Robert Redford has repeated his edict that the Sundance Film Festival is for the independent filmmakers, those who work outside the Hollywood mainstream. And programming director Geoffrey Gilmore has said that if last year's dark, bloody pictures reflected Quentin Tarantino's influence, this year there is something of a Tarantino backlash.
And it's all true, of course. The festival's emphasis remains focused on independent cinema, even in the big-ticket premiere films. And while there are a few violent, angry, dark pictures being shown, the emphasis is clearly on gentler character-driven fare this year. Light comedies, even.But despite festival officials playing down the big-budget factor, plenty of movie stars are hanging out. In fact, the '96 festival may be remembered as the most star-studded effort yet, rather than for any particular films that are being shown:
- No, it's not just a rumor - Brad Pitt really has been in town, and he doesn't even have a film to promote.
- John Travolta made the trek, traveling with his wife, Kelly Preston, who appears in the dramatic competition film "Precious" (formerly titled "Meet Ruth Stoops").
- Al Pacino was scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday to talk about his directing debut, "Looking For Richard."
- Jackie Chan was scheduled to arrive Friday to begin the hype for what he hopes will be his American crossover film, "Rumble in the Bronx" (opening in 1,500 U.S. theaters next month).
And others who have been spotted include Ellen Burstyn, Laura Dern, Burt Reynolds, John Goodman, Christine Lahti, Brooke Shields, Dennis Hopper, Amy Irving, Kiefer Sutherland, Amy Madigan, Luke Perry, Ashley Judd, Giancarlo Esposito, Eric Roberts, Gregory Harrison, Lee Grant, Olivia Newton-John, Lili Taylor, Edward James Olmos, Maria Conchita Alonso, Richard Lewis, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Helen Mirren, Ruben Blades, Esai Morales, Aldred Molina, Julie Delpy, Stanley Tucci, Julianne Moore, Campbell Scott, Brenda Vaccaro, Jennifer Tilly, Minnie Driver, Josh Charles, etc.
But most of the town talk is still built around the films. Everywhere you go, someone suggests or asks about a particular title. Among the most talked-up so far:
- "Care of the Spitfire Grill," a lovely comedy-drama about a young female ex-con who tries to settle in a small New England town, received a standing ovation - a rarity from cynical Sundance audiences - after its first Park City showing Saturday afternoon. Ellen Burstyn, who plays the owner of the title cafe, seemed genuinely moved by the response, as did her younger co-stars, Alison Elliott and Marcia Gay Harden.
- "The White Balloon" is an Iranian film, a gentle, sweet, simple little story of a young girl who wants desperately to purchase a particular goldfish at a local shop, but who loses her money along the way. Nothing much really happens, at least in terms of conventional cinematic action - but it is a lovely, extremely affecting film.
- "Palookaville" may appear to be just another bungled-caper comedy, but this quirky look at three losers who can't quite get their act together is much better than that. And their attempts to rob a jewelry store and then an armored car are comic gems.
- "Joe & Joe" is less involving but certainly has its comical moments, as two dullards who mow lawns, both named Joe, are lured into a treasure-hunting scheme by a mysterious red-headed femme fatale. Nothing is as it seems in this oddball effort, which is reminiscent of early Hal Hartley.
- And speaking of Hartley, his latest film, "Flirt," is an experimental effort to tell the same story (even using the same dialogue) in three very different ways, each set in a different country with disparate sets of lovers. It doesn't work, but it's an interesting idea.
- "Ed's Next Move" is a delightful romantic comedy about a transplant from Wisconsin who searches for love in all the wrong places when he makes the move to Manhattan. A charming effort, right down to the goofy songs played by a local band (which may remind fans of They Might Be Giants).
- "Big Night," co-directed by actors Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott (and co-written by and starring Tucci), has also beenthe subject of positive talk, a gentle comedy-drama about two Italian immigrant brothers trying to make a go of a little restaurant on the East Coast.
- "The Battle Over Citizen Kane" is a terrific documentary about the standoff between young Orson Welles and the fictionalized subject of his first movie, William Randolph Hearst, which caused a Hollywood riff that permanently scarred both men.
- "Angels and Insects" is what a softcore version of "Masterpiece Theater" might look like, as a fairly compelling story of dark secrets festering within a repressed uppercrust 19th-century English family is interrupted by bursts of graphic sex and full-frontal nudity.
- "Shine," screened early in the festival, is an Australian biography of David Helfgott, who had a sterling career as a concert pianist before several breakdowns that confined him to a series of mental institutions. I missed this one, but a number of festivalgoers have suggested it was one of the emotional highlights here.
And there are many others, good, bad and indifferent. Personally, I was less enthused about "It's My Party," "Rude," "Angel Baby," "Losing Chase," "Late Bloomers," "Trailer Camp," "The Last Supper," "God's Lonely Man," "If Lucy Fell" and most of the short films I've seen at this point.
Although it's a bit early to be playing the competition guessing game, in terms of the dramatic side, "Care of the Spitfire Grill" seems to be an odds-on favorite for one of the top trophies. Given the reaction of filmgoers, it will most likely walk off with the Audience Award. But there is also quite a bit of discussion in the cafes up and down Main Street about "I Shot Andy Warhol," "Eden" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse."
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
For festival information, phone 328-FILM (328-3456); for ticket information, phone 322-1700. All theaters and auditoriums are in Park City, except the Tower, which is in Salt Lake City (876 E. 900 South), and the Sundance Screening Room, which is at the Sundance Resort in Provo Canyon.
FRIDAY, JAN. 26
Egyptian Theater: "Rude," 4 p.m.; "Normal Life," 7 p.m.; "Hype!," 10 p.m.; "Rumble in the Bronx," Midnight.
Holiday Village Cinema I: "My Knees Were Jumping," 4 p.m.; "A Leap of Faith," 7 p.m.; "American Job," 10 p.m.
Holiday Village Cinema II: "When We Were Kings," 4:20 p.m.; "Nostalgia for Countryland," 7:20 p.m.; "God's Lonely Man," 10:20 p.m.
Holiday Village Cinema III: "Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day," 4:40 p.m.; "The Battle over Citizen Kane," 7:40 p.m.; "Troublesome Creek," 10:40 p.m.
Prospector Square Theater: "Welcome to the Dollhouse," 3 p.m.; "Big Night," 6 p.m.; "Bound," 9 p.m.
Park City Library Center: "Cutting Loose," 3:30 p.m.; "Female Perversions," 6:30 p.m.; "Freeway," 9:30 p.m.
Olympia Park Hotel Theater: "Dadetown," 3:30 p.m.; "Jenipapo," 6:30 p.m.; "Nothing to Lose," 9:30 p.m.
Sundance: "The Flower of My Secret," 4:30 p.m.; "Guantanamera," 8 p.m.
Tower: "Caught," 6 p.m.; "Carried Away," 9 p.m.; "Tokyo Fist," Midnight.
SATURDAY, JAN. 27
Egyptian Theater: "The Bloody Child," 10 a.m.; "Bound," 1 p.m.; "Paradise Lost," 4 p.m.; "The White Balloon," 7 p.m.; "A Mongolian Tale," 10 p.m.
Holiday Village Cinema I: "Tender Fictions," 10 a.m.; "Jane: An Abortion Service," 1 p.m.; "Halving the Bones," 4 p.m.; "Deseret," 7 p.m.; TBA, 10 p.m.
Holiday Village Cinema II: "I Shot Andy Warhol," 10:20 a.m.; "Belly Talkers," 1:20 p.m.; "Late Bloomers," 4:20 p.m.; "Go Now," 7:20 p.m.; "Celestial Clockwork," 10:20 p.m.
Holiday Village Cinema III: "Eden," 10:40 a.m.; "Care of the Spitfire Grill," 1:40 p.m.; "The Keeper," 4:40 p.m.; "Loaded," 7:40 p.m.; "Naked with Oranges," 10:40 p.m.
Prospector Square Theater: "Normal Life," 9:30 a.m.; "Meet Ruth Stoops," noon; "The Last Supper," 3 p.m.; "Nobody Will Speak of Us When We're Dead" 6 p.m.; "House," 9 p.m.
Park City Library Center: "Bandwagon," 9:30 a.m.; "The Darien Gap," 12:30 p.m.; "The Whole Wide World," 3:30 p.m.; "Shorts Program III," 6:30 p.m.; "The Ox-Bow Incident," 9:30 p.m.
Sundance: "Looking For Richard," 2 p.m.; "Nothing Personal," 4:30 p.m.; "A Midwinter's Tale," 8 p.m.
Tower: "Angel Baby," noon; "Awesome Animation," 3 p.m.; "It's My Party," 6 p.m.; "Normal Life," 9 p.m.; "Trailer Camp," Midnight.