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Jack Goes Boating
Philip Seymour Hoffman 2009 | Premieres, First Feature, Comedy, World Premiere
With the cast having been in the play, they really live their characters. You could see their passion for this film in their performances and when they talked about it afterward. PSH is going to give us some great stuff as a director as well as an actor.
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1/29/2010
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The Killer Inside Me
Michael Winterbottom 2009 | Premieres, World Premiere
When the Sundance programmer introduces the film and says "I won't tell you to enjoy it, just experience it", be prepared. Tecnhically very good but the violence is too much - and film violence usually does not bother me. The director said the sound was off since it was the first print so that made it hard to understand some of the dialog.
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1/29/2010
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A Film Unfinished
Yael Hersonski 2009 | World Cinema Documentary Competition, First Feature, Political, World Premiere
The images are difficult but powerful. A film about a film sounds strange but it really shows the power of film - whether used for good or evil.
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1/29/2010
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Welcome to the Rileys
Jake Scott 2009 | U.S. Dramatic Competition, World Premiere
All the performances were strong. I didn't expect a lot from Kristen Stewart but she held her own with James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo. Jake Scott's direction showed the ugly world of Stewart's character without being gratuitous.
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1/26/2010
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The Extra Man
Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini 2009 | Premieres, Comedy, World Premiere
Opens strong, slows a little in the middle but finishes well. Kevin Kline is perfect and Paul Dano does a great job opposite him.
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1/26/2010
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Skateland
Anthony Burns 2009 | U.S. Dramatic Competition, First Feature, World Premiere
"Adventureland" from last year's festival but with more substance. They dedicated the film to the memory of John Hughes and while not in that league, it really does recall those films from the 80's. Enjoyable. Good but not great.
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1/26/2010
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The Company Men
John Wells 2009 | Premieres, First Feature, World Premiere
John Wells did his homework - lots of interviews with real downsized people - and really got the tone right. No Michael Moore anti-corporation bashing and no fairytale endings. Ben Affleck makes you care about a guy we would hate if he hadn't lost his job. Chris Cooper was perfect in his role. This one is much deeper than "Up In the Air".
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1/23/2010
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