Tuesday’s Inauguration was the most watched, and talked about, screening – at least for a day. The excitement of President Obama taking office was, unfortunately, tempered by my first day of mediocre films. I started off the day with a lunchtime screening of The Informers. I had read about the film in the New York Times, and the cast/plot sounded interesting. I should have remembered that I don’t like Bret Easton Ellis books, or films based on his books. It would have been great if I remembered this before an usher showed me to a seat in the middle of a row very far from the exit. At film festivals, as opposed to theaters I frequent in my everyday life, it is acceptable to walk out of movies because you can just walk right into another (hopefully better) movie; I always try to sit by the aisle near the exit, just in case I want to leave mid-movie. Unfortunately, given my seat, I had to endure the entire disaster that was The Informers. When the film finished, the lady next to me said, “I wanted to leave, but I couldn’t find my coat.”
• Films aren’t the only way to make it big during Sundance. This young troubadour hopes to find fame, or at least sell some CDs. Photograph by Jessica Mosby. •
Later that afternoon I saw Brief Encounters with Hideous Men. On the bus ride over, I heard of number of people talking about how disappointed they were at the film’s premiere the previous evening. But I was not deterred! How could something directed by (and starring!) that adorable guy from The Office (John Krasinski) be bad? The film was not bad, per se, it just wasn’t very good; I left the theater feeling let down. I often fall victim to high expectations, but at this year’s festival I went five days before seeing a truly bad film. One problem with Brief Encounters with Hideous Men is the length – it’s just too short to fully develop the story (a mere 80 minutes). Generally feature films are at least 90 minutes long. I personally dislike films over two hours unless every minute is justified; too often very long films are so long because they’re poorly edited. And yet, at the end of Brief Encounters with Hideous Men, I felt like I needed more, especially because John Krasinski’s character took a dramatic turn with only a few minutes remaining. His performance was just too overwrought and unauthentic; when directing oneself, it can be difficult to give objective directions. But he’s so cute on The Office!
My streak of disappointing films continued with Earth Days, which is a history of Earth Day and the American environmental movement. The documentary was selected as the closing film at this year’s festival. The film is not bad, just very boring. And it ends with President Reagan’s election to office. I walked out of the theater wondering if nothing of importance has happened to the environmental movement in 28 years. Films about the environment were very popular at this year’s festival, and Earth Days was just not as interesting or original as The Cove, The End of the Line (which was the high point of my Tuesday), or No Impact Man.
When I walked out of Earth Days, I saw some of my friends who persuaded me to see Dare. From the film’s description in the film guide, I assumed it would be in the vein of the High School Musical franchise. I have not seen any of the HSM films, but I know they are filled with fancy free plot lines – and that was just what I needed! Dare could not be described as whimsical or fun, it’s much for more in the vein of Dangerous Liaisons; however, I was too intrigued to even think about leaving the theater. I finished the day with Shrink, which also failed to live up expectations. The film starred Kevin Spacey (who I love, love, love!), and yet it was one of those dramas that is all about strangers whose lives are connected by a totally unrealistic coincidence.
• Jessica hanging out with her beary buddy. Photograph by a kind stranger. •
At the end of the night (or morning, it was 1 a.m.), I ran to catch a bus back to Main Street to meet up friends. So, I will end this blog on a very positive note about how great Park City is, even when filled with thousands of visitors!
The buses of Park City are fantastic! Not only are they completely free, but they run on time! At every stop there is a volunteer who wants to help you arrive at your destination in the most expedient way. When a crowded bus stops, the driver often says (with a very polite tone), “Everybody get friendlier, I need to get five more people on this bus.” Then everyone squishes together with few complaints. Amazing! With the snow and cold everyone wants to stay warm from the collective body heat. And did I mention that the buses are almost always on time?
It’s not acceptable to walk out of a Sundance film.
I live in Park City and have attended Sundance every year since 1994. Until just a few years ago, it was considered poor manners to walk out of a film.
These days, the selfishness and “screw you, me first” attitude has permeated Sundance to the point where some individuals feel above the film and above the festival.
If a film is horrible, sit through it, tell your friends how bad it was, and ask “what were you thinking” during the Q&A.
However, to say that it’s acceptable to walk out of a Sundance Film is acceptable is doing the festival a disservice by showing support for a poor practice.
Film lovers know that not every film at Sundance will be Clerks or Run Lola Run. As a fan of film and those who create, it’s our duty to support the festival, the craft, and the artisans.
Walking out of a film shows nothing but selfishness. Somehow, your time is more important than the time of the director, the festival programmers, and the other patrons?
I must, very respectfully, disagree with your comment. I think it is completely fine to walk out of a film if you’re not enjoying it, especially at film festivals where you can then see another (hopefully better) film. I don’t think that leaving a film represents a “selfishness and ‘screw you, me first’ attitude.” Every film is not going to be universally liked by everyone.
Also, I was specifically referring to Press and Industry screening (for the record, at almost every Press and Industry I attended at least a few people walked out), which never have a post-screening Q&A with the cast and director. I personally think it would be very rude to ask a director during the Q&A why their film was terrible.
I have a great love and respect for everyone involved with film festivals, particularly Sundance. The best thing that someone can do during (and after) attending a film festival is to tell people about the amazing art they watched – and that doesn’t happen if you force yourself to suffer through films you don’t like.
At film festivals, as opposed to theaters I frequent in my everyday life, it is acceptable to walk out of movies because you can just walk right into another (hopefully better) movie; I always try to sit by the aisle near the exit, just in case I want to leave mid-movie.
In addition to my attendance at sundance for 15 years, I’ve also attended Tribeca, Toronto, & Telluride film festivals. There are more walkouts at Sundance than at any other festival I’ve attended. Perhaps, it’s because of the self-important attitude of many of those who come to “screen” films.
Walking right into another (hopefully better) movie is rarely possible. I’m not sure about you, but even as a local it takes an hour to get from one theater to another. I can only imagine how long it takes for someone on a bus. Not to mention needing a ticket to a screening if you’re not a package holder (or member of the “press”), or needing to be present 2 hours before a screening to get a wait-list ticket. So, that argument is pretty weak.
What typically happens is that someone walks out of a screening only to be found later drinking coffee and talking on their phone. As I said in my earlier post, before cell phones, blackberries, and iphones it was very rare to see someone walk out of a screening.
As a member of the “press” shouldn’t you stick around long enough view the entire movie? Should your review be based on a complete screening? Good thing you didn’t walk out of The Eye and write a review on the first 75% of the movie.
You haven’t been to enough festivals if you’ve never heard an audience member ask a director in a Q&A why their movie was horrible. This is what makes festivals great. The press gets to hide behind a byline and write a horrible review. In a Q&A, members of the general public get to voice their opinion face to face with the director.
I don’t disagree with your review of the Informers. It was bad. Really bad. However, I’m standing up for the festival, the craft, and those who spend their time and money in an attempt to entertain the masses. I’m also taking a stand against the practice of walking out of festival movies. Frankly, I think it’s a practice that should be stopped. Oh, I also take stands against the use of pda’s during films, showing up late, and talking during fims.
Again, thank you for your comment.
I would just to clarify a few points: 1. I have been to a number of other film festivals. 2. I would never review a film that I walked out of; however, one should never spoil the ending of a film in their review. 3. At Sundance, as with the other festivals I’ve attended, you only have to arrive at Press and Industry screenings 5 to 10 minutes before the screening begins to check-in and take your seat. 4. At Sundance, all of the Press and Industry screenings are at the Yarrow and Holiday (at most a two minute walk between venues), and there are generally three films screening simultaneously. So, it is possible to leave a film only to walk for two minutes to another screening.
And I think everyone is against using cell phones during screenings, in addition to talking and arriving late.
I appreciate your comments, but I feel that you have misconstrued my post and comment. I love films (hence I saw 21 films at this year’s Sundance film festival). But I don’t think that walking out of a film is the worst thing in the world.