Spring Semester has officially started. It’s hard to believe that my Sudance ‘09 experience has happened and is already over. These last two weeks are one of the best escapades of my nineteen years. There is no way that this final blog will be an accurate representation how much I enjoyed Sundance. 

It’s hard to believe that anyone couldn’t love Sundance, but I guess it has to do with what you put into it, and depends on your view of films. I wanted to do as much as possible with an open mind. I could have done more, but I wouldn’t take anything back. I saw some amazing films, some of which won awards, others were bought, and many I can’t wait to see again. There were a few that disappointed me, but only one that I did not like. There were five films I would have liked to see but did not get to; I hope that they will in some way be distributed. 

Not only did I get to see some incredible films, but the atmosphere in which I saw them made the experience that much better. For the majority of the films there was a Q&A afterwards done by the director, writer, producer, and/or the actors. This made the films considerably more personal; I was able to understanding and hear the creators point of view. The Q&A for Brief Interviews with Hideous Men helped me understand some of the choices the writer and director made, making me appreciate the film on a different level.

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The Sundance Film Festival has been a learning experience for me in many ways, good and bad. I got to meet many of the celebrities that I had only seen in movies or heard about. Many of them were nice and down-to-earth individuals, who would engage in conversations and would answer any questions that one could have about their movie or performance. However, I also met some who were really snobbish and would completely ignore people who were just willing to talk to them or ask them any sort of questions. This gave me a better outlook on the lives of these individuals and how extreme their personalities could be, just like normal people. I also had the opportunity to interact with some upcoming directors and filmmakers, such as Kanji Nakajima (Clone Returns Home) and Ross Katz (Taking Chance), who had made an impact on me with their respective movies. I heard about the difficulties and experiences that they had in making these independent movies, and was able to experience a different side to cinema that is often overshadowed by mainstream movies.

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Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor are great as a couple

I Love You Philip Morris was my must-see movie at this Sundance Film Festival because it explored the extreme boundaries of love and had my favorite two actors in roles that I would have never envisioned them in. While waiting in the ticket-holder line at Eccles Theater, almost two hours before the movie began, I encountered people who were fearful of the movie’s theme. Many of them had doubts whether Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor could pull of their respective roles. After entering the theater and finding out that the first five rows were reserved for the press and the production team, I was disappointed but was soon rewarded with a glimpse of both Carrey and McGregor. As the audience settled in to watch the world premiere of I Love You Philip Morris, the expectations were high and the atmosphere was full of anticipation. Least to say, the movie quelled all fears and was beyond my expectations. It was entertaining, exciting and even shocking at times. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa present a unique and true love story, complete with well-timed humor and great emotional sequences.

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