My ten day stay in Park City was an experience I won’t soon forget. Though I have no other winter terms to compare it to - yes, God help me I’m a freshman - it was the perfect blend of an exciting and relaxing trip. I dedicated myself to doing nothing but movie hopping, and the result was a (to me) staggering 25 films viewed during the trip. Thinking them all over there were definite front runners. Movies that resounded to me as a viewer for their original plot lines, jokes, filmmaking and informative q and a. For my own amusement, I tried to rate my 25 films from favorite to least, for there were also some movies that completely missed the mark!

1) I have to say my favorite movie had to be Lulu and Jimi, a love story set in 50’s Germany. A beautiful German girl rebells from her crazy mother and follows her heart to Jimi, a black american who works at the theme park. Together they go on a road trip to escape Lulu’s mother who is trying to abort Lulu’s baby and kill Jimi. The movie was touching, hilarious and filled with a cast of sexy, charismatic actors, it blew me away.

2) Mystery Team: Though not for everyone, the movie comic styling of Derrick Comedy Group made me a fan of this quirky detective movie from the start. It follow three naive boys as they try to solve a mysterious murder. As they see darker and more jaded youth around them they loose heart, but in the end, with many comedic twists and turns, solve the mystery as well as begin to understand themselves.

3) Peter and Vandy: A realistic portrayal of a love story told out of order. Touching and much more true to life than many romantic comedies, it left me hopeful for love in my life.

4) Paper Heart: A mocumentary following a comedian who doesn’t believe in love. Though her interviews with ordinary people are real, her romance with popular boy actor Michael Cera and her relationship with her director are scripted. This movie was hilarious in all its awkward and quirky moments.

5) The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle: Thank God for Sundance Film festival, otherwise a movie like this one would never be viewed. It is the very strange story of night janitors who find cookies in the garbage that cook while in your mouth. The men get addicted to the cookies which cause them to become pregnant with blue fish that they birth anally. Though the concept was certainly out there it was really artfully written, acted and shot, making it a creative gem instead of a self-indulgent waste of time. (more…)

In the descriptions of the day-to-day experience of Sundance I was told that I would be meeting people, seeing stars, and watching interesting movies. I have thus far seen amazing movies, such as Mystery Team, Lulu and Jimi and Big River Man, met fun people, and seen some B-list celebs. But I had yet to experience the whir wind, surprising, spontaneous day that had been advertised…until today!

I did not have any movies scheduled until 8:30pm so I figured I’d go spend my time waiting in line for the 3:15pm premiere of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. I went to the theater an hour and fifteen minutes before the waitlist line was even formed but there was still a really long line. I sat on the pavement, listened to my ipod and started knitting a hat. A couple came in line behind me, the woman was wearing a huge, sweeping black coat with a fur collar and a black furry hat with cat ears. I watched as she made a mini snowman and had her husband take a picture of her while she laughed hysterically. We moved inside into the actual waitlist line, and I asked the man in front of me for the time in L.A so I could call my brother. It ends up he was a journalist in a major cinematography magazine in L.A. Soon the eccentric couple behind me in line joined the conversation and we discovered that the four of us got alone really well. We all have very absurd sense of humor and clicked instantly. We got numbers 72 through 75. (more…)

Never in my wildest dreams would I think I would see Robert Redford just standing on the side of the road. Never would I have thought I would have the opportunity to see World Premieres, or attend parties as the celebrities I see in Entertainment Weekly. So far to me this film festival has been an unbelievable experience, and it’s only just the beginning.

Me and Ali and Sam with the Big River Man (Martin Strel and crew)

 Prior to my arrival I really had not the faintest idea of what was to come or what to expect. The Sundance film festival is like another country, another world within a world and I observed that within my first 24 hours. So far I have seen several movies, starting with Big River Man, which entails the incredible story of overweight alcoholic, swimming the Amazon for a cause greater than himself. Myself alongside several of my classmates had a strong desire to see the film after reading several blogs and hearing about through word of mouth. We were so intrigued that we decided to waitlist, which is an experience in itself.

(more…)

I came to Sundance eagerly anticipating this one after reading an article about the most bizarre world record holding athlete. Martin Strel is an overweight Slovenian alcoholic who is the greatest endurance swimmer in the world. Big River Man documents this intriguing concoction through Strel’s greatest feat yet: swimming the entire length of the Amazon river.

Director John Maringouin and his crew followed Strel throughout the entire journey beginning in Slovenia where Strel trained. It is there that we are able to get the foundation for the entire film. Eastern European hilarity ensues as the audience gets a look into the life of this unique man. We see him eat at his favorite horse burger joint, then partake in classic Slovenian multitasking by driving drunk while listening to beginner English tapes and practicing breathing using a device to expand his lungs. The tone is set. (more…)