OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, September 4-7, 2004 The Park Record C-8 Sundance indies go big PARK CrTYS BEST KEPT GARDENING SECRET IS ONLY 15 MINUTES AWAY... Mike's has the finest quality nursery selection, at amazing prices! LOS ANGELES (AP) Geeks, sharks, lovable neurotics and a fastfood fiend have given the Sundance Film Festival one of its biggest years ever at theaters. While none of the movies that came ovit of last Januarys festival approached the $140 million success of Sundance's all-time smash "'Hie Blajr Witch Project," the independent-film showcase has produced a siring of mini-hits. First-lime filmmaker .Tared Hess' "Napoleon Dynamite." about a collection of Idaho nerds finding their place in the world, and director Chris Kentis" shark nightmare vv()pen Water," based on a true story of a couple mistakenly left behind among hungry predators on a scuba-diving trip, both should finish with about $30 million in domestic revenues. Writer-director Zaeh Braff's romance "Garden State." in which he stars as an actor reuniting with of fix: at pals during a funeral homecoming, has passed the $10 million mark with plenty of sleam left. "Super Size Me." tracing director Morgan Spurlocks health deterioration on an all-McDonalds diet, topped out at $11.2 million, impressive results for a documentary. "'lTiere's been a real blending of indie film and commercial prospects out of Sundance." said Steve Gilula. head of distribution for Fox Searchlight. which released "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Garden State. ""Financially, other tharTBIair Witch/ I don'l think there's any year that compares." In past years, Sundance has had the occasional breakout hit like "In the Bednxmi," which took in $36 million. 'Flic best Sundance films % Time to get digging... bulbs are in! Perennial mums too! Fall is a great time to plant trees! FRESH STOCK IS STILL 1515 North Main in Heber, next to the bowling alley Monday - Saturday, 9am-6pm ARRIVING! 435-657-2970 Sticks & Stenes • FURNITURE • Antiques more typically gross just a few million dollars, such as last year's "'Hie Station Agent" and "American Splendor." Sundance also has been known for duds such as "Happy. Texas" and "Next Stop Wonderland." "Sundance has been a dangerous minefield with some high-priced, higher-profile flops," said Tom Orlenherg. president of Lions Gale Films, which scored hits out of Sundance last year on "The C<x»ler" and ihis year on "Open Water." "'ITiis year, all of the higher-priced acquisitions seem lo be panning out nicely." A combination of factors have contributed U> Ihe popularity of indie films. More small distributors have emerged, with some players willing to put up cash to market and widely release niche movies. Many independent filmmakers have moved from an esoteric art-house sensibility toward mainstream tastes. And audiences have ti growing appetite for something beyond the usual Hollywood offerings, said Sundance festival chief Geoffrey Gilmore. "I do think the independent film audience is maturing." Gilmore said. "People are interested in things that aren't fitting into the formulaic studio mold." A handful of other Sundance flicks have done decent business this year. Among them: "Maria Full of Grace." about a young Colombian woman who signs on as a drug mule looking for a better life in the United Stales, which won the audience award for favorite Sundance dramatic film; the domestic drama "We Don't Live Here Anymore," starring Laura Dern. Naomi Walls, Mark Ruffalo and Peter Krause; the political documentary "Control Room"; and the surfing documentary "Riding Giants," the festival's opening-night film. Still to come this year arc three lop Sundance prize winners: "Primer," a techno-thriller that won the jury award for best dramatic filnu'Dig!," a portrait of the friendship and rivalry between musicians Anton Newcombe of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and Courtney Taylor o[ the Dandy Warhols, which won the documentary jury award; and "Born Into Brothels." the audience-award documentary that examines hardships endured by impoverished children of prostitutes in Calcutta. Other well-received films that found distributors at Sundance also arrive in theaters late this year: "The Woodsman." starring Kevin Bacon in a career performance as a child molesler trying lo rebuild his life after prison; "The Motorcycle Diaries,'" director Walter Salles' lively portrait of young Ernesto "Che" Guevara on a formative road trip across South America; and "The Machinist." with Christian Bale in a thriller about a man questioning his sanity after going without sleep for a year. "It's really cyclical, what you'll find at any one festival," said Mark Urman, head of distribution for ThinkFilm, which picked up "Primer" at Sundance. "You go through two or three festivals, and its slim pickings. Bui there is talent out there, there are good stories, and eventually a lot of good movies emerge." Online music store tests waters LABOR DAY SALE 10% - 50% OFF Selected Items *see store for details 2756 Rasmussen Rd. • Park City, Utah • 435.615.2071 SEATi'LE (AP) On the face of things. Microsoft Corp. s online music service looks a lot like the market leader, Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes. When the service launches with a U.S. test version Thursday, songs will cost 99 cents - the same as Apple. 'Die catalog will initially include about 500,000 songs, but the company plans to scale up to more than 1 million songs over the next few weeks - mulching the volume available to Apple users. But Microsoft insists il is different. Among other things, the company claims its service will have a different look and feel, and says a main selling point is that is that songs can be played on more than 70 hapdhpld deyiccjs,tfiat supporj its. Windows Media format. Apple's service only works with its iPod and a recently released Hewlett-Packard Co. clone. But Apple may still have an advantage there: after all, the iPod has become an ultra-hip accessory. Microsoft doesn't "look to make any money of note" from the service, said Yusuf Mehdi. Microsoft's corporate vice president in charge of its MSN online division. Instead, Mehdi said Wednesday, Microsoft is hoping the service will serve as a vehicle for drawing more users to its MSN Web site, helping garner more advertising dollars. 'Hie service also aims lo be another way to keep Windows-based personal computers enticing, he said. Analysts-have said Microsoft also is eager lo boost the popularity of its Windows Media technology, which it hopes will become a standard format distributing copyright-protected digital music and video. Apple uses different technology, posing a potential threat to Microsoft. Microsoft is launching a new version of its Windows Media Player along with the music service. 'Hie market for buying music over the Internet is still nascent, but analysts say it stands lo increase substantially in Ihe coming years. Apple said this week that users had downloaded more than 125 million songs from its service since its debul in April 2003. A final version of Microsoft's service is expected to b& completed in mid-October.-Mehdi said. Cx Richardson Flat Proposed Environmental Cleanup ^: S Available for Public Comment The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment;^ its Proposed Plan for cleaning up heavy metals at the Richardson Flat tailings '•' impoundment. The site is comprised of 160 acres of mining tailings, located 1.5 miles northeast of Park City. In order to protect humans, plants, and animals from heavy metals found within the soil, sediments or water at Richardson Flat, EPA and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality are presenting the preferred cleanup alternative for the site in the Proposed Plan. The Proposed Plan describes EPA's preferred cleanup alternative for Richardson Flat as well as other possible cleanup alternatives. The preferred cleanup alternative includes containing the tailings with a soil cover; reinforcing the embankment and tailings impoundment; moving tailings from outside the impoundment and in the nearby wetlands within the impoundment; and using institutional controls to insure the remedy into the future. 7 ;' The cleanup of Richardson Flat is part of the Upper Silver Creek Watershed ; project, a collaborative effort among local, state, and federal stakeholders to address historic mining contamination in the Upper Silver Creek Watershed from roughly Empire Canyon to Richardson Flat United Park City Mines Company owns Richardson Flat and will be conducting the cleanup work. Write t o us! Written comments will be accepted at any time during the comment period by mail to Jim Christiansen, EPA Remedial Project Manager, EPA Region 8,999 18th Street, Ste. 300, Denver, Colorado 80202, . ; ; or send an email to: christiansen.jim@epa.gov. . : : •Uif M e e t with us! A public meeting will be held where you are welcome to present your comments in person on Tues., September 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Santy Auditorium, Library & Education Center, 1255 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, Park City, Utah 84060. ' • ; • _ ; - . • • • _ < . : ; • # . ^fS-ft . •• • • " • • > < - • - " * : - . . < • • _ . . • For more information, please visit the Upper Silver Creek Watershed Website at http://www.silvercreekpc.org, O r contact Jim Christiansen, . EPA Remedial Project Manager at (303) 312- 6748, or Jennifer Cbergo, EPA and ask for us by name.- . ..-• ; ' ' ';.. : ,. '. - , - . . • Dinner Special OR 4-for-2 and Free Fondue Dinner Special* J This coupon is valid towards a2-for-1 dinner ENTREE at The Cabin restaurant. Parties of 4 or more also enjoy complimentary fondue. 18% gratuity will be added prior To discount. •Please present this coupon to your server upon arrival. Reservations are recommended. Offer is valid daily until Nov 24, 2004. Not, valid Oct 21, 2004. Receive a complimentary entree with the purchase of another entree with equal or greater value. (•*:• / y - . ' . - : : • ; . ' C , . ".' . .; p C RAN D T OUMMll noinim THE CANYONS-UTAH For reservations please calln www•thecanyons.com Community Involvement Coordinator at (303) 312-6601 at ERA's Denver office.^;.; \'.-.vv<;"{,. •.> . --.;• 'You can also dial toll free (800) 227-8917 .;-•:'. 2-for-1 Complimentary valet parking for guests of The Cabin Restaurant EPA will not make a final cleanup decision before we i i consider all public comment on this Proposed Plan 'V THE CABIN . Documents about this site are available to the public at the Park City Library, 1255 Park Avenue, Park City, Utah 84060. The Cabin Restaurant, located in the Grand Summit Resort Hotel & Conference Center at The Canyons Resort, offers exceptional dining in a charming rustic setting presented by Executive Chef Gohary. The Cabin promises sumptuous eclectic cuisine of the American West. The Cabin is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner EXPLORE. EXPERIENCE. DISCOVER. • PARK CITY. UTAH ••!» |