Sundance Film Festival 2014 Summary

Well, it didn't look like I was going to be able to go this year but at least I had last year. Sundance 2013 was an amazing experience.  If I only had one chance to go, that would satisfy me.  27 films was quite a feat. This year I was late to the dance but I still caught 12 fantastic films, some of which I'll see again and a small handful I'm dying to show my friends.


Day 1 - Let the movies begin & party with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon!

Day 2 - Why a romance between a 28 year old and a 14 year old isn't as bad as it sounds and hanging out with future celebrities at the cast & crew party!

Day 3 - Killer cheerleader sex/murder scandal and the return of Nazi zombies!

Day 4 - The day I get a cold...oh, plus dope-addicted jazz pianists and serial killers make the best pals.

Day 5 - Kevin Smith is soooooooooooo awesome!!!

Day 6 - Awards, the day I got a second opinion & sci-fi dust!

Day 7 - Three films that made sweet, sweet love to me ending with the biggest climax I've had in a long time!

Overall and final thoughts: For my second time here, it's been fantastic. The people were friendly, the 1,800+ volunteers were amazing, the weather was fantastic (sunny skies and barely a breeze the entire time I was there) and the movies were even better than last year. There wasn't a stinker in any of the 12 films I saw (less than half of what I caught last year) and the last film of the last day (for me) was the best. I really hope some of these make it out to the public in the coming months. They need to be seen and several of them are screaming me to come back. It's been one hell of a great film ride this year. Bring on 2015!

Sundance Film Festival 2014 Day 7

Now that I had the Sexy Pass, I was getting in to everything I wanted.  After getting home late last night from the midnight showing of YOUNG ONES I got my 5 hours of sleep, packed my bags and headed over to the morning show of FISHING WITHOUT NETS (GREAT flick), then it was a sweet, emotional ride with LOVE IS STRANGE (I babied out at the end of this one) and I finished with WHIPLASH, the film that won both the Audience award for best film and the Dramatic Competition Grand Jury award.  I can see why.  It's been one hell of a day at the movies with the best film (it deserves all of the attention it's getting) closing out the festival for me and in the best theater (Eccles).  I couldn't have asked for a better finish. 

Sundance Film Festival 2014 Day 6

It looked like another long day stuck at the house until I got the call that I was going to the awards ceremony hosted by Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally!!!  They were fucking hilarious and raunchy.  They sang a song about Sundance called, "Weed and Pussy".  Classic.  They talked a lot about their sex life, having sex while watching independent films and that Megan's vagina is named, Robert Redford's Face.  Nick and Megan are married, see.  They were loads of fun.  Once it got started the ceremony moved along quickly.  Afterward I got my hands on what I call the Sexy Pass.  It's a pass that gets you into any film without a ticket AND you get to bypass the long ticket line and get to the front of the line.  SWEET!!!  It's too bad I didn't have this a few days ago.  I would have made 4 movies a day, easy.  By the time the ceremony was over there was only time for one film and that was the midnight showing of YOUNG ONES, a futuristic flick starring the always amazing, Michael Shannon.  Tomorrow (Sunday) I've got three more flicks lined up for the final day of the festival. Oh, and it turns out I don't have a cold but have altitude sickness and the asprin I've been taking today did the trick.  I'm feeling better but not quite 100%.  It's a start.

Clerks (1994)

Director: Kevin Smith

Writer: Kevin Smith

Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonhauer, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Scot Mosier, Scott Schiaffo, Al Berkowitz, Walter Flanagan, Ed Hapstak, Lee Bendick, David Klein, Pattijean Csik, Ken Clark, Donna Jeanne, Virginia Smith

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Just Because They Serve You... Doesn't Mean They Like You.

Plot: A day in the lives of two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal as they annoy customers, discuss movies, and play hockey on the store roof.

My rating: 9/10

Will I watch it again? Of course.

Sundance Film Festival 2014

OK, so get this.  It's the midnight, and only, screening of CLERKS (1994), celebrating its 20th anniversary of the film's premiere.  Kevin Smith takes the stage and the crowd goes nuts.

He tells everyone that we're going to do the Q&A, that's normally done after the movie, before since it's midnight and everyone's probably seen the film so they can ditch it in the middle and go home to sleep and not miss anything.  Before the questions start he talks about this couple that, during the Class of '94 panel discussion earlier that day, asked if he could marry them.  He brings Dillon (20) and Nicole (20) on stage and officiates their wedding.  It lasted a few short, funny minutes and off the happy couple go.  Smith is an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church, something anyone can do for probably five bucks.  It's nice when these unexpected things pop up like this.

Now Kevin talks about his experience with screening the film at Sundance 20 years ago and how the fourth and final screening was here at The Egyptian.  He knew his film was dead in the water at that point but he had someone there (the name escapes me) that was a big champion of the film and talked Harvey Weinstein into attending.  After the show Kevin was told to meet Harvey across the street at a restaurant where Harvey offered to buy the picture.  Kevin Smith's film career was made that night.  It was a touching story and Kevin got very emotional a couple of times, starting to tear up.  I'm sure the everyone else there (it was packed with a 266 seat capacity) was welling up, too, like I was.  It's a great story.  But then something else was thrown into the mix, something unexpected...Kevin brings CLERKS star, Brian O'Halloran (Dante), onto the stage.  The crowd goes nuts.  We only knew Kevin would be there.  Brian spends a few minutes with some anecdotes about his experience with Sundance 20 years ago, filled with laughs.  But wait...there's more....

Kevin brings up Jason Mewes, another unexpected guest, to the stage.  The audience is apeshit at this point but there's no Jason.  A couple of minutes later he runs onto the stage and says he was in the bathroom taking a piss and makes a motion that he was jerking off.  Fucking hilarious.

20 years ago, at the premiere, Kevin was the only one flown out by Sundance, so Kevin and pals had to scrape what little dough they had to bring anyone from the film out.  Unfortunately Jason wasn't able to make it but it's great now that he's here 20 years later.  The three of them crack jokes and reminisce for a few minutes and then the floor is opened to questions.  The biggest one of the night was a nice surprise.  Kevin will begin shooting CLERKS 3 this April 7.  He's currently waiting on budget approval from Weinstein but Kevin added that if he doesn't approve it, they have someone ready to finance the film for them but rest assured, they begin filming in a little more than two months.  Great news.  Smith is typically long winded and will take twenty minutes to answer a single question but last night he burned through five or six in 10-15 minutes.  Impressive.  They were given the 'get the fuck off the stage 'cause we're out of time and way past overdue to show the film' motion.  They took some photos and the movie began.

Oh, geez, I'm supposed to review the picture.

 It's a great fucking movie!

Sundance Film Festival 2014 Day 5

Not much happened today.  Being sick at a film festival sucks balls.  I don't feel like doing much of anything.  I suppose resting is the best thing for me now.  But nothing was going to stop me from seeing the 20th anniversary screening of CLERKS (1994) at the Egyptian Theatre hosted by Kevin Smith.  What made it even better is Kevin started the Q&A before the film began since it started at midnight.  He brought up a couple that wanted him to officiate their wedding which was awesome.  Then he brought up CLERKS stars Brian O'Halloran and Jason Mewes.  It was fun to say the least.  And, of course, the movie was great and it was my first time seeing it on the big screen.  So my uneventful day ended with a bang.  Lovin' it.

Kevin Smith Marries Couple at Sundance on the 20th Anniversary of Clerks Premiere!!!

Sundance Film Festival 2014

Here's something kick-ass cool as shit.  It was 20 years ago that Kevin Smith's career was born with the premiere of his first film, CLERKS (1994).  At the Egyptian Theatre last night at midnight for the anniversary screening, Smith did his Q&A before the film and began by calling up a couple that had, earlier that day, asked Smith at the Class of '94 panel to marry them as he is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church.  Smith called them up on the stage to officiate their wedding.  Dillon (20) and Nicole (20), who were born just 7 days apart, exchanged the brief and funny vows Smith had prepared.  The 266 seat auditorium was packed with an enthusiastic and cheerful audience.

Congratulations, kids!

Sundance Film Festival 2014 Day 4

Fuck! I've now got a cold and the Sudafed isn't working.  It's 11 PM and I FINALLY got back to the house after seeing KILLERS (2014), a pretty damn good (but overlong) Indonesian serial killer flick that ended shortly after 8.  I waited an hour an a half for my ride at a pub, eating mediocre fried trout and drinking tasty beer.  I was going to see WETLANDS (2014), a flick about some very active vaginas, at midnight but I'm too beat to go now.  After this I'm hittin' the sack.  Earlier today I caught LOW DOWN (2014) which was great.  The review for that is already up.  I have no idea what I'm going to have tickets for tomorrow (Friday).  Just three more days before it's all over and I head back home.  So far I've been very impressed by the quality of films.  I know I've only seen six but there hasn't been a bad one in the bunch.  One last thing, the awards ceremony ended about an hour ago for Slamdance and COPENHAGEN (2013) won the Audience Award for Narrative Feature.  I'm very pleased to hear that.  It's the best film I've seen out here so far.

Hopefully I'll have lots to carry on about tomorrow.  I'll at least have something written up about KILLERS. 

Low Down (2014)

Director: Jeff Preiss

Writers: Amy Albany, Topper Lilien

Composer: Ohad Talmor

Starring: John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Lena Headey, Taryn Manning, Peter Dinklage, Flea, Burton Ritchie, Tim Daly, Caleb Landry Jones, Billy Drago

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Junk, jazz, and other fairy tales from childhood.

Plot: A look at the life of pianist Joe Albany from the perspective of his young daughter, as she watches him contend with his drug addiction during the 1960s and '70s jazz scene.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Maybe.

Sundance film Festival 2014

Geez, this won't qualify for the feel-good movie at Sundance this year.  The story focuses on jazz pianist Joe Albany (Hawkes), his lifelong addiction to drugs and his relationship to the two women that meant the most to him, his daughter, Amy Fanning) and his mother (Close) but this isn't just another drug addiction film nor is it a bio of a great musician.  It's quiet and sad.  It's optimistic with dreams that won't come true.  It's a string of moments that, taken as a whole, paint a picture of despair and love.  It feels real.  Some scenes are out of order and some don't have a setup or resolution.  They aren't required.  Director Preiss takes that bold step and delivers a film that shows you that you don't need to be spoon fed with a definite beginning, middle and end.  The ONLY thing I was left wanting was more of the musician element.  As a musician I would really like to have seen any of the success he had for the two years John spent in Paris recording.  It's mentioned in the film but it's one of those "Two Years Later" title cards with a little bit of dialogue to fill in some of that gap.  I realize the impact that would have with the flow of the film and the two hour running time.  The performances are outstanding.  Everyone delivers the goods.  Everyone.  Impressive.

Sundance Film Festival 2014 Day 3

[Wednesday]  Well, I caught a documentary that I wasn't initially interested in seeing but I'm glad I did.  CAPTIVATED: THE TRIALS OF PAMELA SMART (2014) was very enlightening.  Before and after it was lots of hanging around the house with the internet down all day and then it was off to the midnight showing of DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS. DEAD (2014).  It really sucks, these midnight shows, simply because my body is still thinking it's 1 am back home so by the time I get out of the picture it's nearing 3 and I'm tired as shit.  Anyway, this trip is getting better by the day.  I was really worried that I would only see five or six films tops but the films are lining up nicely.

Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead (2014)

Original title: Dod Sno 2

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Writers: Vegar Hoel, Tommy Wirkola, Stig Frode Henriksen

Composer: Christian Wibe

Starring: Amrita Acharia, Carl-Magnus Adner, Jocelyn DeBoer, Laufrey Eliasdottir, Kristian Figenschow, Charlotte Frogner, Orjan Gamst, Ingar Helge Gimle, Tage Guddingsmo, Tomas Porhallur Guomudsson, Ingrid Haas, Daniel Berge Halvorsen, Stig Frode Henriksen, Vegar Hoel, Hallvard Holmen, Kristoffer Joner, Derek Mears, Christian Rubeck, David Skafjord, Martin Starr, Jesper Sundnes, Bjarte Tjostheim

More info: IMDb

Tagine: If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you'd have to assume that things couldn't get much worse. In Martin's case, that was only the beginning.

Plot:  The Nazis are back and their out to settle a 70 year old score to kill everyone living in a small Norwegian town and there's only a small band of folks that can stop them...with the help of 50 dead Soviet WWII soldiers brought back to life for the cause.

My rating: 8.5/10

Will I watch it again? JA!!!

Sundance Film Festival 2014

NAZI ZOMBIE SPOILERS AHEAD!  YARRRRRRR!!!

I caught the last showing of this at the Sundance Film Festival last night at midnight.  I was tired for sure but there was no way I came all this way not to see this, my most anticipated film at the festival.  I LOVED the first film, DEAD SNOW (2009).  It didn't do anything new but it was incredibly entertaining. What writer/director Wirkola did do with this sequel is create something cool and unusual, something you haven't seen before.  The first film was funny, very gory and had some great kills.  This time, though, everything had been amped up to 11.  It's hilarious from start to finish, gory as fuck all and it's got dozens upon dozens of fantastic kills.

Picking up where we left off at the end of the first picture with Martin, in a car trying to get away, with Nazi zombies surrounding him.  Well, he gets away but rips off Herzog's (Gamst), the Nazi zombie leader, arm off.  He narrowly escapes only to crash miles down the road.  He wakes up in a hospital room handcuffed to the bed.  Long story short, the coppers peg him as the murderer of all his friends and he's going to jail...oh, and while he was out the doctors attached his arm (you might remember his arm was bitten in the first film and he cut it off with a chainsaw) but it's the arm of Herzog.  This gives him super strength in that arm and special powers that enable him to bring the dead back to life as zombies.  That's just the first fifteen minutes and it's bugnuts fun.  I'll cut to the chase...he makes his way to a WWII museum where he finds out about Herzog's final task before his troops were killed was to kill everyone in this village as revenge for the recent sabotage of a German ship.  Now he's got to stop them...but how?  It also turns out that Herzog's men killed 50 Russian POW soldiers so now Martin must find the burial ground and bring them back to life to face off Herzog and his men who now have a tank and a growing army.

Did you get all of that?  This thing is epic.  Kids are killed (YES!!!), women, the handicapped, TONS of people die.  What a body count!!!  One of the most enjoyable parts of the picture was the large display of people snuffing it.  And the humor doesn't let up.  The jokes and gags flow like the Mississippi river.  If you haven't seen the first film, you owe it to yourself to check it out.  That and this sequel are fantastic movies to watch with a group of friends.  Oh, and one more thing, the film ends with probably the best use of Bonnie Tyler's song, Total Eclipse of the Heart.  The scene builds and builds to a laughter roaring climax.  I cannot wait to own this and show it to everyone I know...just like I did with DEAD SNOW four years ago.

Rudderless (2014)

Director: William H. Macy

Writers: Casey Twenter, Jeff Robinson, William H. Macy

Composer: Eef Barzelay

Starring: Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Laurence Fishburne, Felicity Huffman, Selena Gomez, William H. Macy, Peter Spruyt

More info: IMDb

Plot: A grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis

My rating: 8.5/10

Will I watch it again? Yeah.

Sundance Film Festival 2014

Wow!  Just wow!!  William H. Macy's directorial debut is an unusual look at the loss of a child and how one father deals with it.  It's difficult to talk about because of the incredible turn of events halfway in that change everything. The performances are stellar, particularly Billy Crudup.  Laurence Fishburne is refreshingly fun for a change.  And the songs are just as much of a character as any of the actors with the final one, "Sing Along", having the most weight and the best hook.  For as good as this was, though, Salena Gomez was the weakest link.  Part of it was her performance and the other was how her character was handled.  She has three brief  scenes; the first (an introduction) but the second two change the direction of the picture and very abruptly.  But then again, maybe it's that she's 18 years old and that's how someone of that age would have all of the emotional tact of throwing a hammer through a plate glass window.  A second viewing might help.  Ugh, I really want to talk more about this but it's a tremendous spoiler that needs to remain silent should you ever see it.  It's a very good, deftly handled film about a difficult subject. Great job, Mr. Macy!

Sundance Film Festival 2014 Day 2

For the most part it was a nice, relaxing, quiet day hanging out at the lodge.  The only movie of the day was last night at Slamdance, a film festival that runs parallel to Sundance but features an even more independent movie spirit.  The films are micro budget and many with a slant toward the daring and experimental.  The picture was COPENHAGEN (2013).  The room was small (a hotel conference room was turned into a makeshift theater) but that didn't hurt the film in my eyes.  Outstanding.  Afterwards it was back to Casa Nova for the cast and crew party.  I spoke with the writer and director , Mark Raso, briefly about how much I enjoyed his film and why.  Nice cat.  The food was fantastic as was the conversation.  There's only one movie that I MUST see this trip and that's DEAD SNOW: RED VS. DEAD (2014) and that's tonight at midnight.  Fingers crossed that I'll make it.

Sundance Film Festival 2014 Day 1

After a lousy, butt-destroying flight into Salt Lake City, I settled into my digs, the challet Casa Nova (I know, right?) it was time for my first film, RUDDERLESS (2014) directed by William H. Macy (I'm holding my review for a couple of days since it was a sneak preview prior to the premiere and there are no reviews online as of this writing).  It was fantastic and it's the kind of small, intimate picture that this film festival thrives on.


Then it's back to Casa Nova for a huge ass freakin' party with Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon, stars of THE TRIP TO ITALY (2014), a film that I'm super excited to see.  It's a feature length film based on their UK series.  These guys are hilarious and it was a treat to see them.  Unfortunately the place was wall to wall people packed in like sardines so getting to meet them, much less get a photo with them, was near impossible but I did brush by them (ooooooooh).  Here's a classic bit from their TV show that slays me every time.