Brilliance

It's really all too much. This. This is why I love films, and this is why I keep coming back to work at Sundance. Everything happens for a reason. It was meant to be that I come to this festival (one I hadn't thought I would be attending), I think purely so I could see the premiere of this film and experience it to the fullest extent.

I suppose maybe I should back-track a bit. I worked a full 11 hours today. During which time I was bored out of my mind and had next to no work to do all day. It was rough. But I was able to read and able to catch up with a good friend, so those were good things. Once finally done work at 7pm, I rushed home, did a few quick things and then headed out to get to the Eccles theater crazy early. There was a showing of Boyhood at 9:45pm that I didn't have a ticket to, but I absolutely was desperate to see it, so I was going to try to snag one of the 100 tickets saved for volunteers and staff.

But wait, maybe I should back-track just a smidgeon more. About just over a week ago, when I was traveling to and from Indiana during my whirl-wind trip, I got a work email letting me know that Richard Linklater's newest film, Boyhood, was going to premiere at the festival. For those of you who may not know, or may not remember, Linklater wrote and director some of my favorite films of all time (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight - which I got to see last year). I immediately flipped out. I knew I wanted to see it before I even knew a single thing about it. But I also knew it would sell out quickly, and it did. After reading the description of the film, I knew I wanted to see it even more. They shot the film over a 12 year period, shooting for just a few days, once a year. It stars Ethan Hawke (and Linklater's daughter, and an absolutely incredible young man by the name of Ellar Coltrane).

Ok, jumping ahead again. While I was on the bus on my way to the theater, I met a very nice woman and I mentioned heading to Eccles to try to snag a ticket, and she goes "you want to see the movie at eccles? Do you want my ticket?" This is why riding the bus can be great ladies and gentleman. She had another movie she was going to see at a different theater, and wasn't going to be able to see both, and she didn't want the ticket to go to waste. So, bam, instant free ticket for me! Sometimes people are awesome. My friend Melanie was also going to try to see it, so I waited with her while she waited in line to get her staff/vol ticket (turned out I could have easily gotten one of those as well - not many people showed up to claim those tickets, surprisingly). After a brief stint in the cold, we made it into the theater.

Now for the film. In case you hadn't gathered already, I was a fan. A big fan. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it will, baring some crazy insane amazing film that comes out of nowhere, be my favorite movie of the festival. It. Was. Amazing. Such a unique and ambitious concept. Flawlessly edited together. And, like the Before series, just so incredibly naturalistic. Everything flowed so easily and seemed to believable. It was like literally watching a boy (and his sister, and the whole family really) grow up before your very eyes. It may have been nearly three hours long, but it didn't feel like it at all. And the sountrack was phenomenal. And he put things in there that brought on such a strong sense of nostalgia for me. Loved. It. Ethan Hawke was amazing as always. But really, the boy, who started the film at age 7 and ended at age 19, was fantastic! It really felt like getting to watch him grow up before your very eyes. Like I really got to know him during those 3 short hours.

Overall, a brilliant piece of art in my opinion. I feel like hopefully it will get fairly widely distributed, so most of you guys have a chance to see it. I myself cannot wait to watch it again. I seriously considered trying to go see it at its only other screening during the festival, which is tomorrow morning (or this morning I suppose, if you want to get technical about it :P) at 8:30am. But I am trying to reign in the impulse. I will say I certainly plan on owning it as soon as I am able.

Oh, also, added bonus, Richard, and the four main cast members there for all 12 years of the shoot, were all present. So my number of celebrity sightings has gone up! :D The Q&A's were great. I filmed a decent portion of it, which hopefully came out ok. :)

With that note, I guess I should try to sleep. Since I want to try to go to a film at 9am tomorrow (or today?). Ha. If only I can calm myself down and stop my heart from racing.

GREAT MOVIES ARE THE BEST.

Ok, g'night all. Til the next time.