Splice

Let me start by saying this is the best B+ movie I have ever seen. The
acting, effects and plot is there but a few key elements keep it from
breaking into a mainstream movie.

This is a Frankenstein movie, a modern day one, with the two main
characters (Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley) creating a Spliced human
and animal hybrid - at first to see if they "could" and then to see if
it can allow for some medical breakthroughs.

There are some cheesey lines that come from Brody that cause the
audience to giggle where the writer/director probably didn't expect.
There are also some questionable scenes - Brody and hybrid sex, hybrid
and Polley rape - that could have been reworked to be less hard to
watch, but that could remove some of the edge. I think it was
maintained in the film so that it could be clear to the audience that
all the "rules" were broken in creatingthis hybrid. The whole time I
was watching this movie I "knee" rules were broke and I found myself
saying "don't do it" on more than one occasion.

I liked the movie, I think it is a definite rental. I am also
confident that my dad will love this movie!

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The Company Men

This film has a huge ensemble cast - only some are utilized very well
where others are underutilized - but the overall experience leaves the
viewer unsympathetic to all. This film is about a global corporation
with some cocky high paid employees that are suddenly fired (in all
about 5000 + are let go) and who live in denial during thier severance
period until it is "too late". Ultimately two characters are redeemed
but we are still unsympathetic. The one performance that really stands
out is from the always excellent Chris Cooper. He has a strong
performance but is underutlized. His character commits suicide towards
the last act and acts as a catalyst for Ben Aflecks and Tommy Lee
Jones' characters to realize they need to change their thinking.

Overall this film is "okay" and watchable but youtoo will find little
in common with all their elitist entitlement issues. I give it two
stars out of four And recommend adding it to you netflix when and if
it becomes available.

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The Kids are Alright

The Kids are Alright is a film about a lesbian couples children
bringing their sperm donor father into their family and the issues
that ensue. Subplots involve the 15 year old son beig questioned about
his friendship with another boy - if it is a sexual one or if it is
appropriate because the other is considered a "loser". Another is the
daughters virginity and her closest guy friend potentially a breaker
of such at her graduation party from high school. Another is the 18
year old daughter asserting her adulthood on her overprotective doctor
mother. Another is the sperm donor father falling for one of the moms
and engaging in straight sex with her.

This movie is good on many levels. The two mothers, played by Annette
Benning (breadwinner, overprotective, and "the boss") and Julianne
Moore (free spirit, viber, unemployed), are a very believable couple
complete with romance and affection much like a straight audience
would expect from a straight couple. Their issues with their children
are truthful and come across as very sincere. Their two children are
growing into their own in the film and explore their relationship with
their biological father played by Mark Rufallo. Rufallo's character is
a bit confusing because he comes across as a free spirit but at the
same time does not seem to care that his actions could be hurtful to
the family when he proceeds to have a sexual relationship with Moores
character. Undoubtedly when the other spouse finds out about the
indescretions "expected" behaviors are shown - I have a feeling some
may think that this gay relationship would be different from straight
ones that is why I call it out as being "expected" and the emotions
really go towards showing the audience the similarities with their own
lives.

It was hard to fin a specific character this movie wanted to be about
and at the end it apprears it is more about the two moms than any
other one in particular. I believe this movie is inthe top 4 that I
have seen at the festival and is definitely a great drama with
believable characters. You feel as if you have taken a journey with
these characters which leaves you satisfied at the end and hopeful. I
highly recommend this movie for all viewers and believe is is capable
of being rewatched a few times.

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shopping

splice!

on bus to see Splice

@wards party

Party Time!

Bathroom Blues

In response to a marketing email from Sundance:

Rather than attempting (however futile) to sell me overpriced and meaningless Sundance hats, jackets and ball warmers (as an aside, I actually might take one of those), how about a strategic and organized game plan concerning the public restroom situation outside the Eccles?  Upon arriving at the theater 40 mins early so that I might have the pleasure of standing in a sweaty and overcrowded line, I was told by not one, but three individuals (ie, one man, one woman, one undecided), that the Eccles was on "lock-down" and unavailable for any and all purposes (which apparently included its restrooms facilities, which as an aside, make that bathroom in Trainspotting look like any shitter at the Four Seasons).  Would you mind explaining to me why a theater in the middle of nowhere (ie, Utah) must remain on "lock-down" in between screenings, such that any poor soul who had one drink too many is left with no recourse other than wetting his pants (two layers mind you) or walking a mile to the Marriott (which will certainly leave any right-minded gentleman with no option but option no. 1). Bet if Bob Redford needed to urinate profusely, shit mildly, engage in an upper-decker or take a masturbatory break inside the Eccles bathroom during a lock-down, his request, however illogical, would be honored.

hey mike!

remember the time you had to go to the bathroom REALLY bad at Eccles
and no one would let you in because it was on "Lockdown"?

Wiating for The Kids are Alright

Welcome to the Rileys

Welcome to the Rileys is a movie about coping with loss in different
ways. It is a story of a husband and wife who lost the teenage
daughter to a tragic car accident and who in turn cope about the loss
in different ways - the husband, played by James Gandolfini, is in
denial - and the wife played by Melissa Leo, becomes a recluse not
ever leaving her house. Gandolfini has a mistress who we breifly see
until she has a heart attack and dies triggerig Gandolfini to visit
the cemetery where she is burried and subsequently visits his
daughters grave. At the grave site, he notices his wife reserved a
plot adjacent and sees his name alongside hers which causes a
breakdown. He goes the next day for a convention in new orleans where
he meets a teenage runaway stripper, played by Kristin Stewart, and
much to Stewarts chagrin decides he wants to stay and help her - the
audience making the connection that she is a replacement for his dead
daughter. Gandolfini treats her with love and tries to teach her like
a father would. All the while Stewart acts like the victimized runaway
whose only power in life is tied to her sexuality - until that starts
being questioned by abusive johns. Gandolfinis shut In wife ventures
out an takes a road trip to new Orleans because she loves him and
doesn't want to lose him. The thoughts she must have has when finding
out her husband is stayig with a stripper child are quite transparent
when he introduces them. Quickly though both end up being surrogate
parents while trying to make Stewarts character something she is not.
Eventually Stewart is arrested an bailed out only to run away saying
basically "I'm not your daughter you can't raise me like her". The
husband and wife return to their home with new life after realizing
they cannot replace their daughter. This story is a transformative one
for both characters - they each become reborn by the end - and it is
satisfying to see this. This is a repeat movie for me and very
motivating to help someone who cannot help themselves. I highly
recommend this movie and place it in the same realm of excellence as
this yeas Get Low I terms of drama and style. Four stars!

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Waiting for Welcome to the Rileys

Sympathy for Delicious

This is an amazing film by Mark Ruffalo and xxxxx. It is a film about
a handicapped Dj living on the streets who is given a gift of healing
touch who is exploited and who exploits himself ultimately finding
peace when he realizes he must use his gift unselfishly. The film has
a high production value not unexpected from the names attached.
Throughout the film things are believable, mainly from the reaction
shots of all the people in each scene and oddly plays fair to the
various religions that are shown in the film. I say odd because it is,
and could have been, so easy to knock on all of them. This film is
definitely a repeat watch, and is even date friendly as you get the
aha moments and warm and fuzzies in a few spots.

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Howl

Although not branded as a documentary, this experimental film is a
composition of court transcripts, manuscripts and oral history. Howl
is a poem of the beat generation that tested the countries obsenity
laws at the time which helped send this little known poet into the
spotlight. Ultimately it is about his journey through his young life
coming through in uncommon prose. Various themes are explored here,
homosexuality, sex in general, pushing limits, as well as unrequited
love (between Ginsberg and Keruack). The court case is found favorable
to Ginsberg's publisher (who really was the one on trial) and opened
the doors wider for artistic freedom of expression and press. I am not
sure it was a story that needed to be told but it was well put
together and I gave it 2 out of 4 stars for the audience award.

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Waiting for Sympathy for Delicious

Waiting for Howl

The Backyards

Ahhh 3 Backyards, where to start? The best thing about this film was
one single minor character and each scene (only 3) she was in. This
character is unknown except for five or six lines, is beautiful in a
kind of creepy way an is purportedly poor and/or mentally disabled...
she has an accent that could be Haitian or French. Generally this
movie appeared to be three seperate short films put together without
any coherence. If you had to diminish this down to it's basic
components the only semblance of conguency would be liberal use of
grassy areas that are considered "backyards". The director Mendlesohn,
though very gracious, did not show us a film we were expecting. Most
everyone in line was comparing this to "Magnolia" but this was on the
complete opposite spectrum. Litterally we wanted to not vote for it,
but if we did not vote the lowest possible we would not have been
counted at all.

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More waiting!

This time with seating!

Waiting for 3 Backyards

not to be confused with 3 Backdoors

Holy Rollers

Holy Rollers is a movie about a Hassidic Jew falling into the wrong
crowd in an attempt to raise his standard of living so that he can
continue in the Hassidic tradition. This is a boy who works in his
fathers textile shop and is very devout. He is going into an arranged
marriage but is cancelled due to his perceived lower standard. He
falls into a Hassidic drug ring led by an Israeli drug kingpin.
Through the course if this movie the boy grows in his role as mule/
bookeeper until he gets "too smart" and is set up by the kingpin. Not
unexpectedly he attempts to return to his Hassidic ways. The acting is
pretty good - no award winning performances. Overall it was
entertaining and worth seeing. I am not sure it was a story that
needed to be told - I say this because it was a film inspired by
actual events. It is not a Hassidic version of "Blow" but a story of
going astray and finding out for yourself that you need to be helped
to get back on your path.

Waiting for Holy Rollers

Hesher

Hesher was definitely the high point to date for the films we have
seen here this year. It is a story about a father and son who deal
with the death of their wife/mother in very different ways. Thrown
into the mix is Hesher, aptly played by Joseph Gordon Levitt, a
nihilistic metal head who does what he wants when he wants. Also in
this film is Natalie Portman who plays a minor but meaningful role as
a means of transformation for the young boy. The young boy is played
by newcomer Piper Laurie, who shows the instantaneous emotions only
young children can but with measured pain behind his eyes the entire
time. It was a great film that makes me believe JGL is turning into a
character actor not unlike Ron Perlman but able to have a much larger
range. The cater in this film is played by Rainn Wilson, completely
breaking from anything we have seen him do before by offering a
soulful performance of a broken man. I highly recommend this movie and
I hope it wins the Sundance 2010 Audience Award!

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Waiting for Hesher

Lovers of Hate

Lovers of Hate was one of the least enjoyable films here at the
festival that we have seen so far. It is a movie about a man with self
destructive behaviors that lost his wife and who is struggling to
succeed at anything. His ex wife and brother get together for a
weekend getaway and the self destructive brother invisibly crashes
their party. There are some great comedic reactions to what
transpires, but overall there is a definite creepiness vibe throughout
the movie. I hope to have a more thorough review of this movie in the
coming weeks howeer I do not wish to spend the energy writig it now as
it was not that good.

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Lovers of Hate

Waiting in a packed line for Lovers of Hate. A movie about a two
couples sharing a cabin where one may or may not be sleeping with the
others wife. More to come later!

Douchebag

This is one of the more intruiging titles here at Sundance and offered
no star power. It is in the running for the Audience Award and
definitely is a contender. Douchebag is about two brothers who hate
eachother, for reasons unknown to the viewer until nearly the end, and
their roadtrip to find the younger brothers childhood girlfriend. The
lead role is played by first time actor Andrew Dickler, who is also
the films editor. The older brother starts out as the likeable one but
shortly into the second act the roles reverse and it's the younger
brother who is really the good one. We follow their antics, well, the
older brothers, as they attempt to locate the yougers childhood
girlfriend. We find the definition of douchebag in his actions on at
least three occasions during their trip. This movie was shot on film
but was intermixed with digital which created a very good viewing
experience. Overall this movie is a definite contender for the
audience award. This is a definite repeat view for me.

Get Low

Get Low is a period piece set in the 1920's. It stars Robert Duvall,
Sissy Spaceck and Bill Murray. It is about a hermit who wants to have
a funeral for himself while still alive as a means of airing long time
trauma. Performance from Duvall is as top notched as you would expect
and just as grizzled! Sissy Spaceck is underutilized but offers an
essential piece to the ensemble cast. Bill Murray is great and offers
the only comic relief in this morbid toned movie. This movie is
similar in tone to the Paul Newman "Road to Perdition" but with none
of the violence. I highly recommend this movie.

Waiting for Douchebag

Get Low

Waiting for Get Low to start!

Uncle Bukakke witnessed!

Uncle Bukakke special conversation

Uncle B: Having lunch next to malin akerman (chick from watchmen). What should I say to her??????
PimpD: "Hi I'm uncle b.  I love your work.  Can I get you a drink?" or  "Hi, I'm uncle b, and I'm mormon, so I don't really have a secret desire to fuck your asshole, but I'm branching out, of late, and was curious if I could maybe suck your tits after lunch?  My car might be a good venue.  Because then I can finger your taint and rub it on my nipples." "I didn't like the Watchmen, but if you like Watchingmen ejaculate, then I think we should hang out in the bathroom ASAP.""I am a Doctor of Cunt.  This is your lucky day.". Then hand her a knife.
Uncle B: Dude love the second to last one. It worked!!!!  Lol. Hahahahah. 
PimpD: Order her a glass of milk, and tell the waiter to say that it's from you.  When it arrives, "Hi, I just saw Pee Wee Herman at the Nokia Theater.  He did this awesome bukkake trick to all of us in the front row.  I'll show you right now." Then pour milk on her tits.
Uncle B: Hahahahahahaah. Awesome!!!!!
PimpD: "Have you ever seen hot snowflakes before?  It sounds impossible, but they really exist, I swear."  Then unzip your pants.
Uncle B: Cyrano de Sarno. This is awesome. Gonna test some of this shit out. She is so hot dude. I am in love. Tighest fitting snow outfit I have ever seen. 
PimpD: Ok, you want serious advice?
Uncle B: But ur watchmen comment has me on the floor. I told my buddy who is likewise laughing out of control. We are making asses out of ourselves.  Yes. Serious too. Lol. 
PimpD: Tell her "I'm a huge fan, and frankly, I love you kinda.  Would you take a picture with me?" Is she with a dude?
Uncle B: Alone. But adam brody is here too at her table "making time" with her and is a cock-block at the moment. 
PimpD: I'm lookin at her now - she's super hot$ Go up to both of them, and say, "the faggot convention is over now, so when you're done talking to him, I'll be right over there.  Thanks."

Buried

As it turns out the hype was correct! Ryan Reynolds kept the story
going confined in a wooden coffin. Every persons basic fear of
confined spaces and being buried alive was demonstrated in this film.
Limited to a dying cell phone, Reynold's character was able to
transition through the basic phases of death - fear, denial, hope, and
acceptance. The writer didn't even play into the conventional
Hollywood equation of jumping the shark at the end. The film left the
viewer in a confined space much like the coffin and though did not
have the expected endig was still satisfying!

Malin Ackerman and Adam Brody

are sitting next to me!

Q&A

The writer and director were present for Q&A

Waiting for Buried to start

Buried

We are now waiting in line for our first screening - Buried. This 90 minute movie has one location - a coffin. it is about a soldier, played by Ryan Reynolds, burried alive in Iraq. Lots of buzz around this movie and hopefully it lives up to the hype. More to follow!

Random Scenes

shuttle service

Takeoff and Arrival

Now with Food!!

Sundance Films

Please see the schedule for a listing of films we will be attending
while at Sundance 2010!

New Do Beanie Friendly

Prepared for beanie weather!

Almost Time

Almost time for Sundance! Stay tuned for some play by play with lots of photos!