And so it beings again: first films of Sundance 2014

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Somewhat unexpectedly, I find myself working Sundance film festival once again. This year, due to my schedule and being exhausted, Friday (day 2 of the festival) rolled around and I still hadn't seen anything. This bothered me. So, last night (Friday), I went to see a press and industry screening of The Overnighters.Then, after, I was going to attempt to see Shorts Program 1, but I didn't have much hope. The walk between theaters would have meant I would've gotten there probably around the time it was supposed to start. And I had no ticket. But in a lucky bout of kismet, when I left the theater from Overnighters, there was a group of people and seeing my volunteer/staff coat, they asked me why the theater was closed. "Isn't this Prospector", they asked? I quickly told them that no, they were currently standing at Holiday theater and that prospector was about diagonal from them. They began walking, I told them that was where I was headed and I was trying to determine the best way to walk there. When they learned that they told me to hop in their car, at which point I told them I could easily direct them there via car. So they let me hitch a ride, I gave them directions, and we all made it to the theater in time to get in! Yay! :)

The Overnighters
About the film
This film is part of the US Documentary Competition. It was shown to volunteers and staff on Tuesday night at 7, but due to work and such, I did not go. It had been one that I only had a small amount of interest in seeing. But I heard that it was good, so when I was desperate for a movie last night, I decided to check it out. I'm glad I did. As you can read in the description above, it follows a North Dakota pastor who allows men to basically live in the church, during a period when tons of people were traveling to town looking for work in the fracking business. It covers some interesting topics about people, and trying to walk the line between doing good, and being risky. It also went somewhere I was not at all expecting. Gave me lots to think about, which I like. Not a flawless documentary, by any means, but I am glad that I saw it.

Shorts Program 1
About the films
Allergy to Originality - I loved this one. It was really funny and enjoyable. It's always nice to see something that makes me laugh, when so many things I see at Sundance are depressing documentaries :P
Dawn - This one was.... different. I liked it. I liked the style of it and the fact that she set it in the 50s (awesome set design, costumes, etc). It was definitely upsetting though.
Untucked - I think this was my favorite of the set (in true form, since it is a documentary). It was a neat little story and again, it made me happy. Which is a nice feeling.
Subconscious Password - This. Was. Hilarious. And interestingly done. Telling a situation I think all of us have found ourselves in. And I loved it.
Gregory Go Boom - Surprise! Michael Cera was in this one. Once again, playing an awkward kid, but this time, more awkward, and awkward in a different way than I had ever seen before. It was funny, sweet, and sad simultaneously. And given the title I really should've seen the ending coming, but I honestly didn't until about 30seconds before it happened.
My Sense of Modesty - A sweet, interesting foreign short. I liked the lead girl's performance a lot.
Butter Lamp - Interestingly shot. Still camera looking at one space the whole time, but with changing backgrounds (explained as backgrounds for a photographer). The reveal at the end made it all worth it. I liked it.

So there you go! Those are my first films of the 2014 festival! I'm sure there will be many more to come. :)