Well geeks the Evil One sent Father Geek this story about 5am, but I just had to let that Harry vide clip top out the page for a while. For those that are interested that was shot by Joad in our backyard this Haloween (99), and if it scared you then imagine the 4 year old girl and her little brother that turned a corner in Highland Mall's Disney Store to be confronted with a 6'1" 350 pound TIGGER the day Harry and I picked up the outfit. Well enough of that and on to Moriarty and the wonderful Lynn Bracken's SUNDANCE REPORT...
Hey, Fellow Geeks. "Moriarty" here, just working out the last few bugs before we get the new system online, trying to squeeze the last little bit of life out of this old computer and give Father Geek a hand for a few days. The first thing I wanted to pass along was this report I picked up a few days ago from the lovely Lynn Bracken. I may envy Harry's life in Austin for the barbecue and the Alamo Drafthouse and the great people I've met there, but Lynn Bracken's in LA, so that means I win. Chew on that one, Knowles, while everyone else enjoys her report...
Dearest Boys:
Greetings from Hollywood, the Land of Broken Dreams. Lynn Bracken here, enjoying the sun and surf once again. Boy did I miss that brown ring around the City of Angels. Park City? Clean, really clean. Did I manage to have a good time? You bet. Will I ever be allowed within Utah state lines again? Unlikely.
Here is part II of my Sundance Report.
"Lush"
**1/2 (Two and a half Stars)
This first feature by Mark Gibson was certainly ambitious, but that only goes so far. This scattered story mixes genres like a bartender mixes drinks: the more ingredients, the weaker the punch.
"Lush" follows town drunk Lionel (Cambpell Scott) on his wacky adventures in New Orleans. He frequently finds himself in situations where he must ask himself "How did I get here?" In my seat in the dark theater I was asking myself "Why do I care?" Herein lies the problem. I did not care one whit about Lionel, his attempts to swindle wealthy novice golfers, his petty seductions, or his drinking problem. This movie was not very engaging.
What I did enjoy about this film was supporting performances. Jared Harris so thoroughly embodied his role: an effiminate, suicidal, Southern lawyer named W. Firmin Carter, that I was a little awed. Laura Linney and Laurel Hollomon failed to disappoint, playing Rachel and Ashley Van Dyke with ease and grace. Nick Offerman (you may have seen him in last year's Sundance fest starring in the film "Treasure Island", or in his second Sundance 2000 film "Groove") was the funniest thing in this movie. Offerman plays Lionel's former caddie, now a drug dealer living with his mother. His lines are delivered as confused outbursts, very very funny.
"The Opportunists"
** (Two Stars)
This is director Myles Connell's first time out of the gate, and in this reviewer's opinion it was a poor showing at best. Cliche-ridden and without heart, this tired tale of an ex-con trying to straighten up and fly right left a bad taste in my mouth.
Victor Kelly (Chistopher Walken) has gotten out of the bank-robbing business with the help of his girlfriend Sally (Cyndi Lauper). A young Irishman named Michael (Peter McDonald), claiming to be a relation, appears out of nowhere and tries to convince Victor to pull off one last heist. Betrayed by his own pride and a mountainous debt, he refuses Sally's offer of monetary salvation and chooses to go ahead with the robbery. What follows is predictable and trite.
Whereas I respect Christopher Walken's body of work, this particular role seems beyond his reach. His character is not sympathetic, nor do I buy his chemistry with Sally. Peter McDonald's performance is, for lack of a better word, bad. The bright spot in this film is Cyndi Lauper, who turns out to be quite a good actress. She is the sole sympathetic character and the only one with genuine warmth. Donal Logue also gives an outstanding performance as one of the bumbling inside men.
"Urbania"
** (Two Stars)
First of all, Alan Cumming is in this movie. He is fantastic as expected. Don't hold the rest of this film against him.
Director Jon Shear has created a mess. A sloppy narrative jumps from urban legend to ugly reality. I could go on, but luckily the film-makers have saved me from that unpleasant task. To quote the press materials: "NOTE: In order to allow the film to work as intended, we kindly request that press not reveal certain ongoing plot lines from the film, including the XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX of the main characters and the XXXX XXXXXX of XXXXXXX'X quest." 'Nuff said!
"Das Clown"
**** (Four Stars)
"Das Clown" (or, in English, "The Clown") was the short preceeding "Urbania". This was bar none the funniest film at Sundance this year. In the format of an educational slide presentation, Tom E. Brown's short is a Pinnocchio story gone horribly wrong. Sparkles, a two-foot tall German-made antique clown doll comes to life one stormy night. Chaos ensues. I laughed until I cried.
That's all the news that's fit to print.
Sayonara,
Lynn Bracken
