Park City, 1/29.

Dennis Lim lists about a dozen actors who appeared in more than one film at Sundance this year: "To the casual observer the impression is one of an insular club. But even for the heavyweights of the indie star system, the reality is not always so glamorous."

Also in the New York Times, Manohla Dargis: "[T]he Sundance brand helps obscure the reality that there simply isn't enough quality American independent work, particularly of a saleable kind, to justify an event of this size."

Sundance is not as fun as it used to be, chimes in Eric D Snider. Writing at Hollywood Bitchslap, he realizes that this is not an original observation. In fact, he argues, precisely because this perception is becoming so widespread, the festival has a problem on its hands. "If the hassle starts to outweigh the enjoyability, maybe some of us [in the press] will stop bothering with it. The same goes for the public." So he offers a few pointers. Because, after all, Sundance is "a vibrant, important festival. I hope the tireless souls who run it can guide it through the growing pains and continue to make it a positive experience for those of us who look forward to it every year."

Of the films she saw at Sundance, Annie Frisbie lists her favorites at Zoom In Online.

Just before the awards were announced, Eric Kohn, blogging for the New York Press, chose his favorites for each of the categories. Like Tom Hall's picks, these choices are explained - good, quick reading on both accounts.

In an earlier entry, Tom writes, "In almost every single fiction (and, come to think of it, non-fiction) film I have seen at this year's festival, white American (heterosexual) masculinity has been exposed as the playground of self-serving, foul-mouthed, misunderstood pricks whose sole mission in life is to destroy the happiness of women and their fellow men." In short, this was "The Year of the Asshole."

For Time, Rebecca Winters Keegan lists "Seven Surprises from Sundance" - not movies, but trends... or rather, trendlets.

Justine Elias runs down a few festival highlights for the Observer. Also, Killian Fox, briefly, on the shorts.

At Cinematical, Kevin Kelly has a much more thorough review of at least one batch, the Shorts II program. Also, Tommy DiChiara breaks Sundance down "by the Numbers." Nothing to do with acquisitions.

Online viewing tip. A wrap-up edition of iW VIDEO.

Posted by dwhudson at January 29, 2007 6:53 AM