tossing crap at the audience. The 3-D as displayed in this extraordinary movie actually brings the crowd into the action. This is precisely the way the process should be used. And how is the band's performance? Do you really have to ask? After all these years they remain one of the premiere live acts. Bono may be a tad pretentious, but his motivations have always been sincere, and watching he and his band mates perform is nothing short of breath-taking. On a final note, many might be quick to point out that a U2 concert film has no business playing at an independent film festival, but consider this. U2 3-D was independently financed and directed by a first time film maker using entirely new 3-D equipment. U2 might not be an independent band, but this magical, intimate experience smacks of the independent spirit. In fact, I loved it so much, I rushed out and saw it a second time in Imax. Simply breathtaking. I can't wait to see it again.

Grade: A-

THE VISITOR

The Visitor is a quiet little film from Tom McCarthy, the wonderfully subtle talent behind 2003's The Station Agent. In The Visitor, character actor Richard Jenkins is front and center as Walter Vale, an economics professor from suburban Connecticut. Walter is a quiet, somewhat withdrawn man and it's clear through his body language that he isn't at all happy in his existence. After attending a work conference in Manhattan, Walter returns to his seldom used apartment only to discover a pair of illegal immigrants living there. At first, the situation is uncomfortable, but before long Walter strikes up a most interesting bond with the couple. Richard Jenkins is just outstanding here. His restrained performance really carries this character driven film. His Walter Vale does go through a character arc but it's a subtle one. There is no massive transformation. This is a skilled turn made up of tiny but effective nuances, and Jenkins final moment in the picture is inspirational. I found the lack of cynicism in The Visitor quite refreshing. This is a movie about good people being kind to one another. While the end of the picture is certainly melancholy, The Visitor is ultimately a hopeful look at the world we live in.

Grade: B

GEORGE A. ROMERO'S DIARY OF THE DEAD

It stinks when one of the films you're most excited about seeing, ends up being disappointing. Such is the case with George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead. Romero has always been a favorite of mine. His original Dawn of the Dead remains a seminal horror film. Diary of the Dead isn't really a continuation of his popular "Dead" series. It's more of a recreation. The film focuses on a group of amateur film makers who are hard at work making a low budget horror film in the woods. In the midst of their production, a zombie outbreak occurs. These aspiring film makers decide to document the horrific phenomenon. Diary of the Dead is a strange beast because it's a homage of sorts but it's been made by the very man who created the films that inspired it. Self homage? There are certainly moments of creativity here. Greg Nicotero's makeup effects are wonderfully conceived and some of the inside jokes hit the mark. Also flowing throughout Diary of the Dead is Romero's trademark dose of social commentary. Here, there are stabs at the film industry and the media. Having said all of this, I just couldn't get into the tone of the movie. There's no real balance. The humor and overacting cast, trump the horror aspect of the film. The end result is a disappointing misfire. Still, it's nice to see Romero working steadily. Let's hope his next effort is stronger.

Grade: C+

BE KIND REWIND

Michel Gondry returns with Be Kind Rewind, a nutty peace of whimsy featuring Mos Def and Jack Black as video store employees who set out to recreate famous movies with their video camera after Black inadvertently demagnetizes all the rentals. Quite clearly, Be Kind Rewind is eccentric, and Gondry wouldn't have it any other way. Truth be told, I thought the film recreations would be a little funnier. The Driving Miss Daisy remake is a highlight, but the recreations of Rush Hour 2 and Robocop come across as a little flat. What really drove me nuts about Be Kind Rewind though, is the set up. The phenomenon that causes Black to demagnetize the tapes is strange, and not in an interesting way. Gondry's visual sensibility is still incredibly unique, and there's a sense of community in this film that really shines through, but in the end, Be Kind Rewind never really gels. Coming off Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and even the little seen Science of Sleep, Gondry's latest comes across as a letdown.

Grade: C+

Watch for one more report featuring reviews of Alone in Four Walls, Blind Date, What Just Happened?, Baghead, Sunshine Cleaning, Pretty Bird, Red, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden, Hell Ride, and the 3-D Panel Presentation.