Tony writes...Finally caught up with Paul Solet's Cronenberg-like body horror, Grace, the tale of an unusual birth and even more unusual baby. Oodles of body fluids and creepy-icky atmosphere aided by a convincing performance from Jordan Ladd.
Film did provoke some laughs, but also some heartfelt WTFs and at least one retch - after Bronson yesterday, is this a new Sundance record?
Amber writes... spent the morning prepping for an interview with director Armando Iannucci, who is much more down to earth than you might expect for someone who has penned some of the funniest lines in British comedy during the past decade or so. He's over the moon that In The Loop has been so well received. We'll be bringing you more of that interview in a full feature on the film soon.
Having arranged to meet up with Ma Bar directors Adrian McDowall and Finlay Pretsell at the Kimball Arts Centre - usually a quiet enough place to hang out - we arrived to discover they were in the process of letting folk in for the annual BMI Snowball. Normally, this features some funky up and coming bands, so after a brief natter down in the basement (we'll bring you the full interview soon) we head up to join in the celebrations. Tony writes.. this year, gone were the live bands in favour of audience participation this year. The gathered British contingent proved allergic and so we all ended up skulking in the bar. This turned out to be a good thing, however, as we got a chance to chat to character actor Malcolm Stewart who is a Sundance triple threat appearing in Grace, Moon and Helen. He had more than a few anecdotes up his sleeve and we're hoping to be able to interview him in full for a feature at a later date.
To end off the day we legged it back to the press screening of World's Greatest Dad. I didn't hold out much hope for courtesy of the title and Robin Williams' penchant for over-sentimentality. It cheers me to report then, that it is one of the funniest films I've seen in years. A black, black comedy about a father who uses a personal tragedy to further his own career. The bonus is also the most sincere look at teenagers at I can recall in forever too. Constant big laughs. A gem. Well done Bob Goldthwait!
Amber writes... I have little to add, except to say that I've been dying to see this ever since Goldthwait told us about it (read that here) - although dying may be a poor choice of phrase since the action revolves around an accidental suicide. Although Goldthwait's direction can occasionally feel a little stagey, the emotional heart of his movies is right on the money. Teens have rarely been shown so accurately.
