Wrapping Sundance.

One of the great things about Sundance is that it compels all but the snobbiest of reviewers to rub shoulders with ordinary Joes, whether at screenings or on the mobbed shuttle buses that ferry people between theaters. It's here that critics are reminded that the moviegoing public is a congenitally generous species. Most people go to a movie wanting to embrace it, and this is a quality to respect even when we jaundiced reviewers beg to differ.

CSA: The Confederate States of America

The LAW's other critics also find something to embrace. For Scott Foundas, it's the winner of the Grand Jury Prize, Primer. For Ernest Hardy, it's CSA: The Confederate States of America and Brother to Brother: "By not reducing the complexities of race, identity, politics and culture to pedantic dialogue or rote poses, [Kevin] Willmott and [Rodney] Evans have helped Sundance make good on its aspiration to present exciting and provocative Negro cinema." And Ron Stringer: "The fire this time was ignited by a documentary called Tarnation from 31-year-old cineaste in extremis Jonathan Caouette."

A perhaps-last Sundance and Slamdance 2004 round-up would naturally begin at the Movie City News and indieWIRE specials and then maybe notice along the way...

Anthony Kaufman in the Village Voice, which promises more come Tuesday.

David Ansen for Newsweek, a "Web Exclusive," which means he's got breathing room.

Joe Conason, who co-wrote The Hunting of the President: The Ten-Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton with Gene Lyons, jokes that he might add an "author's cut" of the film to the DVD.

Elvis Mitchell on the winners; and his "Critic's Notebook."

Alexandra Jacobs in the New York Observer.

B Ruby Rich in the Guardian and Anne Thompson in the Observer: "I predict a dozen breakthrough successes."

Heather Havrilesky in Salon on the scene and on the films.

A handful of Austin filmmakers who attended offer their brief impressions while Marjorie Baumgarten takes on the big wrap-up for the Austin Chronicle.

Jonathan Wells for Res.

Posted by dwhudson at January 29, 2004 11:29 AM