Anytime that I go and see multiple movies in one day I prefer to have the nightcap be a comedy, or something light that I don't have to put much thought into. Fortunately for my wife and I, our final selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, and final selection of the day took us to For a Good Time, Call....

This movie is about Lauren and Katie, two mid-20's girls living in New York City who share a mutual friend that connects them when money is short and both are in need of a roommate. Despite a checkered past these two must find ways to get along if they want to continue living in a beautiful apartment in the most expensive city in the country.

Lauren (Lauren Miller) is an aspiring editor who has recently found herself without a job, and without "her person". Katie (Ari Graynor) is a not so aspiring nail technician working at a local beauty salon. Her grandmother left her with a huge, rent controlled apartment with spacious hallways and lovely views of the park. However when it no longer is rent stabilized she needs to come up with some additional income to pay her landlord.

With Lauren's background as an analytical, rational person, and Katie's background of talking dirty, the two decide to start their own phone sex hotline and reap the benefits of outrageous per minute fees, and lonely men all around the country. What ensues is a hilarious look at the completely opposite sexual backgrounds of two single women in the big city.

Categorizing this movie as one that doesn't make you think is understating it. The humor comes fast and furious, and doesn't require your utmost attention at all times. A cameo by Lauren Miller's husband (some random comedian named Seth Rogen) steals the show. With Justin Long being the biggest "name" on the poster, it doesn't hurt to have someone with Rogen's notoriety jump on board for a scene. Having it deliver the most hilarious scene in the movie is the cherry on top of the sundae.

I haven't been able to locate a wide release date for this movie. If in fact it does hit the local theaters, do yourself a favor and go laugh for 90 minutes. I promise it will be a good time.

For a Good Time, Call...
Directed by: Jamie Travis
Written by: Lauren Miller, and Katie Anne Naylon
Starring: Lauren Miller, Ari Graynor, and Justin Long
My Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Would Gene Pick it?: Yes

As mentioned below this is the one week of the year that my bride and I step away from the local Cinemark and check out the latest indie films playing at the Sundance Film Festival. This morning along with my brother and his bride we used the good fortune of an early morning ticket draw to see the widely acclaimed film The Words.

This film features Bradley Cooper in a role that steps far away from the slapstick comedian in The Hangover series and into the realm of serious dramatic acting. This is a role that I wasn't expecting from Mr. Cooper, but he was terrific.

Rory Jansen (Cooper) is a struggling writer living in New York City with his new wife Dora (Zoe Saldana). Despite working tirelessly on his writing he has yet to have his work published. While honeymooning with his new bride in Paris he stumbles across a beautiful old briefcase that Dora decides she is going to purchase for Rory for him to carry his work. After returning home to find more letters of rejection for his work, Jansen finds a hidden pocket in his new briefcase that contains a story that begins to consume his life.

Despite doing everything he can to get the story out of his mind he decides one night to sit and copy the work word for word "just to feel the words go through his body". His plans of never doing anything with the work are radically changed when his wife finds the manuscript on his computer and urges him to put it out there for the world to read.

What happens next is the conscious struggle between a man who is being lauded as the toast of the literary world, and a man who knows the truth. An ill-fated afternoon meeting with an unnamed character played brilliantly by Jeremy Irons leads to decisions that will make Jansen look at the world in an entirely different light.

It is a little more difficult to write reviews of Sundance films as the vast majority of the world has never heard of the plot line, and therefore has no idea the context of the plot. Well, not to go all Inception on you, but there is another story that expands the depth of this film.

Dennis Quaid plays writer Clay Hammond, an experienced writer with plenty of adoring fans. Throughout the film the story that we are being told comes from Hammond's book titled The Words. The story that comes from this plot line will have you asking your friends exactly what happened as you walk to your car, and the beauty of this film is that each of you might have a different answer, and they all will be right (although I still maintain that I was "righter" than everyone... but that's just me).

The star studded cast in this film will likely lead to a wide release at some point in 2012. Following the film, during the Q & A with the writers we learned that this project took them nearly 12 years from putting pen to paper to us devouring treats and the women in the theater hoping Bradley Cooper's shirt falls off. The long journey led to a great film that will make you think, and entertain you for 2 hours... AKA exactly what I look for in a film.

The Words
Directed by: Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal
Written by: Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, and Zoe Saldana
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Would Gene Pick it?: Yes

Thanks to FilmSchoolRejects.com for the graphic

My wife and I have been fortunate for the past 4 years to be able to get some tickets to the annual Sundance Film Festival. 2012 was no different as we were able to secure tickets to see 3 films.

Up first was an entry into the Dramatic Competition called Nobody Walks. Starring John Krasinski as an up and coming sound mixer in Hollywood, this movie is about a family who takes in an aspiring film maker (Olivia Thirlby) who needs some help recording the sound in her first feature length film.

When the two filmmakers begin to develop a little closer relationship than one would hope from co-workers it starts a downward spiral for the rest of the family living at home.

I wish I could go more in depth about the storyline, but the creative team behind this one decided not to go ahead and just stop there as well.

I am a big fan of Krasinski and the work that he has done on The Office. He is one of my favorite characters on TV, and truly seems like genuine good guy that would be a blast to sit and BS with. Having him star in this movie added a full point to my rating. Unfortunately the rest of the movie didn't add much more.

It seemed to me like the writers wrote out the main storyline and realized that it was only going to be about 48 minutes long and they needed to fill another 30-40 minutes of screen time. The "B" stories were pathetic. They felt rushed and added zero to the overall effectiveness of the movie. After seeing The Artist last week you develop a greater appreciation for the music that is used in a movie. That film did a masterful job in using music to move the story along, Nobody Walks did the exact opposite. Just when you'd think something great was going to happen based on the music to move the dull story along, the scene would end. It was very underwhelming.

According to my research this movie does not have a wide release date yet. When it does you will better off saving the money and staying home to watch reruns of The Office.

Nobody Walks
Directed by: Ry Russo-Young
Written by: Ry Russo-Young, and Lena Dunham
Starring: John Krasinski, Jane Levy, and Olivia Thirlby
My Rating: 1.5 out of 5
Would Gene Pick it?: No

It turns out that the freezing cold, and disgusting snow that visits Utah every winter does serve a purpose. I give you the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. While I am not certain that the festival wouldn't work if it were 75 and sunny, it certainly helps that Hollywood likes to hit the slopes for 10 days a year.

This is the third consecutive year that my wife and I have been fortunate enough to attend a screening at the festival. This year we were able to see the world premier of The Music Never Stopped, a film about a father's relationship with his son who is suffering from a brain tumor.

J.K. Simmons plays the role of Henry, a now retired engineer who is struggling to bond with his son Gabriel following the discovery of a tumor in his only child's brain. With the help of a musical therapist, played brilliantly by Julia Ormond, Henry is able to connect with Gabriel through the power of music.

The film highlights some of the most popular music from the 60's, 70's, and 80's, including a large presence by The Grateful Dead. It had the woman sitting next to me "oohing" and "ahhing" each time a new song was played. While I may not be able to relate to the memories that come back to both the characters and the vocal woman sitting next to me, I think we can all associate the power of music to memories from days past.

Without giving away too much of the plot, this story of the bond between a father and his son will be enjoyed by viewers of all generations. The music will keep you tapping your toes, while the sly wit of the characters will make you laugh, and potentially even cry.

One thing's for sure, you'll be singing on your car ride home.


The Music Never Stopped
Directed by: Jim Kohlberg
Written by: Gwyn Lurie, Gary Marks, and Oliver Sacks
Starring: J.K. Simmons, Julia Ormand, Lou Taylor Pucci, and Cara Seymour
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Would Gene pick it?: Yes


Notes: After viewing the film, Jim Kohlberg did a Q & A on stage, and mentioned that the film is slated to be released in early March. Be sure to check all the usual places for showtimes upon it's release.