Sundance Film Festival
Hamlet 2 Nabs Top Dollar at Sundance
Hamlet 2, a witty high-school satire starring acclaimed British actor Steve Coogan, took home the top prize at Sundance yesterday, selling for about $10 million. Focus Features, which has garnered success with arty fare including Brokeback Mountain and Atonement, bought the rights, making it one of the biggest sales in the history of the fest, according to Reuters. Mr. Coogan stars as Dana Marschz, an "overly dramatic drama teacher who attempts to salvage his high-school theater department by staging a controversial sequel to Shakespeare's play."
My Three Nights in Sundance
The Sundance Film Festival is its own little world, set in the otherworldy state of Utah. Smack in the what-surely-must-be-quaint-when-not-overrun-by-wankers town of Park City, nestled between spectacular, somewhat sci-fi-looking snow-covered mountains, it’s a universe where the inhabitants wear puffed-up coats (think duvets with sleeves), big clompy boots, silly hats and shiny laminates hanging around their necks designating their station (press, talent, producer, lawyer, etc). read more »
From Sundance, S.J.P. Sends S.A.T.C. Co-Star S.W.A.K.
Sex and the City’s Mr. Big just welcomed his own Mr. Little. Actor Chris Noth and longtime girlfriend Tara Wilson, who named their 7-pound, 10-counce son Orion Christopher, have already received well-wishes from S.A.T.C. co-star Sarah Jessica Parker.
“I'm thrilled for him because I think first of all he's going to make a wonderful, wonderful father,” the 42-year-old actress told an ET reporter at the Sundance Film Festival, where Ms. Parker is promoting her new film Smart People—a romantic comedy co-staring Dennis Quaid and Thomas Haden Church. “He found a lovely lady to have a child with. It's the perfect time for him and I think he's very ready,” she added. read more »
Paris Hilton Does Sundance
Last night I had my one night out experiencing the craziness that is Main Street in Park City. The entire slushy street was filled with people -- think Times Square at rush hour -- lining up outside of various parties. As my group approached the after-party sponsored by Hypnotiq for Be Kind Rewind, directed by Michel Gondry and starring Jack Black, a mob scene broke out on the sidewalk a few doors down. Who could it be? Hysteria grew, camera phones flashed. The answer? Ms. Paris Hilton. "I saw your tape, Paris!" one hopeful youngster cried out. read more »
At Sundance, What's the Next Little Miss Sunshine?
Much of the chatter coming from journalists (a decidedly talky bunch) at the Sundance Film Festival is whether or not the writer's strike will affect sales this year.
The question is, which of the films will go on to be Little Miss Sunshine – a critical and commercial hit? read more »
Dad and Daughter Moment at Redford Premiere
I just came from seeing the premiere of Amy Redford's directorial debut, Guitar. Just two rows ahead of me was the (still gorgeous) golden head of her father, Sundance Film Festival founder, Robert Redford. He was wearing a black turtleneck, camel-colored scarf, glasses, and tried to stay as low-key as possible (not an easy task considering how fast the camera-phones came out) during his daughter's big moment. Ms. Redford, who inherited her father's blonde locks, introduced her movie, taking a moment to single out her star, the out-of-this-world beautiful Saffron Burrows, whom Ms. Redford referred to as "her muse." The film is shot entirely in New York, and is about a young woman who is diagnosed with cancer and given two months to live. Janeane Garofolo and David Wain both have cameos! At the Q&A following the premiere, Ms. Redford deflected all attention to her cast and crew (though "Dad" was thanked as well). As Mr. Redford left, signing autographs and posing for pictures, he flashed a mega-watt smile. read more »
The Black List Sold to HBO; Will Premiere at Sundance
The Black List: Volume One, a collaboration between former New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell and director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, has been sold to HBO Documentary Films, and will have its world premiere at Sundance on January 22. The documentary is "composed of dramatic portraits of some of today's most fascinating and influential African-American icons," including Sean Combs, Toni Morrison, Colin Powell, Chris Rock and Al Sharpton, to name just a few. The full release is after the jump. read more »
Colin Farrell Ignores Box Office, Avoids Skiing at Sundance
The premiere for Martin McDonagh's In Bruges, which stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hit men holed up in Belgium, kicked of the Sundance Film Festival last night. While Sara Vilkomerson admired Mr. Farrell's hair ("gorgeous!" she wrote in an email) Spencer Morgan caught up with the star at the event. read more »
Meet Wayne Campbell, Sundance Cowboy
At the No Name Saloon on Main Street last night I discovered the breakout star of Sundance this year. His name is Wayne Campbell and he plays himself in the film North Starr, a film about an aspiring Texan rapper, which is a wild card contender for the dramatic competition.
Wayne is a cowboy. He says wants his balls to be “pickled in alcohol.” He showed me his one-piece long john underwear. It was red. All cowboys wear one-piece long johns. They call it a union suit.
Wayne was telling everyone who would listen that he plans to doff the union suit and his boots too before he leaves town.
“If you can’t streak at Sundance,” Wayne said, “where else can you streak?” read more »
Park City: Fur Underwear
The latest snap from our intrepid Sundance correspondents, Sara and Spencer. Feel free to submit captions in the comments section.
Sundance Line-Up Full of Dark Comedies, Rookies
The Sundance Film Festival, long-time epicenter of independent film, announced today that it will unspool a whopping 87 world premieres in its 31st running. "This year, a lot of people came out of the woodwork. A lot of the directors are ones we didn't even know about," John Cooper, the festival's director of programming, told Variety. Of the the 121 feature-length films selected for competition, 51 were made by first-time filmmakers, a bunch of Jason Reitman manques from the sound of it. "Since the world seems a little dark to people, they've turned to comedy, although comedy with a dark turn to it," said Mr. Cooper.
Highlights!
"Choke," directed and written by Clark Gregg, a raw mother-son comedy starring Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald and Brad Henke and based on a novel by Chuck Palahniuk ("Fight Club").
"The Last Word," directed and written by Geoff Haley, an irreverent romantic comedy centering on a reclusive writer-for-hire of suicide notes. Stars Winona Ryder, Wes Bentley and Ray Romano. A ThinkFilm release.
"The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," directed and written by Rawson Thurber ("Dodgeball"), an adaptation of Michael Chabon's first novel, concerning sexual exploration and a tense father-son relationship. With Jon Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sienna Miller, Mena Suvari and Nick Nolte.
"Phoebe in Wonderland," directed and written by Daniel Barnz, an unusual coming-of-age tale about a girl (Elle Fanning) who takes her dysfunctional family on an unexpected journey. With Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman, Campbell Scott and Peter Gerety.
"Pretty Bird," directed and written by Paul Schneider, an archetypal American story about three entrepreneurs whose partnership goes awry in very nasty ways. Stars Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Kristen Wiig and David Hornsby.
"Sugar," directed and written by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the co-writer and writer-director, respectively, of "Half Nelson," with Algenis Perez Soto as a Dominican baseball star recruited to play in the U.S. minor leagues.
Click "read more" for a full list of movies.
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