Adam's Sundance Report 3

Getting in Descent exposure!

The last two days of Sundance were, without a doubt, my favorite. Why? Because during those last two days, I saw my favorite films. Following a full day on Saturday, I got a measly three hours of sleep. Sunday morning, I was at the Library Center bright and early so that I could wait list (for a whopping four hours) for what was my most anticipated movie of the festival, Jason Reitman's much buzzed about Thank You For Smoking. Sadly, The Boneman had a hard time dragging himself out of bed on this particular morning, but in his defense, he did get less sleep than me the night before. I would have to go this one alone. While waiting in line, I had the time of my life talking movies with the enthusiastic crowd. Thankfully, the waiting paid off. I did manage to get into the screening and it's a darn good thing I did, because ultimately, Thank You For Smoking would be my favorite film at the festival.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
Starring Aaron Eckhart, Katie Holmes, Robert Duvall and William H. Macy
Released by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Before this screening began, a humble Jason Reitman took the stage to give us a brief introduction as well as a startling revelation. Reitman revealed to a stunned audience that, due to a technical mishap in processing, one scene would be missing from the movie we were about to see. And as fate would have it, the scene in question features Katie Holmes bumping uglies with Aaron Eckhart. Despite thick suspicion in the air, Reitman insisted that the scene was not removed because of an order from Tom Cruise. He also went on to suggest that the scene would be in tact when the film lands in theaters this March. For those who can't wait to see Katie in action, you can always rent Sam Raimi's The Gift on DVD.

Despite the title of this uproarious comedy, Thank You For Smoking neither advocates the habit or condemn it. Really, it's a film about having the right to chose. I suppose the film does take a fair share of pot shots at smokers, but this gloriously hilarious (and smart) look at a tobacco industry lobbyist isn't so much a satire as it is a straight forward comedy. A damn funny one I might add. Furthermore, it has a surprising amount of heart.

Directed by Jason Reitman (son of legendary comedy director Ivan) and based on a book by Christopher Buckley, this film is a riot from start to finish. The movie stars Aaron Eckhart as tobacco industry lobbyist Nick Naylor. He isn't necessarily a fan of the industry, he simply does the job because he's good at it. In this regard, Thank You For Smoking reminded me a bit of Andrew Niccol's underrated Lord of War only this picture is much lighter.

Nick travels around the country speaking in actively arguing in favor of smoking. On a famed talk show, he convinces an audience that the industry does care about those who are sick with lung cancer because, as he puts it; "why would we want to lose valuable customers." Or watch as Mr. Naylor persuades the Marlboro Man himself (played by the wonderful Sam Elliot) to take a payoff rather than sue a distributor after they cut him lose when he's diagnosed with cancer. This sort of stuff doesn't sound like it would be funny, but, as presented in the film, it's downright hilarious.

With a perfect sense of timing, Eckhart shows great comedic skills here. This is easily his best work since his Neil LaBute collaborations (In the Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbors). And keep in mind that this was no easy task to pull off. While many might consider Nick Naylor to be the scum of the Earth, Eckhart's genial turn keeps the character likable every step of the way, and the actor deserves extra props for his wonderfully sincere rapport with movie son Joey (engagingly played by Birth's Cameron Bright).

Thank You For Smoking is populated by an onslaught of outstanding bit players. You have deadpan Robert Duvall as the eccentric head of a tobacco company. A hilariously sublime Rob Lowe as crazed film producer Jeff Megall. A perfectly over the top Adam Brody as Jeff's assistant. William H. Macy as the irritated Senator Ortolan Finistirre. The aforementioned Sam Elliot as the grizzled Lorne Lutch. A playful Maria Bello as an alcohol spokeswoman. A dopey Kyle Gass as a lobbyist for the NRA. And an extra flirtatious ( slutty) Katie Holmes as a reporter trying to get to the bottom of Nick's wicked ways. And the neatest trick that Jason Reitman pulls off, is that he allows all these performers to shine even when they're limited to mere minutes of screen time.

Jason Reitman possesses his father's undeniable gift for laugh out loud comedy (both as a writer and a director), and this delightful newcomer keeps things consistently funny. What's more, he's able to walk that fine line between hilarious and offensive, flawlessly. Be it a bizarre seal feasting footage, the audacious "cancer boy" sequence (a similar riff was presented in that hilarious Kids in the Hall movie), or the strangely tender moments between Nick and Joey (that's what I call great parenting), Thank You For Smoking has a little something for everyone.

I suppose Thank For Smoking does suggest that smoking is a bad thing, but it does so in such a subtle way, that it doesn't feel like a Surgeon General's warning. For instance, we get a brief background clip from a classic John Wayne movie (a miraculous feat given that The Wayne estate doesn't normally offer up footage to be showcased in movies) that clearly displays the immediate dangers of smoking. Or take notice that not one character in this entire film actually lights up a cigarette. But Thank Your For Smoking doesn't dwell on such business.

Jason Reitman is clearly a talent to watch out for. His Thank You For Smoking is bold, honest, and even dangerous, but it's also light, breezy and hilarious. As for the infamous Katie Holmes sex scene, it's irrelevant. This movie is funny with it or without it. In fact, I'd be so bold as to say I don't think there will be a funnier movie this year.

Grade: A-

EVERYONE STARES: THE POLICE INSIDE AND OUT
Starring Stewart Copeland, Sting, and Andy Summers

I'm first to admit that this entertaining documentary about the rock band The Police will hold the greatest appeal to fans of the group. Well, I'm a fan, and I loved it. I suppose that Inside and Out isn't really a documentary but rather a collection of snap shot memories that work as a terrific thank you letter to Police fans. Back in the late 70's and early 80's when the band was riding the train to success, Police drummer Stewart Copeland would occasionally film the band with his then primitive Super 8mm movie camera. Through the years, Copeland had compiled about fifty hours of footage. Finally, through the miracle of helpful editing software, the drummer turned film maker has been able to assemble this random footage into an interesting, and more importantly, entertaining scrapbook capturing the band in it's most playful moments. There are no images of egos clashing or ballroom brawls. This film is more about the good times. While the band did eventually break up, it is clear that these three men have remained friends through the years. Inside and Out isn't exactly insightful or even professional, but it is entertaining and catches one of my favorite bands during some of their most candid moments. And there's great live performance footage to boot (some in extremely early creative stages). On a final note, Copeland was asked during the Q & A when we might expect a Police reunion. He revealed that the night before, he and Summers had attempted to get Sting tanked enough so that they might play a few songs. Sadly, it didn't happen, nor does it look like it ever will. Copeland and Summers are game, but it doesn't appear to be something that appeals to Sting. That sucks. I guess The Police wont be playing Coachella. Whatever the case may be, Everyone Stares: The Police Inside and Out is a great treat for those of us with Police records.

Grade: B

Before we went to the Everyone Stares screening, we opted to make an alliance with a couple of people wait listing for a film called The Illusionist. They agreed to hold our place in line if we bought their ticket. Since we already had tickets for Everyone Stares, we figured that was a fair trade. After all, we didn't want to miss The Police documentary. Following the screening, we got back in the wait list line for The Illusionist. Given that we were in the first fifteen, our chances were pretty damn good. That tells you what I know. After another lengthy line wait, we were ultimately shut out. And in fact, no one in the wait list line made it into the screening. That sucker was packed. And given that the film stars Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, it was no surprise that we didn't get in. So, we decided to stay in the wait list line so that we might get into Michel Gondry's Science of Sleep which was slated to screen after The Illusionist. Following The Illusionist screening, we asked some of the folks pouring out of the theater, what they thought of the movie. The reaction was more positive than negative. Entertainment Weekly's Owen Glieberman sure liked the picture. The Boneman and I also bumped into Roger Ebert. We pleaded with him to check out New York Doll which he has yet to see. He said he had heard of the film (it played Sundance last year) but that it hadn't made it to his neck of the woods yet. Shortly thereafter, we went back to the wait list line where we were near certain we'd be turned away again. After all, Michel Gondry has developed quite the following thanks to his masterpiece Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. To our absolute delight though, we managed to get into the screening and also managed to bust the our Music editor - the illustrious man of a thousand smiles Kyle England.

THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP - B+ (Read The Boneman's review)

Following the Science of Sleep screening, I headed into Salt Lake City where I met up with my wife and kids. You see, I wasn't in town just for movies. My young daughter had a procedure planned for early the next morning. Children's Primary Hospital in Salt Lake City is considered one of the best medical facilities in the nation. Nothing but the best for my little one. After a long day at the hospital (don't worry, my daughter is perfectly fine), I met up with Kyle. We headed back out to Park City on Monday night for our final screening. Beforehand, however, we'd try to bust into one of those infamous, star studded parties at Park City's legendary Harry O's. Usually, these deals are by invitation only, and that was certainly the case this time out. Upon arriving at the venue, we noticed a gentleman with a clip board. He was a PR guy for a Sundance entry called Half Nelson. The movie, starring the amazing Ryan Gosling, had already started generating buzz. And in fact, Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Scwarzbaum picked it as her favorite film at the festival. I decided I approach the PR guy. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask, and you know what? It didn't. I talked to him a bit about our site and told him how much we were looking forward to seeing Half Nelson. I also went on to tell him that The Boneman desperately wanted Gosling to play the lead in a film he had written. The chit chat paid off. This guy let us in. So I have to give props to the Half Nelson PR guy. You're the man. Ironically, I never did get to see Half Nelson, but it is slated to come out later this year. Regardless, Kyle and I were pumped to get into this party. We're big Broken Social Scene fans and we heard the Canada rock outfit was playing the party. Sure enough, they were. We walked in and found a perfect spot right near the stage. What can I say. This band knocked it right out of the park. Their style recalls fellow Canadian rockers Arcade Fire. If you haven't heard any of their stuff, we highly recommend that you pick it up. Making the evening even more grand was the open bar. Free Budweiser and Absolute Vodka drinks. Halleluiah! After two hours of rock n' roll bliss and spirits on the house, it was off to our final screening. A midnighter at the famed Egyptian Theater.

THE DESCENT
Starring Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Alex Reid, and Saskia Mulder

Forget about that piece of crap "The Cave". The Descent is the definitive "spelunking crew gets terrorized by monsters living in uncharted underground caverns" flick. This British import is a breath of fresh air to those who think the horror genre is dead. This is a true monster movie in every sense of the word, and it's the most fun I've had being scared at the movies in a long time (yes, I loved Hostel, but that's an entirely different kind of horror).

Director Neil Marshall (who made the creative werewolf picture Dog Soldiers) has fashioned an extremely claustrophobic thriller that pays homage to the likes of Alien, the George Romero "Dead" series, Carrie, and the lesser known gem Dead Calm. What's more, the heroes in this film are women. Tough, beautiful women. And when they get into the nastiest of subterranean scrapes, they do a convincing job of fighting for their lives.

As The Descent opens, we are introduced to our heroines, a pack of adrenaline junkies who meet each year to sate their adventure jones. Following a white water rafting trip, a violent tragedy destroys the emotional stability of one of these woman, and as a pick me up, her buddies decide to take her on another adventure a year later so that she might get back on the horse, as it were, and hopefully be able to move on with her life.

This year's adventure? Cave diving. Only this isn't your average cave. This underground cavern has the virtue of never having been explored and in the world of horror, that can't possibly be a good thing.

As these women battle against nature's harshest elements, they come face to face with something far more deadly than they ever could have imagined. Now, the cave itself is the least of their worries. If they're going to make it out alive, they must contend tooth and nail with the residents of this cavern, a strange orcine-like species of carnivorous creatures whom are as quick as they are savage. Oh, and did I mention that they crave human flesh?

Neil Marshall seldom gives the audience a chance to catch their breath in this roller coaster thriller. These woman are put through the ringer and I was never quite sure if or how they might get out of this situation alive. Credit Marshall for his unlimited energy and for knowing the rules of the game.

My gripes with The Descent are minimal. I had an issue with choices made by a couple of characters in the final act of the movie and I could have done without the horrid, nonsensical sudden shock ending (Neil Marshall promises further explanation when the film finds it's way to DVD), but overall, this simplistic thriller is incredibly atmospheric and more importantly, it moves like a bullet train. The Descent generates real terror and I was immensely entertained by it.

Grade: B+