I thought I'd let everyone know that I'm doing a Sundance recap live on the /Filmcast tonight. I'll be joining Peter Sciretta of SlashFilm, Neil Miller of Film School Rejects, and Laremy Legel of Film.com to chat about all things Sundance, including the best and worst films we saw and our favorite memories and so much more. The podcast will air live starting at 4PM PST / 7PM EST over on SlashFilm's live page (also via Ustream.TV). Be sure to tune in if you want to hear all about what went down at Sundance this year, what it was like living in a condo with Bob Stencil for a week, or just more about our favorite films.

Update: For those of you who missed this live broadcast that occured on Friday evening, you can download and listen to it right here. We ended up talking about our favorite films of the festival as well as memorable experiences and so much more, so make sure you grab the full download to listen in!

Discover More: General News, Sundance 09

There are always a handful of films at Sundance that I go into with low expectations and walk out of loving. Paper Heart was one of them. By the time I had heard about its mockumentary style, I had pretty much lost all interest. But what I discovered in the end was an original, entertaining, and above all, very charming film about discovering love. But I've got some problems with it, especially its conclusion. As for quirky romantic comedies though, if I can even call this one, Paper Heart is one of the better films from Sundance this year with that label. And if you're a fan of Michael Cera or Charlyne Yi, it's certainly worth checking out.

Paper Heart is a fake documentary, meaning it's shot and told in the documentary style, but was actually scripted and performed. Charlyne Yi and Michael Cera do play themselves, though, and it's primarily about them. Yi is a comedian who, per the prodding of a filmmaker friend, decides to explore the idea of whether love really exists (and if she can ever find it). She has never believed in it, so she sets off with her filmmaker friend (played by Jake Johnson) to travel around the US conducting interviews with couples. Along the way she meets Michael Cera and starts up a relationship with him. But is it love or just a friendship?

That's the question that the film tries to answer over a series of often amusing interviews in combination with the comedic antics of Charlyne Yi. For those who are not particularly used to her personality or style of comedy, it takes a little while to get used to, but once you're well into the film, you'll be laughing wildly and grinning as the real story within unfolds. Part of what makes it so fun to watch is that Yi and Cera have a natural chemistry (they're actually a couple in real life) and they don't want the cameras to follow them, because they want to be a couple on their own, with some privacy. But Johnson knows that this is the "good stuff" and demands they keep following them just in case "something" happens.

As for that conclusion that didn't sit well with me, without spoiling too much, the film just sort of ends abruptly, without giving us an answer to that aforementioned question, or even any question at all. I do realize that the ending is left open for personal interpretation, but I feel like the most common explanation I've heard only makes me more frustrated. It's as if they planned all along to trick the audience. We were never getting any answer, so why not just have fun, finish it in a different way than everyone was expecting, and allow for open interpretation. Unfortunately, that left me much more aggravated than satisfied.

Although the ending was a bit frustrating, I still thoroughly enjoyed Paper Heart. I don't expect it to become the next Juno or anything like that, but it's still a great romantic comedy (of sorts). While it doesn't uncover anything new about what love is, it does take us on a joy ride through the whims of affection.

Sundance Rating: 8 out of 10

Discover More: Opinions, Sundance 09

One of my favorite films coming out of Sundance is Moon, the sci-fi flick starring Sam Rockwell. The man behind it all, Duncan Jones, made both his writing and directing debut with Moon and proved that he's definitely a filmmaker to keep an eye on in the coming years. Immediately after screening the film, I frantically confirmed that I had an interview with Duncan, because there was so much I wanted to ask him. So here is my rather fascinating interview with him. Lastly, I should mention a big spoiler warning for this video, since we talk about some of the big plot elements that a few of you might not want to know.

Watch our Sundance interview with Duncan Jones:

Please be patient while loading the video - the file size is huge! Thank you!

As you see above, I'm trying a new format for interviews at Sundance this year using my Flip Mino. I apologize for the odd angle yet again, as we were rushed into this. For reference, what I showed him on my iPhone was that I have this Moon poster as my background. A lot of people always ask what movie it's from and I just wanted to show him that I love the poster. Additionally, Duncan was a bit upset that the interview was cut so short, so I've talked with him and will forward any follow-up questions over to him to answer. So if there's more you want to ask as well, let me know, and we'll work on a follow-up interview!

Discover More: Interviews, Sundance 09

How fitting is it that on the very last day of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, it finally starts to snow. It was unusually warm this year in Park City, but I'd rather have it be cold. Whenever it snows during Sundance, it really completes the experience. And it just so happened that it finally snowed on Sunday, Day 10, as I wrapped up the fest with all my good friends. The night before I spent the evening at the closing night party as well as a party at the Stanfield Gallery on Main Street. So all that was left to do was finish up on Sunday with our tradition of a final end of Sundance meal at Main Street Pizza & Noodle.

First things first, I finished this Sundance having seen a total of 29 films. Unfortunately I let myself down. Both last year and the year before that (my first year here), I saw a total of 31 films. I would blame the awards this year, because I'd already seen almost all of the big winners, and all they do on Sunday is show the winners again. But in reality, it's my fault and I blame my consistent exhaustion and time management skills, but that's all a story not worth telling on here. Instead, let's get back to the good side of things. At the bottom I've included my full list of all of the 29 films I saw here at Sundance with ratings.

Peter Sciretta of SlashFilm and I have established a tradition of eating at Main Street Pizza & Noodle on the final night of Sundance. This year we invited a few of our friends. We were joined by my good friend Marco Cerritos, Neil Miller of Film School Rejects, Darcy Brislin of Obsessed With Film, and Erik Davis of Cinematical. We were also joined by a few of the Derrick Comedy guys, including Mystery Team director Dan Eckman, producer Meggie McFadden, and stars Dominic Dierkes and D.C. Pierson. Suffice to say, it was an awesomely delicious meal and one of the best dinners I had while at Sundance.

While at dinner, Marco asked everyone what their favorite film was and what the worst film they saw was. I have my own best and worst of Sundance article in the works right now, but to quickly answer that question just as I did at dinner, my favorite was 500 Days of Summer, without a doubt. The worst film I saw, on the other hand, is a tougher question to answer. I'd have to go with Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, which I saw just a few days ago and I thought was downright awful. Darcy said she hated Spread, which I didn't think was that bad, and both Peter and Neil said The Informers was the worst film they saw.

I'm not one to interpret whether or not this year's selection of films were better than the last and so on, it's just not my thing. Sundance somewhat sets the pace for the year to come, both in terms of the films we'll see and in terms of the progression of FS.net. So what I'm taking away from it this year is that there are a handful of great films that I can't wait to see again and can't wait to start promoting once they hit theaters (or find a distributor). This is nearly the same every year, so the only differences are the films themselves, which is why it'll be yet another interesting and exciting year. I can't wait to see 500 Days of Summer hit theaters, as well as Moon, Humpday, The Killing Room, Adventureland, and Mystery Team.

As I write this, I'm packing up my bags and listening to "Us" by Regina Spektor, which was the opening song in 500 Days of Summer and the perfect music to go out on. It puts me in a kind of somber mood, because I don't want to leave, I don't want to believe that yet another Sundance is over. But unfortuantely it is and it's time to move on, with a plethora of great memories still intact. Sundance is the best time of the year and whenever I'm not here, I'm already counting down the days to the next time I will be back here. It's just that phenomenal of an experience and I'm always sad to leave Park City behind again.

Sundance wouldn't have been as great as it was without my friends and the many people I meet every year. Not only do people like Peter and Neil and Scott make it wonderful, but I love meeting filmmakers and cinephiles. Having dinner with the Mystery Team folks was quite surreal, because we're all in awe of them and what they did with their film, yet they're in awe of us because of what we in turn wrote about their film and how we can help make it a big hit. In addition to seeing great movies for 10 days straight, it's that kind of social interaction that truly makes Sundance a one-of-a-kind experience. See you again next year!

Also, a special shout out to Honest Tea for providing us with an excessive amount of delicious beverages to keep us hydrated for the entire fest. They've easily got some of the best damn bottled tea out there!

Sundance 2009 Review List:

THURSDAY (JAN 15th):
Mary and Max - 8/10

FRIDAY (JAN 16th):
Tyson - 5/10
Moon - 8.5/10
Humpday - 7.5/10
Toe to Toe - 2/10

SATURDAY (JAN 17th):
The Killing Room - 8/10
The Greatest - 6/10
500 Days of Summer - 10/10
Spread - 6.5/10
Mystery Team - 7.5/10

SUNDAY (JAN 18th):
Cold Souls - 6/10
Big Fan - 5/10
Black Dynamite - 8/10

MONDAY (JAN 19th):
Don't Let Me Drown - 9/10
Peter and Vandy - 6.5/10

TUESDAY (JAN 20th):
Adventureland - 8/10
Bronson - 5/10
Adam - 9/10
Manure - 6/10

WEDNESDAY (JAN 21st):
Paper Heart - 7.5/10
Shrink - 6/10
Motherhood - 4/10

THURSDAY (JAN 22nd):
World's Greatest Dad - 8/10
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men - 2/10
An Education - 8.5/10

FRIDAY (JAN 23rd):
Dare - 7.5/10
Push - 9/10
Dead Snow - 8.5/10

SATURDAY (JAN 24th):
500 Days of Summer (2nd Time) - 10/10
We Live in Public - 4/10

Discover More: Editorials, Sundance 09

As of today, Sundance may be officially over, but Bob Stencil's video coverage isn't! He's got just a few more hilarious videos to share and today he's bringing us a gem of an interview. Bob sits down for a chat with actor Jon Foster from such films as Thirteen Days, Stay Alive, Mysteries of Pittsburgh, and most recently, The Informers. As everyone knows, with Bob Stencil at the helm, this isn't your standard one-on-one interview. No, this is a full on beer-in-hand conversation with Foster, with flying bottle caps, foul language, and so much more. So with that, dive right in to one of the last Bob Stencil video updates.

Watch Bob $tencil's Sundance Day 8 Video Recap:

See More Bob $tencil at Sundance 2009: FirstShowing.net/BobStencil

Hey friends! I am here in Park City, Utah, braving freezing temperatures, high altitudes, icy sidewalks, measured pours, and beer with only 3.2% alcohol, to bring you the best coverage of the Sundance Film Festival in the entire world. That's right, your old friend B$ is going from booth bunnies to snow bunnies. I will bring you exclusive footage of every single premiere, celebrity, event, and happening at Sundance that I can. Your friend Bob $tencil is willing to do whoever it takes to get all the inside info, for you, the heroes. So stay with me and FirstShowing.net for updates throughout the festival. Dictated Not Read,

Discover More: Bob $tencil, Sundance 09

The official awards for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival have been announced tonight. The big winners are We Live in Public for the Documentary Grand Jury Prize and Lee Daniels' Push for the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. Additionally, The Cove won the Documentary Audience Award and Push won the Dramatic Audience Award yet again. Definitely some solid winners this year, as always. These awards always start to put the finishing touches on yet another Sundance, which means things are certainly winding down. You can see the full list of winners below. Audience award winners can be found at the bottom.

JURY AWARDS:

Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic:
Push, directed by Lee Daniels

Grand Jury Prize, Documentary:
We Live in Public, directed by Ondi Timoner

World Cinema Jury Prize, Dramatic:
The Maid, directed by Sebastian Silva

World Cinema Jury Prize, Documentary:
Rough Aunties, directed by Kim Longinotto

World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Documentary:
Tibet in Song, directed by Ngawang Choephel

World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Dramatic:
Catalina Saavedra for The Maid

Special Jury Prize for Embodying Collaborative Spirit:
Humpday, directed by Lynn Shelton

Special Jury Prize for Acting, Dramatic:
Mo'Nique for Push

Special Jury Prize, Documentary:
Good Hair, directed by Jeff Stilson

Excellence in Cinematographcy, Dramatic:
Adriano Goldman for Sin Nombre

Excellence in Cinematography, Documentary:
Bob Richman for The September Issue

Waldo Scott Screenwriting Award:
Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi for Paper Heart

Excellence in Directing, Dramatic:
Cary Joji Fukunaga for Sin Nombre

Excellence in Directing, Documentary:
Natalia Almada for El General

Excellence in Editing, Documentary:
Karen Schmeer for Sergio

The Alfred P. Sloan prize for a feature film with science as a theme, or featuring a scientist, engineer, or mathematician main character, was awarded to Adam, directed by Max Mayer. As the winner of the Alfred P. Sloan prize, the film receives a $20,000 award.

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

Audience Award, Dramatic:
Push, directed by Lee Daniels

Audience Award, Documentary:
The Cove, directed by Louise Psihoyos

World Cinema Audience Award, Dramatic:
An Education, directed by Lone Scherfig

World Cinema Audience Award, Documentary:
Afghan Star, directed by Havana Marking

My congratulations go to all the winners and especially An Education! Until Sundance next year.

Discover More: Awards News, Indies, Sundance 09

Tonight I caught a midnight screening of Dead Snow at the world famous Egyptian theater. After 7 days of seeing romantic dramas and quirky comedies, I was really in the mood for some gory zombie mayhem. Dead Snow is that Norwegian film about Nazi zombies. It's a simple enough story - a group of people head out to remote cabin in the mountains only to discover a party of undead Nazis terrorizing the area. To be honest, I didn't really care about how great the story was (or wasn't), because in the end, I had a great time watching this, and when it comes to cult zombie movies, that experience is what counts the most.

There's not much new to the Dead Snow story that we haven't seen before. Equal number of guys, equal number of girls, out at a remote cabin without cell phone reception. Creepy guy shows up, tells them about Nazis. Next thing we know a few of them start disappearing, then some ugly zombie pops his head up, and all hell breaks loose. So why did I love it so much? It's just fun. And seeing Nazi zombies, not just the same old zombies, terrorizing some Norwegian folks out in the middle of the cold and snow is just downright frickin' fun! And of course, there's everything from chainsaws to machine guns to limbs torn apart.

I'm not saying this is the best zombie movie since 28 Days Later or even Army of Darkness. But while watching Dead Snow, it brought back the great memories I had seeing both of those zombie classics for the first time. So while it may borrow excessively from both, as well as from George Romero's films and Shaun of the Dead, it's still just as entertaining and enjoyable seeing for the first time as any of those older zombie films. Mindless horror comedy? It certainly is and it's a blast to watch, despite minor inconveniences or story contrivances. Who really cares whether a zombie comedy is that perfect? I know I don't.

The only real way to experience Dead Snow is in a packed movie theater full of zombie lovers and horror fans. Why? Because even though it may not be perfect, it's one hell of an exciting movie to see with people who cheer wildly at every last kill and laugh at every cheesy joke. Sure they made be bad jokes and overused kills, but why does that make it a bad movie? It doesn't, as long as you can have a great time watching it. And Dead Snow is not much more than pure entertainment at its finest. So if you're also looking for another great zombie film to watch with a bunch of your own zombie-loving friends, Dead Snow is it.

Sundance Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Discover More: Opinions, Sundance 09

How do you follow up the hilarious Bob Stencil video from yesterday with Billy Bob Thornton? How about interviews with Kyle MacLachlan and Sam Rockwell and a wandering nomad / healing shaman hippie? Yep, Bob Stencil is back yet again, quickly after his last Day 6 video, and he's got even more hilarious red carpet Sundance interviews. And if you've been curious to see what the life is like for Bob up here in Park City, the intro to this today shows us just how much waiting is involved to pull off this kind of coverage. There's not much more to say, so let's get right into this latest Stencil recap. Enjoy!

Watch Bob $tencil's Sundance Day 7 Video Recap:

See More Bob $tencil at Sundance 2009: FirstShowing.net/BobStencil

Hey friends! I am here in Park City, Utah, braving freezing temperatures, high altitudes, icy sidewalks, measured pours, and beer with only 3.2% alcohol, to bring you the best coverage of the Sundance Film Festival in the entire world. That's right, your old friend B$ is going from booth bunnies to snow bunnies. I will bring you exclusive footage of every single premiere, celebrity, event, and happening at Sundance that I can. Your friend Bob $tencil is willing to do whoever it takes to get all the inside info, for you, the heroes. So stay with me and FirstShowing.net for updates throughout the festival. Dictated Not Read,

Discover More: Bob $tencil, Sundance 09

Before Sundance had even begun, Sony Pictures had already picked up the sci-fi film Moon, but not as the distributor. Instead, they operated as the sales rep for the film, giving it the extra edge it needed to eventually find the right buyer. It was announced today that Sony Pictures Classics, the independent arm of Sony, has decided to pick it up for distribution. The indie studio is planning to debut Moon in theaters starting in late June. "I have always hoped for the opportunity to work with Sony Pictures Classics on the distribution of our film, even before arriving at Sundance," director Duncan Jones told Variety.

Although Moon was one of the first films most journalists saw at Sundance, it still remains one of the films that I know all of us really enjoyed. I gave it a solid 8.5 out of 10 in my review. Sam Rockwell plays an astronaut finishing the last few weeks of a three-year contracted job mining on the moon, when he starts to see things. It's definitely a film that I can't wait for audiences to see. Let's hope SPC knows what they're doing with Moon, because I'm worried they were only the "last resort" buyer and are just planning to dump it in the middle of the summer without a big push. Honestly, his film deserves a lot better than that.

This is the fourth major purchase for Sony Pictures Classics at Sundance this year. They also bought Tyson, Rudo y Cursi, and An Education, in addition to Moon. Last year, after both Baghead and The Wackness were picked by SPC, we wrote a scathing article examining the indie studio's consistent box office failure when handling great indie films. It turns out our complaints were justified, as those two films went on to make only $140,000 and $2 million respectively in their box office runs. Don't expect anything different this year, as it looks like they're going to bury Moon just the same. At least everyone will get to see it.

Discover More: Indies, Movie News, Sundance 09

Last night I finally saw my 25th film of the festival, which means I've still got 6 to go until I hit my annual minimum of 31 (by Sunday). As much as I've talked previously about how much I love everything about Sundance, there are some negatives. No, they're not associated with the festival itself, but more with my own struggles. For example, after 7 days in, I'm exhausted. I can't wake up in the mornings anymore and end up missing screenings so that I can actually sleep and/or finish work. I get frustrated every time that happens, but I have to suck it up and deal with it. But there's also something else I want to mention.

Just the other day, after finishing an interview with Jess Weixler, I was walking through the Marriott headquarters in Park City and as I was walking up the stairs, I passed two recognizable faces. I stopped and introduced myself, as the people that I had recognized were E.J. Bonilla and Gleendilys Inoa, the two lead actors from Don't Let Me Drown, one of my few favorite films from this year's Sundance. I talked briefly with them about how much I loved their film and so on. It was just a delightful moment because they were so happy to be recognized and I was so happy to meet them and congratulate them.

Unfortunately, not everything here is always smiles and congratulations. There are some films that I really didn't like (see the list below) and, while I didn't review all of them, I have said plenty of negative things about them. One of them in particular is Peter and Vandy. Although I didn't hate it, I just didn't like it much at all. As I mentioned earlier, I interviewed Jess Weixler, one of the stars of the film. As I was finishing up that interview, I ran into actor Jason Ritter and director Jay DiPietro, who were sitting nearby. I can't even begin to tell you how heart-wrenching it is to smile and talk with a director, when I just have that feeling that he knows I really didn't like his movie. I really want to say good things, but I can't!

I really do love talking with filmmakers and actors who I meet at Sundance when I liked their respective film, because there is so much to talk about. It brings me such joy to be able to tell them that I loved their film. Who wouldn't want to speak with someone they admire? But it's so draining to talk to a filmmaker about their film at all when they know you didn't like it. We're obviously not going to talk about the reasons why I didn't particularly like it, so it's hard to dodge that topic. I wish I could love everything, but realistically, there are plenty of films that I don't like. And I've got to stick with my true feelings.

Not every film I see at festivals (even Sundance) is as wonderful as 500 Days of Summer. And I guess I just wanted to get this whole experience off my chest. I want everyone to know that I do encounter heart-wrenching situations and find myself struggling to stay true to my feelings. This doesn't happen often, thankfully, and the few times that it does I'm able to get through it quickly. If I could express my appreciation and gratitude towards every last director and actor and writer and producer out here, I would. But I've got to stay true to my honest opinion and unfortunately there are always some duds.

Sundance 2009 Review List:

THURSDAY (JAN 15th):
Mary and Max - 8/10

FRIDAY (JAN 16th):
Tyson - 5/10
Moon - 8.5/10
Humpday - 7.5/10
Toe to Toe - 2/10

SATURDAY (JAN 17th):
The Killing Room - 8/10
The Greatest - 6/10
500 Days of Summer - 10/10
Spread - 6.5/10
Mystery Team - 7.5/10

SUNDAY (JAN 18th):
Cold Souls - 6/10
Big Fan - 5/10
Black Dynamite - 8/10

MONDAY (JAN 19th):
Don't Let Me Drown - 9/10
Peter and Vandy - 6.5/10

TUESDAY (JAN 20th):
Adventureland - 8/10
Bronson - 5/10
Adam - 9/10
Manure - 6/10

WEDNESDAY (JAN 21st):
Paper Heart - 7.5/10
Shrink - 6/10
Motherhood - 4/10

THURSDAY (JAN 22nd):
World's Greatest Dad - 8/10
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men - 2/10
An Education - 8.5/10

Discover More: Editorials, Sundance 09

This video recap today may be the pinnacle of Bob Stencil's Sundance coverage. Not only does he talk to Rob Corddry and pay homage to The Shining, but Billy Bob Thornton himself personally hooks Bob up with another female reporter on the Sundance red carpet. As promised, these have been getting better and better as Sundance has continued. We're reaching the end, but Bob's still got some videos up his sleeve, and this is one of them we've been waiting to share with all of you. If there is any one of these Bob Stencil videos you watch, let it be this one. Because there's nothing better than seeing Bob make an ass of himself.

Watch Bob $tencil's Sundance Day 6 Video Recap:

See More Bob $tencil at Sundance 2009: FirstShowing.net/BobStencil

Hey friends! I am here in Park City, Utah, braving freezing temperatures, high altitudes, icy sidewalks, measured pours, and beer with only 3.2% alcohol, to bring you the best coverage of the Sundance Film Festival in the entire world. That's right, your old friend B$ is going from booth bunnies to snow bunnies. I will bring you exclusive footage of every single premiere, celebrity, event, and happening at Sundance that I can. Your friend Bob $tencil is willing to do whoever it takes to get all the inside info, for you, the heroes. So stay with me and FirstShowing.net for updates throughout the festival. Dictated Not Read,

Discover More: Bob $tencil, Sundance 09

One Sundance film that already has quite a bit of buzz is Adventureland, primarily because we've already seen a trailer for it and also because it's director Greg Mottola's follow-up to Superbad. I sat down with Greg Mottola up at his condo the other day to chat about his film and this is the interview. Mottola and I talked about his inspiration for Adventureland, which is based on his own experiences, as well as casting choices and simply putting together a story like this. I've also already reviewed the film, so this is is just the final compliment and last bit we have on Adventureland from Sundance. Check it out below!

Watch our Sundance interview with Greg Mottola:

Please be patient while loading the video - the file size is huge! Thank you!

As you see above, I'm trying a new format for interviews at Sundance this year using my Flip Mino. So far it has gone incredibly well, as the interviews are a lot easier to conduct and come out looking a lot better. This one with Greg Mottola went over very well, as you should've been able to tell while watching it, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to talk with him. I've wanted to do an interview with Greg ever since Superbad and it has just taken this long to finally get one! Thankfully I had a great time. As a reminder, Adventureland is already scheduled to hit theaters on March 27th in a few months. Hope you enjoyed this interview, too!

Discover More: Interviews, Sundance 09

I thought it couldn't get any better than 500 Days of Summer here at Sundance. I loved that film so much, that hardly anything could even compare to it. But then I saw Adam, a wonderfully charming and beautiful story about falling in love. While it doesn't necessarily reach the same heights as 500 Days, it's the next best thing, and easily one of my very favorite films from the fest. Adam begins by showing us the stars in the sky while Rose Byrne explains in a voice over that she thought she knew everything about love, but it wasn't until she met Adam (Hugh Dancy) that she realized she had so much more to learn. As did I.

Adam suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, that primarily affects his social skills. He is a fairly normal person, perhaps actually quite brilliant, who perceives every statement as it is, meaning he doesn't understand jokes and metaphors. He has no social filter and is unable to understand what people are thinking. As unfortunate as this is, it makes Adam such a lovable character, because he is trying so hard to be accepted, and is quirky in the way he acts. Beth (Byrne) moves in to the apartment above him in New York City and the two meet and begin to spend some time together, albeit in initially awkward ways.

The story is actually a lot more complex than that. The film starts just after Adam's father has passed away and we soon see that Adam, who's working as an electrical engineer at a toy company, is struggling to keep things together living by himself. Beth, on the other hand, moves in alone into the apartment above him, and encounters her own emotional problems when her dad is accused of fraud. There is so much that makes this such an extraordinary film, but at the very base, it's this endearing love story that establishes the rigorous frame for the remainder of the film to be built around. From there, it just takes off.

In addition to Max Mayer's exquisite directing and Christopher Lennertz' enchanting score, the reason why this was such a phenomenal film is due to not one, but two, important people — Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. These two have delivered some of the most affecting performances I've seen in the last year. Dancy unquestionably becomes the quirky character, both innocent and likable, while Byrne made me melt in every last scene. The chemistry these two have, even when not together, helped greatly to bring to life this exceptional story. Whether you are in love or not, Adam proves there is still so much more to discover.

Sundance Rating: 9 out of 10

Discover More: Opinions, Sundance 09

When it comes to coming of age comedies, Superbad still remains one of my all-time favorites. So going into Adventureland, which is Greg Mottola's follow-up to Superbad, I had set some very high expectations. Right off the bat, I'll say that it doesn't exactly come close to matching Superbad, but it's not supposed to. Adventureland, while still a comedy, is much more of a story about love. Thus I had to change my expectations midway through, and as a result, I still came out thoroughly enjoying the film. It's not exactly a hilarious romp through the quirky antics of an amusement park, but it is a story about growing up.

Adventureland follows James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg), a recent college grad who is planning to spend his summer in Europe. But when his parents lose their money and can't help pay for the trip, he's forced to get a summer job at the local amusement park. After quickly discovering that it's not a glamorous job at all, he meets the quirky Em (Kristen Stewart), and soon begins to fall in love with her. But as he also finds out, she's been spending time with the park's maintenance guy, Connell (Ryan Reynolds). As it turns out, the story in this is much more about this love triangle than it is James dealing with his crappy summer job.

One of the many reasons that I enjoyed Adventureland was that it was just a classic and entertaining story. But one of the reasons I didn't like it is because of Kristen Stewart. Her character was pretty much the same as in Twilight, quite one-dimensional, and didn't really bring a much needed dynamic to the love story. Adventureland isn't the comedy I was expecting to see, but that's not to say there still isn't a lot more to like about it. It's a heartfelt story about growing up and falling in love and that is definitely thanks to the much better performance from its lead, Jesse Eisenberg. A great film to watch on a summer afternoon.

Sundance Rating: 8 out of 10

Discover More: Opinions, Sundance 09

Yes, that's Eliza Dushku. I think that's all we need to show you to get you to watch this one. Bob Stencil is back again live from Sundance, this time talking with the stars of Humpday, quite briefly, as well as Eliza Dushku, Ewan McGregor, and the guy who started the "Girls Gone Wild" videos. And to make you even more interested, it seems as if Dushku has the hots for Bob. Admittedly, this isn't the greatest Bob Stencil video we've seen this week, but then again, we've still got 5 more days of this festival left. Things are starting to get quieter around here in Park City, but Bob is still hitting Main Street harder than ever.

Watch Bob $tencil's Sundance Day 4 Video Recap:

See More Bob $tencil at Sundance 2009: FirstShowing.net/BobStencil

Hey friends! I am here in Park City, Utah, braving freezing temperatures, high altitudes, icy sidewalks, measured pours, and beer with only 3.2% alcohol, to bring you the best coverage of the Sundance Film Festival in the entire world. That's right, your old friend B$ is going from booth bunnies to snow bunnies. I will bring you exclusive footage of every single premiere, celebrity, event, and happening at Sundance that I can. Your friend Bob $tencil is willing to do whoever it takes to get all the inside info, for you, the heroes. So stay with me and FirstShowing.net for updates throughout the festival. Dictated Not Read,

Discover More: Bob $tencil, Sundance 09

Everyone has already heard about 500 Days of Summer by now, the film that is well on its way to becoming the breakout hit of Sundance this year. First-time director Marc Webb is one of the key people (obviously) that made it such a brilliant film. What he was able to do with it and turn it into is why it's becoming such a beloved indie gem. Ever since I first saw it was showing at Sundance, Webb was one of the filmmakers I really wanted to interview while I was out here, in order to talk about his filmmaking process. Luckily I had that opportunity yesterday and the resulting interviewed turned out fantastic.

Watch our Sundance interview with Marc Webb:

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As you see above, I'm trying a new format for interviews at Sundance this year using my Flip Mino. In addition to this interview with Marc, I have separate interviews with both of the film's wonderful stars — Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel — that will be published in a few days, so stay tuned for those as well. I hope you found the interview as fascinating to watch as I did to talk with Marc. I can confidently says he's a director on his way to becoming someone very big. 500 Days of Summer will finish playing here at Sundance and hit theaters on July 24th this upcoming summer.

Discover More: Interviews, Sundance 09

Is it ironic, or just purely coincidental, that my favorite films of Sundance so far have been about falling in love? The two in particular that I'm talking about are 500 Days of Summer and Don't Let Me Drown. I've also seen around 4 or so other films about love and relationships, which in total makes up about half of the 15 films I've seen here so far. That also brings up another point. Only 15 films?! To the average moviegoer that's a lot of films to see in only 4 days time, but to me, I'm way behind. I only saw 2 today when I should be seeing 4 or 5 on a regular day. But that is the unpredictable, and crazy, Sundance life.

Here's the thing about scheduling and life at Sundance. First off, the actual schedule for public films is crazy (check it out). There are always conflicts and careful calculations - like whether it's possible to get from the Library Center Theatre to the Racquet Club Theatre in 30 minutes or not. On top of that, my interests change nearly every hour. I usually start to hear that some films are better than others and vice versa and make split-second decisions to see — or not to see — certain films. Throw interviews down on Main Street in there, too, as well as my desire for sleep and food, and you might get an idea for what it's like here.

And that's why I haven't seen more than 15. I tried to wake up early today to see I Love You Phillip Morris, but at 8AM when my alarm went off, I couldn't even bring myself to sit up in bed. All I wanted is to sleep. And that I did. So by the time I got up at around 11AM, all I had time to do was prepare for my interviews for 500 Days of Summer. By the time those were finished, all I could fit in were 2 films before getting home to start catching up on news and reviews. All I want to do is just see as many films as I can before this fest comes to an end. But I'm sure you don't want to hear about how exhausting this Sundance life is…

Instead, I want to talk briefly about those moments where I get a smile across my face and remind myself again how much I love independent film. They come whenever I'm watching a great film and there's one of those "magical" moments, whether it's a scene where the two characters finally realize they love each other, or whether it's a moment of revelation accompanied by a great score, and so on. It's happened numerous times this year so far and it's been incredible. Every time it happens I'm reminded why I love doing this, and why I should even just appreciate the fact that I get to see these 15 films anyway.

I try to be as humble as I can, but I just really love independent films and love being here at Sundance. It's time to already get some sleep again and prepare for another long day, so I'll wrap this one up. Tomorrow I'm hoping to catch Adventureland, Bronson, Adam, and Manure — that is, as long as I wake up.

Sundance 2009 Review List:

THURSDAY (JAN 15th):
Mary and Max - 8/10

FRIDAY (JAN 16th):
Tyson - 5/10
Moon - 8.5/10
Humpday - 7.5/10
Toe to Toe - 2/10

SATURDAY (JAN 17th):
The Killing Room - 8/10
The Greatest - 6/10
500 Days of Summer - 10/10
Spread - 6.5/10
Mystery Team - 7.5/10

SUNDAY (JAN 18th):
Cold Souls - 6/10
Big Fan - 5/10
Black Dynamite - 8/10

MONDAY (JAN 19th):
Don't Let Me Drown - 9/10
Peter and Vandy - 6.5/10

Discover More: Editorials, Sundance 09

Hot damn, this was a fuckin' blast! I really don't think there is any better way to describe it. I don't know how Black Dynamite even got in here at Sundance, but it did. And it was one hell of an awesome world premiere experience. I could already tell from the trailer that this was going to be one crazy ass film and it certainly was. Michael Jai White kicks some serious ass and brings us a new cult classic that will earn some of the biggest laughs this entire year. For me especially, Black Dynamite is this year's Hell Ride - another midnight movie that earned my "fuckin' badass" title. Except this one is blaxploitation at its finest.

Black Dynamite tells the story of 1970s African-American action legend Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White). As far as I recall, there isn't any actual coherent story. It's sort of an amalgamation of all the things that make him a badass. Well, actually, when his brother is killed, Black Dynamite sets off to find out who did it. Along the way he discovers that the streets are being overrun with crack and there's a dirty secret behind the new Anaconda malt liquor. Eventually he makes his way from the streets to Kung Fu Island then all the way to the White House. I guess the point is that a film like this doesn't need a rational story.

The film is a hilarious throwback to the blaxploitation films of the 70s like Dolemite. The first 30 minutes of it are some of the funniest I've seen at this fest so far. I don't think I stopped laughing throughout the first half, but after that, things started to slowly die down. By the end, the film had become overly repetitious. The intro to the character was unforgettable, but after we got a good taste of all that, how would they keep up the laughs? Well, that's the problem. Although, I can definitely see Black Dynamite becoming a mainstream hit and that's thanks to Michael Jai White and director Scott Sanders. Can you dig it?

Sundance Rating: 8 out of 10

Discover More: Opinions, Sundance 09

Due to fervent encouragement from the guys at Latino Review, I decided to catch a screening of Don't Let Me Drown, a 2001 Brooklyn set coming-of-age drama. I'm glad I did, because I loved it. While the film isn't anything particularly new (like 500 Days of Summer) and takes a little while to first get going, it is a very funny and still very emotional and charming look at a few teenagers living in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. I'm not entirely sure why, but when I finally got into the story, I found myself laughing out loud at every funny moment and happily smiling at the wonderful romantic scenes.

Don't Let Me Drown is essentially about two Latino teens from Brooklyn. Lalo (E.J. Bonilla) and his friend are living in a changed New York, just one month after the September 11th attacks. He meets Stefanie (Gleendilys Inoa) at a birthday party and starts to spend time with her, slowly falling in love. The story follows their own relationship struggles, involving parental issues and emotional pressure. Lalo's father used to work as a janitor at the World Trade Center but is now helping clean up. Stefanie lost her sister and now her father struggles to keep his cool. It's a fairly simple story that's executed well.

At the start, I wasn't really expecting to laugh at all in this. But it's those comical moments that actually really made it stand out in the end. They're not out of place and they don't detract from the overall more emotional story found within the depths of Don't Let Me Drown, but the quirky reality of these kinds of teens often makes for some hilarious scenes. In the end I found myself just falling in love with the film because it was such a great story of love. These two teens are drowning in an excess of emotion and pressure coming from everyone around them, yet they still find a way to fall in love and live their life.

Newcomer E.J. Bonilla in particular steals the show, and if it weren't for him, this wouldn't have been as wonderful as it was. His character is not the stereotypical Latino, but a more realistic representation, and I think that's what makes him so likable in the end. Definitely a film Cruz Angeles should be very proud of making.

Sundance Rating: 9 out of 10

Discover More: Opinions, Sundance 09

There's no hiding that I was quite excited to see Big Fan, the directing debut of screenwriter Robert D. Siegel, who most recently wrote the screenplay for The Wrestler. Unfortunately the film was quite a let down, with Siegel himself being the biggest problem, and actors Patton Oswalt and Kevin Corrigan being the only redeeming aspects of the sports comedy. Even for die-hard football fans, I can't see Big Fan being anything that anyone can enjoy much. It was short on laughs, lacking a quality story, and boasting amateur direction at best. It's not the worst film I've seen here at Sundance, but it's definitely not that great either.

Big Fan stars Patton Oswalt as the New York Giants' self-proclaimed biggest fan Paul Aufiero. Every night he calls in to the local football radio show to fire off a spirited rebuttal to "Philadelphia Phil" and his Philadelphia Eagles flaunt. Quantrell Bishop is the one player that Paul adores the most and is the key to the Giants' success. When Paul and his friend Sal (Kevin Corrigan) see Bishop at a gas station, they follow him all the way to a strip club and end up getting their asses kicked. From there, Paul struggles to not press charges against Bishop so that he can keep playing and also must deal with the backlash from other fans.

I'm not entirely sure how, but it takes a complete 102 minutes to get through this rather unoriginal story. Although I will say Oswalt's ability to truly bring this character to life on-screen makes some of the comedic moments quite funny, Siegel's direction brings it all down again. His inability to craft a story and shape scenes combined with choppy editing made it quite boring to watch. As much as I wanted to love this and as much as I wanted to laugh, it would've been much better off in the hands of a far more capable director than a first-timer. This is worth seeing only if you like Patton Oswalt, otherwise you're better off skipping it.

Sundance Rating: 5 out of 10

Discover More: Opinions, Sundance 09