SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.... 2000!

Hey folks, Harry here. I'm not going to be up at Sundance this year, but that doesn't mean we won't be covering it. In fact I haven't been the last two years, and we've covered it plenty fine both years. So... Here's the deal with this year. If you are a Filmmaker, Producer, Actor, Actress or pitcher and you want to hook up with someone from AICN while up in Sundance... To make sure you get covered... Write me. I'm sending the lovely Lynn Bracken, who is unfortunately without press credentials (due to my own fuck up) so she'll be limited by what she can get into. You contact me... I'll make sure you'll hook up with her. And believe me... You will far far far prefer hooking up with Lynn, than with me. TRUST ME ON THIS! Also... If you want to report in from Sundance this year... Like Junior Mintz and Father Death and others have in the past... Then by all means we would love to hear from you. Sundance is a vast place, and if you go guerilla on me like Anton Sirius did up in TORONTO last year... then I'll hook you up with folks wanting to talk with someone from AICN at Sundance. But for now... Here's a little preview...

Kevin Spacey's THE BIG KAHUNA is playing at Sundance, but... We have already covered this film and had reviews from Toronto and other places. It was well received. Coverage 1, Coverage 2. That should fill out that movie for ya...

Next up is THE BOILER ROOM. This is a film that I have seen myself and just haven't had time to write up a full review for yet, though Flesh Gordon is getting ready to do one for us. Briefly, the movie is pretty good, but not great in my opinion. Ribisi does more of his confused sulking about, but Ben Affleck is pretty dang good... for his small amount of time in it. However, it's Vin Diesel that really shines in this film. He has a number of standout moments in the film... my favorite is when he is... in perfect time... mimicking Michael Douglas' big speech in WALL STREET as it plays in the background of a scene. Hopefully... the hip hop music in the transition scenes I saw months ago will not be the final tracks, as I do believe what I saw was a work-in-progress print. As for past coverage on the site? Light House Shines reviewed it and This is a review of the script.

BLOOD SIMPLE: Director's Cut.... This was shown at the AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL, not last year... but the year before. It's not actually all that different, but I do feel the ending is much more ominous and creepy. The prologue before the film is priceless and wonderful.... poking a helluvalot of fun at Georgie Poo and his revisionist version of STAR WARS. Here's Tom Joad's look at this BLOOD SIMPLE director's cut!

BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER.... This has been a film that I've been dying to have a look at, ever since Toronto last year. At Park City this year it will be a 'Midnight Film'. However, here's what our spy said during TORONTO last year CLICK HERE TO READ

THE CONVENT.... I haven't heard too much about this film... But anything with Adrienne Barbeau in a horror film has got my interest. It's another midnighter, and it has to do with scary things... I can't wait to see this one. To read more, check out Sundance's notes on it.

Gigantic (Absolute Giganten).... As you saw by my favorite films of 1999, I loved RUN LOLA RUN last year, and this year while Tom Tykwer doesn't have a new film directed by him... He does have a film he produced, and this is that film. It's just a simple story about 3 friends spending their last night together and wanting to do something... GIGANTIC that they'll remember for the rest of their lives. It's supposed to have an awesome soundtrack and this is what Sundance had to say about it!

That new updating of HAMLET with Ethan Hawke... We haven't heard much about it, but I did do this story on the film... way back. It'll be interesting to see and hear what comes of the film.

HAPPY ACCIDENTS is one of those films that I just hope works. First off... It stars Vincent D'Onofrio, who is one of my favorite character actors, in a quirky romance with Marisa Tomei. Some slightly science fictiony things are supposed to take place, and hopefully if you see this film... you'll find it to be quite good. Brad Anderson directed it, and he was quite something when directing HOMICIDE as well as NEXT STOP WONDERLAND... so, I have high hopes on this film.

I.K.U. Just sounds weird and bizarre enough that it caught my interest. Futuristic Blade Runner-esque universe but with a decided Japanese fetish theme of sexual oddities. These thing rarely work... but who knows? Right? Here's what Sundance said about this Midnight film.

JOE GOULD'S SECRET.... It's the latest film from Stanley Tucci, and that is all we need to know. Tucci has been producing magical little films like THE BIG NIGHT and THE IMPOSTERS. This year there is another film, that if you like Tucci's past two works... you should check out called TWO FAMILY HOUSE... it's brilliant. As I hope this film will be as well...

LOVE AND BASKETBALL... All I needed to hear was OMAR EPPS and I was interested, but in addition... This film is also produced by Spike Lee and has Alfre Woodard. This should be a good bet.

LUNA PAPA... It's a Russian film, but I just had a feeling about it. It has a very odd plotline (Click here to read) and I'm a bit curious about the film.

NOWHERE TO HIDE sounds like it could be a blast. It's from Korean film director Lee Myung-Se and well... We action nuts often times must turn our eyes to the east for the latest bit of satisfaction. Hopefully we'll have reports on this film.

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY.... It's all right there in the title baby. It's gotta be fun with a title like that. I hope it can just compete with GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI or HORROR AT PARTY BEACH!

TRIXIE.... well, first off it's produced by Robert Altman, so that's the first thing in it's corner. Second off, it has one hell of an interesting cast (Nick Nolte, Emily Watson, Nathan Lane, Dermot Mulroney and Leslie Anne Down) It could be something of quite a treat... or a mess. But someone check it out!

TWO FAMILY HOUSE... Click here to read my review!!! I can't help but feel this is going to be one of the films that people really charm to during the insane two weeks that is SUNDANCE. A really wonderful film.

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES... Sofia Coppola's directoral debut. We've had a pair of reviews for the film already, so check out what they had to say! #1 look, #2 look. That'll give you a rough idea of what to expect.

WAKING THE DEAD... I make it a point to see all movies with the absolute goddess, Jennifer Connelly in them. She's had me suckered in LABRYNTH, THE HOT SPOT, CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, THE ROCKETEER, MULLHOLLAND DRIVE and so on. So, I figure this has got to be at least a guilty pleasure.

AMERICAN PSYCHO... Well... Christian Bale fans (like me) are interested, but one really has to wonder how the hell this novel has been translated into film. Eagerly anticipating word on this film. We'll see...

And that's my quick run through. Hopefully, with alot of help and informants... We'll stay right on top of the action during SUNDANCE this year. If you're going... Enjoy.