Ok folks, here's the latest from the land of Park City, Utah and the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL. Hopefully we'll be getting tons of reports over the next ten or so days as the festival continues. This film stars SCREAM and the great DEAD MAN'S CURVE guy Matt Lillard, along with Christopher MacDonald and a couple of others. Sounds interesting... we'll see what others have to say...
You wanted reviews of films from Sundance, so here's one for ya. SLC PUNK! is one of the movies that premiered on Friday night. Not only was it written and directed by James Merendino, but it was filmed in Utah. It's probably why tickets sold out right away, being it's a hometown deal. Basically, the movie chronicles the punk revolution that took place in Salt Lake City during 1985. Well, the attempt at a punk revolution, considering it IS salt lake city that we're talking about, and it IS 1985.
The film stars Matthew Lillard (psycho Stu from Scream) as Stevo. Stevo takes the viewer through the film in a Ferris Bueller kind of way at times where he’ll start talking to the screen. And surprisingly, it works. The look to the film is fun, and I'll go into that later. But I should probably give the storyline here, for those who aren't acquainted with it.
Stevo just graduated from high school and it’s time for him and Heroin Bob, who is his best friend, to decide what to do with their lives now. Michael Goorjian plays Heroin Bob. Bob doesn't get the "Heroin" tag because he's tapping his arms to death, but because of the way he won't touch a fucking drug. It's like calling a short dude Stretch, or a big guy Shorty. You get the point. Anyway, the two of them are anarchist punks and are trying to figure out where to take their lives.
Audiences will get a great surprise when they find out who Stevo’s father is. If you've seen HAPPY GILMORE or THE FACULTY, you'll know him when you see him. You see, Stevo's pops is a Harvard Law Grad, and hopes his son will become the same. His grades were good enough to get him Pre-Law, but come on. Stevo's too busy trying to destroy the system, not defend it.
I'll be curious to see how the conservative audiences react to SLC PUNK! It's already getting buzz, but it's sure to catch some flack for the drug use in the movie. I felt they handled it responsibly, though. They don't glamourize it. Don't get me wrong, it's not a pussy film where they say look at us, drugs are bad, don't do it. Like I said, they don't glamourize it, but they don't preach. They have funny scenes involving drugs, as is the case sometimes in real life. One scene that sticks out in my mind involves Devon Sawa and a bad acid trip. Fucking hilarious. But at the same time, tragic.
Michael Goorjian is good in the film. As is Till Schweiger, whom I don't think I've seen in a movie before. That dude is great. We've all bumped into a guy like him at one time or another ... unfortunately! Jennifer Lien even puts in an impressive performance, looking different than I've ever seen. But my favorite in the movie is Matthew Lillard. It's his film. He balances emotions with ease, and if you only knew him as Stu before this, I think you'll have a change of heart. He brings lots of energy and charisma to the characters.
Visually, wow. I read somewhere this film cost less than a million. You can't tell. The production value is impressive. The crew brought energy to the screen and mixed up freeze frames with narratives, and a whole slew of other visual gags. I can't help but think of Paul Thomas Anderson, the way he surprised me with his style.
Not sure if that's what you were looking for, but I give you what I can. I hope you post more reviews of this movie from others who have seen it. I'd like to hear how some of the locals are taking to it.
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