Dancing in Park City

This past week I was lucky enough to attend my first Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. and it was more than I could've expected and hoped for. It was a completely overwhelming experience... What do I do first?! Do I ski?

Do I go see a film?

Do I stargaze? Do I have a cocktail while sitting in the hot tub overlooking the slopes?

Do I sit in the lodge and have a glass of wine? Do I watch the NFC-AFC championship games with some franchise players in the NFL? Do I shop on Main Street while I stroll around in my Versace sunglasses?

The answers to these questions... is yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! All of the above! Park City is so breathtakingly beautiful and there is more than enough to do. It actually made me anxious. Anxious while I was there, and I have a little post-Sundance anxiety now. Did I see all the right films? Should I have skied instead of having drinks? Why did I ski instead of hit that premiere? Seriously, I could go on all day. As I was heading back on the plane, I picked up an US magazine and there was a Sundance blurb with movies to see, the ones getting great reviews and I hadn't seen them. I got nervous. Like I didn't get it right. I immediately thought... I must return to Sundance. I was a Sundance Virgin and I'm now going back for more. But enough about what I'm doing next year... here's a re-cap from Sundance TwentyTen.

Park City There are no words to describe the beauty of Park City. Let me tell you, I hate snow. Hate it. The first flurry comes here in Connecticut and I'm already thinking "enough already". But in Park City... I was in love with all of it. The mountains are breathtaking.. absolutely amazing. That's the word I kept saying to describe it while I was there... "The mountains are amazing", "the skiing is amaaazing". I sounded like freaking Drew Barrymore. And no one says amazing more than Drew B. You would of thought that I've never seen snow before, that I never experienced a winter. I loved being in my cozy sweaters, hats, gloves with my big sunglasses. Being cold was actually fun... and you will never ever hear me say that again.

The Filmmakers

What amazes me at Sundance is how grateful everyone is. Every director, producer, editor, actor (well, almost)... they are all thankful for your support. I wish everyone in Hollywood was like this. Each film had a Q&A after where you were able to ask questions to the director or the cast, if they were all still there. If you were lucky enough to attend a premiere, you were able to see the full casts. If you caught a later screening, you definitely saw the director and whoever else stuck around during the week. The films and the Q&A's were what the festival was about. I only wish I didn't party so hard the first couple nights. I was so busy being at the bars for celeb-sightings, I forgot... go to a film, thats where everyone will be. These filmmakers made me truly understand what goes into making a film...the passion, the sacrifice, the art. Everyone should experience Sundance. I really believe it has changed the way I appreciate film.

The Films There were so many films to see, you didn't know what to see first. And it's a lot of waiting around to get in. Here's how it works: The films sell out very quickly and way in advance. So what everyone does is arrive at the film they want to see an hour before (at least) and you get a wait list number. There are usually about 130 wait list tickets. You get in line according to your number and they start letting the ticket-holders in. Once they are in and settled, they let in about 10 waitlisters at a time. At this point, you are really sweating it out.. hoping you didn't just waste an hour of your time waiting in a line for a film you don't even get into. There are over 200 films at the festival and 13 different venues (8 theaters in Park City itself), so making a plan every is very key!! And each film is 15 bucks a pop, so you need to be selective. Here's what I had time to see:

Winning Time: Reggie Miller Vs the New York Knicks

This documentary film is part of ESPN's 30 For 30 series and premiered on Sunday, January 24 at Sundance. The film focuses on basketball superstar Reggie Miller and captures the rivalry between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks during the 1990's. This film is funny. You will be entertained from start to finish...and the beauty of it: You don't have to be a sports fan to love it. You don't really have to know a thing about basketball. BUT.. if you do, and you remember those iconic playoff games (Miller's 8 points in 18 seconds to beat New York, Miller's 24 points in the 4th quarter to beat the Knicks along with the dramatic feud between Reggie and director Spike Lee, John Starks headbutting Miller).. you will love the film. It's a trip down hoops memory lane. It's the story of two NBA superstars, Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing, who both in their illustrious careers never won a championship. It also tells Reggie's story about growing up living in the shadow of the best women's basketball player of all time, Cheryl Miller. It's big city Vs big country. You will laugh and you literally havea ball! Too much? Thought so. The good news: You can catch Winning Time after the NCAA selection show on Sunday, March 14 on ESPN. Watch this film. It's a win-win!

Holy Rollers

Holy Rollers is inspired by actual events and tells the incredible story of two Hasidic Jewish boys smuggling Ecstasy in the late ’90s. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg who you've seen in Adventureland, Zombieland, and The Squid and the Whale. And he's brilliant in this film. If you don't know Jesse, he's the new Michael Cera. The charming nerd you can't help but fall for. And while you are watching, you keep questioning if you find him good-looking. Your mind sort of works like this: "is he cute? Hmm..kind of hot? But he's kind of a geek... I think I have a crush on him." Justin Bartha, known as the groom in The Hangover as well as Nicholas Cage's hilarious sidekick in the National Treasure flicks, is unbelievable in this film. He steals every scene, he's funny and dark. And this performance will be talked about. It's a story about faith and how a young Jewish boy is seduced by a world of drug deals, money, and red-light district nightclubs. What is most impressive in this film (besides Bartha) is the cinematography. The filmmakers take you into this world of drug deals and nightclubs.. you feel everything the characters are feeling. While watching, you feel like you are sitting in a nightclub...with the music and the lights. Let's face it...you feel dirty. Go see this film.

Skateland

I have found my new crush. And his name is Shiloh Fernandez. Shiloh....sigh. He's a little Emile Hirsch mixed with some Joaquin Phoenix and he is great in Skateland. And I'm taking credit for discovering him (Not the director, ME). The film is a coming of age tale set in the early 1980's about a group of young kids living in Texas and the story focuses on Ritchie Wheeler (Fernandez), a roller rink manager as he deals with his paren'ts divorce, love, and tragedy. The film isn't really about the rink, but it serves as the back-drop of the film. I wish there was a little more of it. It's dramatic and sad, yet very funny with hints of "Dazed and Confused" in there. It's no wonder the film was dedicated to and inspired by John Hughes. It's exactly the kind of movie that Hughes would've made. Heath Freeman stars as the hilarious Brent Burkham who steals every scene and he is also the writer and producer of the film along with his brother Brandon Freeman. These men along with director Anthony Burns are long-time friends and you felt that collaboration and friendship while watching. What makes the film good too is the soundtrack - so many fun random hits from the 80's (New Order, Modern English, etc). I loved the 80's apparel as well - many scenese had characters in that Ocean Pacific garb that I remember wearing. Twilight's Ashley Greene is in the film and I can only complain that she is just too pretty as a teenager in 1983. She has this beautiful long feathered mane like Farrah Fawcett. I don't remember girls having Farrah hair back then. It was an awkard time for most of us with feathered bi-levels and with the perfect swoop of a comb, you had THE perfect feathering right down the middle. Or was that just me? Anyways, the film is a little slow at times, but comes together so perfectly in the end, I wanted to wrap it up in a little bow.

Sympathy For Delicious

Now I always knew I loved Mark Ruffalo... his characters are always so sweet and loveable (13 Going on 30, Rumor Has It), yet he can play dark and creepy (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, that movie that ruined Meg Ryan's career where he had sex with her). But when I saw this film that he directed, I just fell in love with him. He is genuine, smart, funny, handsome, caring... it actually brought me to tears. It was a little embarrassing. He was so passionate about this film, his cast and so unbelievably grateful for the reception he got. Sympathy For Delicious is about a homeless paraplegic DJ who learns he is a faith-healer. When I write out the plot, it sounds a bit ridiculous, but it's not. It works. And the film was beautiful. It has an amazing cast with Orlando Bloom (as a grungy band leader, the kind of role Orlando needs to keep playing), Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Noah Emmerich, and Juliette Lewis. But the big star is Christopher Thornton who plays "Delicious" Dean O'Dwyer and who in real life is a paraplegic. At the Q&A after the film, Thornton was given a standing ovation which got me so emotional after we learned about his 20 year friendship with Mark Ruffalo and his tragic climbing accident 17 years prior that left him with 2 broken vertebrae. I was captivated by the film, but even more so I was captivated by this friendship. And to make it even more of an emotional experience, the film was dedicated to Scott Ruffalo, Mark's brother who died in December 2008 after being fatally shot. Well, for me.. this film was special.

The Extra Man

I was lucky enough to attend the premiere of the comedy, The Extra Man, which has the powerhouse cast including Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, Katie Holmes, and John C. Reilly and they were all in attendance. The film is funny and Kevin Kline has one one-liner after another and his scenes with Paul Dano are priceless. John C. Reilly, with the most random high-pitched voice, is very entertaining. And Katie Holmes...ah Katie Holmes. This was not good acting by Holmes. Not good at all. Kind of painful. And I like me some Katie. I loved Joey Potter on the Creek. I even believe that Cruise and Holmes are in love. But THIS.. was not her shining moment. And to top it off, while at the Q&A with all of her castmates being very funny and playful, she got ONE question... a viewer asked Holmes her impression of playing the film’s “closest thing to a real person". This was Holmes' response:

“This was just a great movie to work on. It was really fun, and I loved shooting in New York City. I loved working with these actors and these directors. So it was… great!”

UGH.. SO boring. I just took a nap. Did you just take a nap?!? She didn't even answer the question and she wasn't even listening to it, I'm sure of it. THEN, I'm watching the Sundance channel and I see this interview with Holmes and she was asked about possibly making a movie with hubby Tom Cruise one day. Her response? "Well you just keep breathing". What?? Excuse me, what?! What does that even mean? She's creeping up on my worst interview list. I mean, I understand how she can be resentful to the media and she may be protective of her family, but... come on, listen to the questions and answer them. I liked this film, but didn't love it. It's a little long, but you should rent it for Kline's performance alone.

Nowhere Boy

As I was leaving the film Sympahy For Delicous, a black SUV pulled up and everyone was yelling and cheering. I'm walking out a little clueless sipping on my hot chocolate, and out of the car walks Sir Elton John. He was just a few feet away and I was pretty darn starstruck. I'm pretty sure out loud I said "well, THAT was cool". Immediately, I had to figure out while he was there. Turns out he was there to support his friend Sam Taylor Wood, the director of Nowhere Boy which was playing next. As I was walking out, a man was selling his ticket... perfect! I'll take it. Wherever Elton goes, I'm going. I didn't know a thing about this film, I just bought the ticket and sat down. As I was watching, I got to know the character John. John likes music. He lives in England. He's learning to play the guitar. He wants to start a band. Cool. Then John's aunt starts to scold him and calls him John Lennon. Wait. What?? This movie is about John Lennon? Why did it take me 20 minutes to figure this out? I had to start laughing. I've never seen a movie where I didn't know what the plot was before and I think that might be a good idea from now on to know that before sitting down. So basically this film is about John Lennon's childhood and his relationship with his aunt who takes care of him and his mother who gave him up. Along the way, he meets his friends Paul (played by the adorable Sam in Love Actually) and George and they start a band called The Quarrymen. And you know what happens after that. I loved this film and it was such a unique perspective on The Beatles. Aaron Johnson plays John Lennon and he is phenomenal. Remember his name, he is one to watch for. Beatles fans would be proud of this film! Definitely my favorite of the festival that I saw. And I have Sir Elton John to thank for that! See this film, you will love it.

Stargazing

So many stars, so little time at Sundance. I wish I hadn't partied so hard the first two nights. Because being at the films, their premieres and screenings, is what that place is all about. The stars are out, but mostly in private suites away from everyone.. then again, you can see Ben Affleck in the local Irish bar. Not me of course, but others. Adrien Grenier of Entourage was staying at my hotel, he was on the slopes at my hotel.. and I missed him. I missed Vinnie Chase. But I did get to see Rachel Hunter as she was ready to hit the slopes. I missed Paris by a few minutes (it's okay I've seen her - in Vegas canoodling with Matt Leinart). As for my celeb sightings, I did quite well. Here's who I saw: Katie Holmes, Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, John C. Reilly, the cast of Skateland, the cast of Holy Rollers, Simon Rex (random), and Sir Elton John. And on the sports side of it all, I saw Steve Nash, Jared Dudley, Aaron Rodgers and the one and only T.O. Ladies, let me tell you... Aaron Rodgers... might be the best looking man I've seen in person. My sister and I were in awe. She didn't know who he was, but certainly does now. She is now a fan of the Greenbay Packers and would consistently tell me to remind her of his name, her new football boyfriend. But I have to say my favorite sighting was seeing Joseph Gordon Levitt on Main Street. You will quickly learn that I love JGL and I'm obsessed with the films 500 Days of Summer and Stop-loss. So that was my last day in Park City... a good JGL sighting and I was ready to leave. See you next year! And I'll see YOU on the slopes Vinnie Chase!