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— by Vanessa White Wolf
Ah, the Sundance Film Festival. Considered the way for independent films to find major backing, Sundance turns Park City, Utah, into a sort of Hollywood East every January, with stars like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Ashton Kutcher mingling among the parka-wearing attendees. Filmmakers come hoping to score another buzz-heavy underground smash like "Reservoir Dogs" or "Memento," and studios come searching for low-budget money machines like "The Blair Witch Project." But what happens after the tents fold, the ski lift stops and the open bar closes? Do Sundance darlings have what it takes to score with mainstream audiences?
Some films from this past festival have already been released to some fanfare, like "Saved!" or "Super Size Me." But for the most part, this year's biggest success stories are just now coming to a theater near you. The fact that moviegoers from New York City to Midwestern suburbs will be able to see these movies is a fairly new development. In the past, Sundance movies bought by studios were given limited release in just a few major cities. But after recent successes ("Blair Witch," "The Good Girl," "Thirteen"), studios now understand they can find audiences everywhere.
This year's crop has passed its first test — winning approval from a small festival audience — and now the films must win the approval of the entire country. What will America make of the Sundance class of 2004? Let's take a look at the graduates.
GARDEN STATE
(July 30 limited release)
What it's about: Zach Braff, the 29-year-old star of NBC's "Scrubs," does triple-duty as writer, director and star of this comedy drama that focuses on Andrew Largeman (played by Braff) and his return to his New Jersey home, after a nine-year absence, to attend his mother's funeral. During his four days at home, Largeman makes some new friends and reacquaints himself with some old ones (Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard), deals with his estranged father (Ian Holm) and essentially tries to sort out his life. Being a favorite at this year's Sundance came as a welcome surprise to Braff. "You have no idea if people are going to like it or not, and you put everything you have into it. Having the response that it did at Sundance was really cool." Portman wasn't able to attend the festival but was still able to gauge how the audience reacted. "Yeah, we were taking out the cell phone and holding it up so she could hear the crowd laughing," Braff said.
Why you should see it: If you're one of the millions of 20-somethings at a total loss when it comes to figuring out what the hell you're doing with your life, "Garden State" is aimed at you. And if you have doubts about whether or not Braff can make a good movie, remember that he did win over Portman, a veteran of more than a dozen movies. "I thought he was cool and it would be a fun, risky thing to do," she said. "[But] he was so on top of everything, a lot more on top of anything than a lot of directors I've worked with that have made 40 movies."
Will you be able to see it? Yes. Fox Searchlight and Miramax plan a wide release soon after the July 28 limited release.
How will it do? Having Natalie Portman will help. Fans of her work circa 1996's "Beautiful Girls" might be especially drawn to it, since this movie sees a return to that type of uninhibited character for her. "Garden State" should also tap into the "Scrubs" fanbase.
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
(Now in limited release)
What it's about: Napoleon Dynamite is the biggest tether-ball-playing oddball at his Idaho high school, and he couldn't care less. He's got enough to deal with at home, where he has to put up with his cyberdating brother, Kip, and his shady Uncle Rico. And just when it seems like Napoleon's life couldn't get any more interesting, his new friend Pedro decides to run against the popular Summer (Haylie Duff) for class president with Napoleon's help. Writer/director Jared Hess was thankful the bizarrely deadpan film was such a huge hit at Sundance: "I was dry-heaving moments before the first screening. I expected to hear crickets, but it was a dream come true." The film's star, Jon Heder, wasn't as nervous. "I was like, 'Dude, Jared, you're funny. I think people are going to like it,' and after the first screening, it was like, 'Holy crap, this is set.' "
Why you should see it: Jared and his wife were only 19 when they wrote the script, and they enlisted Jon, an acting novice and Brigham Young University student at the time, to bring Napoleon to life with only the help of a perm and some moon boots. "I'm glad to say not a lot of people have recognized me," Heder said. "Although I did get someone saying the other day, 'How'd you get those buckteeth?' And I'm like, 'Uh, that's my teeth. Thanks a lot.' " Hess added, "I think more than anything, with comedy you don't want to be cute, and Jon isn't very cute in the film, so it worked out very well."
Will you be able to see it? Definitely. With the push of both Fox Searchlight and MTV Films, "Napoleon" is getting a huge release and an even bigger promotional campaign.
How will it do? Did we not just mention the huge push it's getting?
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Photo: Fox Searchlight
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