In the US Dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival this year there was one movie I saw that stood out from the rest as the best of the bunch: That movie was Gun Hill Road. The film directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green tells the story of a man after serving three years in prison being paroled and returning to his bronx neighborhood and the estranged wife and son he left behind. The man named Enrique played by Esai Morales in a truly remarkable performance finds things have certainly changed since he has been gone in particular the fact his son has gone through a transformation in sexual identity that the father does not approve of or fully understand. The son, Michael, played by Harmony Santana in a fantastic breakout performance is what would be considered a transexual (from boy to girl) teen who performs slam poetry in local clubs under the name of Vanessa and in doing so attracts the attention of a young black male named Chris. The adjustment to home life is not a easy transition for Enrique as the prison mentality he has acquired still affects his decision making and further complicates his relationship with his wife and son. The film is extremely effective in capturing the dynamics of the family and strained emotions each character feels through image alone that the dialogue is just there to further the message. The film is also a great example of telling a story about a Minority household that does not perpetuate stereotypes or exaggerate characteristics but just tells a narrative that is emotionally raw and honest without ever losing the sense of realism. One scene I liked in particular was the one that took place at the park during a softball game where Enrique encourages Michael to take an at bat. In that one scene we see their relationship encapsulated: the difference between Enrique’s expectations and intentions for the man he wants his son to become and the person that Michael truly is. With a emotionally investing story and a heart breaking and unsentimental ending this film speaks to a life most people don’t get to see portrayed on the screen but one most should.

Of the all of the films I saw at Sundance one of the best had to be the documentary Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest directed by actor turned filmmaker Michael Rapaport. The film follows the origins and career of the legendary and influential rap group from the late 1980’s through their breakup in the late 1990’s. having a limited knowledge of the group other than hearing their music, this film did an exceptional job of providing background of the members of the group as well as additional information on people who were influences on them growing up in New York City. The best part of the film in my mind was the attention to detail paid to the the group’s albums and how each differed from the next in particular the use of sampling (in case you don’t know means using beats or parts of songs from other recording artists)  that the group was known for and how it influenced other artists to follow suit. The relationship between the members Phife Dawg and Q-Tip is also at the heart of the group’s story and is a funny and interesting exploration of what fame and fortune in the music industry can do to a life long friendship. Another aspect of the film I enjoyed was the interviews with other artists that were influenced by A Tribe Called Quest as it revealed to me just how much of an impact they had in the styles of other artists such as Record Producer Pharell Williams and artists like Common and Kanye West. Rapaport makes good use of combining archive footage with present interviews of the group members to capture the mood of their work and their feelings  about the music they created. If I were to recommend one documentary to see from the group shown at Sundance this one would be it as it would be an experience that is thoroughly enjoyable and make you want to bust a dance move right there in the theater.

Joe Swanberg’s Uncle Kent is, by all conventional measures, a very flawed film- the film’s whimsical, slipshod style becomes apparent as soon as the opening credits roll. Simplistic font and visuals enmeshed with the abrasive, childlike sounds of a pawnshop keyboard coax the viewer to immediately abandon their idealized expectations concerning the film. (more…)

They say you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. I hate to say it, but that cliché consumes my mood right now. I’m sitting on the flight from Salt Lake City to Houston right now reflecting on how incredible this experience really was. Anyway, this trip was about a lot of things: the blogging, the Hollywood star sighting, and figuring out the stupid (yet handy) bus system. But for me, what was most important was the personal interaction with admirable artists. (more…)

Most touching film I saw.

If alien life forms were to invade this world and come face to face with the human race, they would be utterly confused. Let’s face it, we are strange creatures. Kevin Macdonald, with the help of YouTube and the Sundance Film Festival, has assembled and created Life in a Day, which honestly defines and depicts what it means to be human.

Here’s how it worked. In 2010, Macdonald planned on making a feature length documentary taking place in just one day, July 24^th. Enlisting the entire global community, people from around the world were asked to film a day of their own lives and submit it. Macdonald and his team of editors sat down and sifted through about 5,000 hours of footage from places like Tanzania, Brazil, England, New Zealand, Australia, and many more to compile what they believed could tell an exceptional story of their day.

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I still can't stop thinking about "The Green Wave."

“Iran? Wait, that isn’t Iraq. Oh, it’s the big one next to it? I don’t know anything about it,” I thought as I purchased a ticket to The Green Wave. Until this movie, I’ve never seen a person get murdered. And I mean an actual person dying in front of my own eyes.

In early 2009, the youth of Iran (which is a large percentage of its population) organized into a massive movement. Attempting to challenge the political and social systems in place, the Green Wave (as they called themselves) found a unique and liberal candidate who promised change, Mir Hossein Mousavi. As the movement grew, it seemed impossible that his opponent, Islamic fundamentalist, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even stood a chance at winning. When voting day came, something strange was going on. Ballots were almost incomprehensible and very confusing. Voting centers were allegedly running out of ballots early in the day, and many closed down. When the results came in, the numbers were the exact opposite of what the majority of Iranians predicted.

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On Wednesday night at The Yarrow hotel theater I had the fortunate chance to see a screening of Bellflower, a film apart of the next category at the festival. The film is set in California and tells the story of Woodrow, writer and director of the film Evan Glodell, and Aiden played by Tyler Dawson, best friends heavily influenced by the film Mad Max and regular consumption of alcohol who in their spare time build flame throwers and other weaponized gadgets, in order to be prepared when a global apocalypse occurs, and have their imaginary gang Mother Medusa take over when the proverbial dust settles. (more…)

Main Street, Park City

Being in Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival (and all of the stuff going on around it, like Slamdance) was definitely an exciting and memorable experience. It was amazing to see the US premieres (and in several cases the world premieres) of the newest indie films and not knowing if you just saw a movie that will be the next big thing or a movie that will never be seen again by anyone who didn’t see it here. I found myself genuinely hoping for all of the movies I saw to receive the highly sought after distribution deals, especially after the Q&A sessions with the directors, casts, and crews. They all put so much passion, heart, and effort into an endeavor that may be their big break, but could also come to nothing. I have even more respect now for the amount of work that goes into making a film and especially into making one that makes it to this level. I also feel like I have a slightly better grasp now on the ever-elusive term “independent film.” (more…)

Sundance 2011 has been an incredible and interesting experience. As one of the few people who did not run into a single celebrity while being here, I found my experience to be solely based on the films I saw. Here is a review of the films I saw and the experiences I had here in Park City, Utah. (more…)

“Sound of My Voice” is roughly a film about a couple who infiltrate a cult. The man (Peter) played by Christopher Denham and the woman (Lorna) played by Nicole Vicius are trying to film a documentary that will expose the leader of the cult as a fraud. The cult leader is played by Brit Marling, who also co-wrote and produced the film. I’ve now seen Brit in two films that she’s co-wrote, produced, and starred in at Sundance this year. I’m convinced that she’s fantastic and a true inspiration. (more…)