f13.net

So the slate just came out and both Amy Ryan and Ashley Judd have films in this year's festival. If they both show up I may have to get geared up for a restraining order defense.  :awesome_for_real:

It will be interesting to see if the whole "boycott Sundance because of Prop 8" thing really takes off. Hey, if it does at least it will be easier to get into the tough ticket films.

Why would boycotting a French film festival because of California hate laws make any sense?

Seriously. I'm out here and totally voted against Prop 8 because it's stupid; but I've not heard of this idea and don't see how ruining a French film festival will convince anyone they were wrong to not vote like me.

My jackbooted stormtroopers... they are how you convince people to vote like me.  :drill:

I am on my PDA so maybe that is in green and I can't see it, but Sundance is in Park City/Salt Lake City Utah.  You are thinking of Cannes.

Yes I am.

/stupid

So saw my first film of the festival tonight.  It's called "It Might Get Loud" and is a documentary about electric guitar playing. They brought together Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. They each talked about their styles, how they think about the instrument, creating music on it, and there was stuff about their backgrounds and recording some of their more well known stuff. They also jam. Was a bit unfocused, but had some real interesting stuff. If you are a guitarist or a fan of those guys you'd find it very interesting. Doubt it gets much distribution but may show up on IFC or HBO.

Dunno if anyone is reading this or cares, but further Sundance report:

Thriller in Manilla: Saw this Saturday. It's about the last (and really all of them, but focused on the last) fight between Ali and Frazier with an admitted bias towards Frazier. Explores how Ali was manipulated by the Nation of Islam and how he used very charged and hurtful racial rhetoric concerning Frazier. Good film as long as you can accept that it has a very pronounced bias (for which no apology is made). Was made by the BBC and the director did a Q&A and was a very nice fellow. Should show up on HBO in May.

Why We Laugh: A History of Black Comedy: Documentary made by Robert Townsend (of Hollywood Shuffle fame). He was there at the beginning but couldn't stay for Q&A unfortunately.  Was a good flick that chronicled the history of black comedy from the minstrel days up through Dave Chappelle. Had lots of good stuff about Red Foxx, Pryor, Murphy, Rock, etc. with interviews with prominent black comedians and politicians. Nothing really earth-shattering and I'd seen almost all of the comedy in there but was enjoyable.  No idea on distribution.

Good Hair: Just got back from this. Documentary written and starring Chris Rock about black women's hair. Sounds odd, but was freaking hilarious. He delves into the business, the crazy exposition shows, goes to India to find the source for weaves, etc. all while doing his Christ Rock thing. Had interviews with black actresses, Salt N Pepper, etc. but Rock, Al Sharpton & Ice T stole the movie.  He did a Q&A after that was just as funny. The guy is amazing and is very, very quick on his feet. He is still looking for a distributor but said will show up on HBO eventually as they financed it (likely as part of his concert deal I would suspect). Here is a blurry camera-phone photo of the Q&A.

EDIT: Hmmm, pic disappeared. Here's another go resized:

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/Abagadro/PIC-0045.jpg)

Wake us up when you get pics of Ashley Judd :awesome_for_real:

I only go to the movies down in Salt Lake so it is actually pretty rare for the glitterati to come down and mingle with the masses, which is why it was doubly cool Rock decided to come to the showing.

No Dead Snow? =P

Very cool. Thanks for the report!

Last one as I am out of tickets (although my wife is going to a chick flick written/directed by John Krasinski of The Office fame that I managed to get out of). 

Crude is by Joe Berlinger who made some of my favorite documentaries (Brother's Keeper, Paradise Lost) and is about how Texaco basically fucked over the indigenous peoples in the Amazon of Ecuador and how 30,000 have filed a class action lawsuit that has now dragged on for 14 years without much end in site. He did a good job of presenting both sides rather equally and he says he does that because "the truth floats to the top."  Depressing story overall but the film is very well done. Should show up on the Sundance channel and will be available on Netflix because they put some money in it apparently.