Sundance 2009 Day 2

Well, I'm two days into Sundance this year. While I'm severly lacking sleep, I have seen a number of films, with a larger number remaining. The cold isn't as bad this year as the temperature seems to be in the high 30's...cold, yes, but with no snow falling, blue skies, and warm sunshine it makes things for this SoCal native much more comfortable.

Yesterdays films provided only one of real note. It was called The Yes Men Fix The World. If you don't know who the Yes Men are, do a Google search and find out. There was a doc here at Sundance about them some time back, but this new one was made by them. These two guys take on some of the worlds largest companies, and pull of what can only be described as astounding hoaxes - all aimed at bringing light to the corporate greed that exists in the world today. Even for conservative like me, I found it all so very enjoyable.

Last night I saw I Love You Phillip Morris. It was a film starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor...it was not your normal Jim Carrey film, and it wasn't so great. I think Carrey was trying to stretch himself in this role, but all the film really seemed to do was stretch the patience of the audience. I couldn't really tell what the film wanted to be - a screwy romantic comedy of sorts (and oh by the way - the two male leads are gay and in love), or a film trying to help you get into the mind of one of the most creative scam artists around. While based on true events and real people, the film unfolds in wild fashion, but just fell flat for me...and for the film critic sitting next to me who left well before the film even finished. The entire cast was there, and it was the must see event last night. Crowds poured into the 1200+ seat Eccles theatre, and flash bulb pops were in abundance as Carry and girlfriend Jenny McCarthy entered the room.

The festival did hit a low point yesterday. Walking up Main Street, the person I can't stand most this world, pushed her way through the crowd, dressed in a pink bunny suit, and into Harry O's (the big bar in town where the most exclusive parties happen). Paris Hilton is in Park City - and we are the poorer for it. Her presence only reminds me of the commercialization that has stricken this beloved festival. When I hear a woman walking away from the mob scene that stopped traffic outside the bar, overjoyed because she has touched Paris, I know things are bad. Now as to why she was dressed in the full body pink bunny suit, I've no clue - as did anyone else here. But one thing is certain - does anyone care? It's Paris Hilton, for crying out loud.

One funny note from yesterday - as Jill and I were walking to dinner, a couple paparazzi approached us and asked if they could take our photo. The exact question was, "Tina, can we get a photo?" Jill smiled and said she wasn't Tina Fey, and they quickly moved on. I told her that she should have said yes...we could have had our picture all over the place!