A Toast for the New Flicks!

(Mysteries of Pittsburgh)

Right before the holidays, the Sundance Film Festival announced their 2008 line-up, which is going to take place January 17-27 in Park City, Utah. Some years ago, the line-up was drowning in “coming of age” stories. This year, the films are said to explore “individual ways of coping with a distressed world”. A festival for the collective conscience today.

Total films submitted? 2,051 narrative features + 1,573 docs. Movies picked? 121 Feature Films. There’s going to be 81 World Premieres. For those who never frequent film festivals, these Sundance picks are going to be the films bought, sold, distributed, hyped, and dissed. Some will win awards while others will totally get lost in the shuffle. Let the races begin, and congrats to the new (and veteran) team of filmmakers who made it this far….

The Starworks team recommends you keep an eye on these:

GREG KRELENSTEIN PICKS:

(1) The Mysteries of Pittsburgh [pictured above]
About sexual exploration and a tense father-son relationship. Starring Jon Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sienna Miller, Mena Suvari and Nick Nolte. Directed/Written by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball). Adaptation of Michael Chabon’s first novel

(2) The Wackness

A comedy about a teen drug dealer (Josh Peck) who falls for the daughter of his drug-taking shrink (Ben Kingsley). Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Mary Kate Olsen and Method Man also star. Directed/Written by Jonathan Levine

(3) Assassination of a High School President

High school drama that deftly captures a new kind of grown-up teenage angst. Reece Thompson (who Starworks booked for last year’s Dazed& Confused and V Magazine spreads as one-to-watch) plays a self-described newspaper dork. In a quest for a mint journalism career, his character breaks a story that undermines the social structure of St. Donovan’s high School — jocks to nerds. Bruce Willis plays an over-the-top principal here too. Director: Brett Simon. Screenwriter: Tim Calpin/Kevin Jakubowski

(4) Savage Grace

The story of Barbara Daly (Julianne Moore), a former actress who married above her class to become the wife of Brooks Baekeland (Stephen Dillane), heir to a plastics fortune. The charismatic but unabashed social climber becomes an embarrassment to her well-bred husband. Note: shocking climax. Director Tom Kalin. Screenwriter Howard A. Rodman. Based on the book by Natalie Robins+Steven M.L. Aronson.

(5) The Last Word

Evan Merck (Wes Bentley) is a writer with an odd LA job. He makes his living composing other people’s suicide notes. His reclusive world is thrown for a loop when, at a client’s funeral, Evan meets the beautiful, free-spirited Charlotte (Winona Ryder), the dead client’s sister. Of course Winona’s character is fascinated with the young writer without knowing his day job. Deception and chaos ensues. Director/Writer: Geoff Haley

(6) Choke

A colorful dark comedy about mothers and sons, sexual compulsion, and the sordid underbelly of Colonial theme parks.
Stars Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston. Directed/Written by (actor turned director) Clark Gregg. Based on a novel by Chuck Palahniuk (“Fight Club”).

(7) Smart People

A darkly comic story. Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid), a widowed, acerbic, and self-absorbed literature professor who has alienated his son and turned his daughter into an overachieving, friendless teen. He also falls for his former student, Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker). All the intelligence in the world can’t unstick his life. Starring Thomas Haden Church, and Ellen Page. Directed by Noam Murro. Writer: Mark Jude Poirier

MARNI GOLDEN PICKS:

(1) Pretty Bird

An archetypal American story about three entrepreneurs whose partnership goes awry in nasty ways. Stars Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Kristen Wiig and David Hornsby. Directed/Written: Paul Schneider (All the Real Girls). Marni says “I think he’s the new indie king”.

(2) Sunshine Cleaning

Two sisters (Amy Adams and Emily Blunt) try to climb out of poverty by working in biohazard removal and crime scene clean-up. Also stars Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn, and Clifton Collins Jr. Directed by Christine Jeffs. Written by Megan Holley,

Also echoed by Marni: (3) Choke and (4) Mysteries of Pittsburgh

SARAH JENKS DALY PICKS:
(who laments “I wish I were going to Sundance, but am going to Ireland for a wedding!”)

(1) Bigger, Stronger, Faster

Explores America’s win-at-all-cost philosophy and the steroid subculture in an effort to realize the American dream. Ingeniously beginning the film with 80′s heroes — Rambo, Conan, and Hulk Hogan — the director recounts how these role models led him and his brothers into power lifting and dreams of becoming all-star wrestlers. Directed by: Christopher Bell

Also echoed by Sarah: (2) Choke and (3) The Wackness

Whew. Ok. I’ll be posting Part 2 on Sundance docs — Of course I’m the doc girl here at Starworks.
J

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Alrighty, so here’s my 7 pick of docs worth checking out at Sundance this January…why seven? Because its my lucky number and the day I was born. Plus after you see some of these heavy world docs, we’ll need all the luck in the world to save this planet.
J

(1) Patti Smith: Dream of Life

A 12-year project in the making. An intimate peephole into a brilliant poet and musician. Patti once said “Life isn’t some vertical or horizontal line. You have your own internal world, and it’s not neat”. What a badass. As much as it documents her external adventures, it also breaks down the ideas, losses, and memories she wrestles with internally. Directed and Written by Steven Sebring.

(2) Made In America

About South Central LA, an area with “enough history, tragedy, and hope to inform a nation”. True dat. Director Stacy Peralta (of Dogtown) combs through hardcore streets and speaks to key figures breaking down the complexities and politics of an area that has literally broke out in war. Sprinkle in some beautiful historical Black Panther footage. Also, a really interesting crew of guys producing — including Quincy Jones III (EP), Jesse Dylan (Producer), and Cash Warren (CoProducer).

(3) Slingshot Hip Hop

This one is a look at Palestinian rappers. I’ve been tracking this one since early 2000 online while I was making my own doc on Cuban rappers (East of Havana) for inspiration. It’s essentially the same universal story: Liberation through art. In this case, it’s political therapy through Hip Hop. It’s finally coming out. Directed by Jackie Reem Salloum.

(4) American Teen

This film tracks some genuine 17 years olds living in a small town in Indiana. The director followed 4 teenagers during their High School Senior year. That means insecurities, cliques, heartbreak, first sex, alcohol, parents, career pressures…. you name it. The music is created by Michael Penn. Directed and Written by Nanette Burstei (her past film On the Ropes won a Special Jury Prize at the 1999 Festival).

(5) Recycle

What makes a terrorist? Well, to stray from Bush’s “Good” and “Evil” kindergarten breakdowns, this Jordanian/Palestinian filmmaker takes us to the town he grew up, Zarqa (Jordan’s 2nd largest city = almost 1 million people) to show us the real ‘hood where some terrorists are carved out by political Islamists and their powerful forces. Maybe a couple of other reasons contribute to recruiting for the jihadist cause — Poverty? Humiliation? Lack of opportunity? Religious doctrine? Maybe it’s about the daily rhythms of a man and his family? Super simple, yet extremely complicated. Strong Cinematography. Directed by Mahmoud al Massad.

(6) Tie between 2 fascinating docs exploring American Government

a- I.O.U.S.A.

We all know America is in major DEBT. Let’s see, there’s increased government/military spending, no Social Security left for us Gen X’ers after the Baby Boomers clean it out, international competition, debts to foreign countries…yikes. Anyway, this is the fiscal version of Inconvenient Truth which horrifies you with facts, then swoops back in towards the end with proposed solutions. It remains topical and non-partisan, but nonetheless, a serious wake-up call for every single American citizen to activate at a local level. Directed by Sundance veteran Patrick Creadon (Wordplay)

b- Secrecy

This doozie is about the art of a secret, or in our governments words, “Classified”. Classified documents are growing. In a single recent year, the United States government classified about five times the number of pages added to the Library of Congress; the cost is about eight billion dollars a year–just to keep secrets secret. It’s been 70 years since the builders of the bomb created a national information security system. Add up 9/11 secrets plus looming war on terror? Hmmm. The main question asked in this doc is “when does security erode, rather than enhance, democracy?”. Directed by Peter Galison and Robb Moss.

(7) Tie between 2 docs about Men who were Maniacs.

a- Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

The father of rebel writers, Hunter S. Thompson created an entirely new style of journalism, dubbed “gonzo”. Don’t forget the superhuman doses of drugs. The doc features some haydays from 1965-1975, and clips of never-before-seen (and heard) home movies and audiotapes, and passages from unpublished manuscripts. Should be surreal. Directed by Alex Gibney.

b- Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.

We all know the broad strokes — Director of Chinatown and Rosemary’s Baby. Wife Sharon Tate was killed by Manson in 1969. Then there was the big case in 1978, he plead guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13 year old girl. Thus his escape to France where he continues to live by US authority standards, as a fugitive from justice. This doc revisits all the key players — the lawyers, the victim, the media. The director aims to show “a clear miscarriage of justice” among all the court hearings and media hype. I frankly don’t know enough about the case to opine one way or another, so I’ll be checking this doc out. Directed by Marina Zenovic. Executive Produced by Steven Soderbergh.

MY FINAL TIP:
Did you know that Sundance only recently chose to air all their Short Films — FOR FREE — on their website?

It’s such a better alternative than waiting in freezing snowy lines in Utah for some Shorts Programs. Warning: Some are real crappy, and others are clever nuggets of brilliance (its a real “hit-or-miss” selection but worth diving in the pool to discover new talent). You’ll have to wait until the festival begins on Jan 17, as each short film is released online after its premiere at some theater.

Some to peek at:

(1) Welcome
A 12 minute short Written and Directed by Kirsten Dunst and stars Winona Ryder about a ghost in a home. Leslie Russo served as Executive Producer, as well as homegirl New Yorker Francesca Silvestri who’s credited as Producer.

(2) Because Washington is Hollywood for Ugly People
This one is not explained in detail and has no press photo attached (whoa, kinda gangster). It’s a 7 minute short film described as a “scathing work” that “satirizes past and current political leadership with images, color, and music.” Directed by Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung

(3) Green Porno
A 1 minute comical series about the sex lives of bugs, insects, and various creatures. The name of the 3 Green Porno shorts are Dragonfly, Firefly and Spider. Directed and Written by Isabella Rossellini

SUNDANCE.org — To see all Short Films online starting Jan 17th or to see full movie listing for the features (summaries/times/dates)

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Insane Dior rings this season.

DIOR.com (more rings here)

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Artist: Matt SewellInterview found on Subaquatica (cool Spain website)
Subaquatica.com

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Heather in the House.

Another coup for Starworks: For 4 years, Heather Magidsohn was the “go-to” girl at Dolce & Gabbana planting seeds of product to Hollywood VIP’s and celebs. The range of artists included Dolce’s launch of Madonna’s “Music” Tour to Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama” tour. She then held the fort agency-style at a place called C&M Media representin’ for Roberto Cavalli, Missoni, Fendi, Alessandro Dell Acqua, STYLE.COM, Art Review Magazine, and Vivre, among others. That gig had her managing things like Roberto Cavalli’s sponsorship of the WILD: Fashion Untamed exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Then she did some time at Keri Levitt Communications where she was VP — handling brands from Paper Denim Cloth to Fortunoff. The girl can simply handle any global press strategies, marketing, branding, and every facet of a fashion show from Milan to New York.

Well….we got her now!
She’s freshly minted as the VP of our VIP services at Starworks.
Welcome Heather!
J

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