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Show Life The College Times Bl MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2008 2008 Sundance Film Festival begins \M , K -^-...-W ;r James Devjney/Fcxus Feature / Sundance i Festivities take you deep In Bruges Luke Hickman through documentary and many other U P editor artists whose works extend beyond the screen." Put on your fancy warm winter The 2008 SFF is showing 125 feaclothes, make yourself look nice and ture films out of the 3,624 submisbe sure to grab your camera with extra sions from 34 countries. The festival batteries because the 2008 Sundance is also holding screenings of 83 short Film Festival (SFF) is going on now. films out of 5,107 submissions from 17 The festival opened on Thursday, countries. All films and shorts are from January 17, with a press conference a wide range of genres; there are draheld by Robert Redford, President and mas, documentaries and even animated Founder of Sundance Institute, Geof- films. frey Gilmore, Director of the Sundance "We can never predict what will Film Festival, and Martin McDonagh, capture the collective consciousness Director of the festivals opening film, of filmgoers; however, the range of diIn Bruges. verse voices this year suggests a Festi"As from the beginning, the Sun- val at its very best: thought provoking, dance Film Festival is about discov- enticing and expansive," said Gilmore. ery of new talent and of issues that are "There are 55 first-time filmmakers; resonating with filmmakers and artists selections from countries never before alike," said Redford on Thursday. "This represented; ambitious, raw perforyear filmmakers are putting a personal mances and well-known actors in unfocus on issues relating to the world we expected roles. What is provocative, live in rather than addressing them on a exciting, is the process of films finding macro-political level. And it's exciting their audience." to me to see a new community of storyAfter the press conference, the festellers cross over from different points tivities were kicked off with world preof origin: the playwright who brings mier of McDonagh's first-time feature his words to the screen, the poet who film //; Bruges, starring Colin Farrell shares her story through music, the {Phone Booth), Ralph Fiennes (Voldeadvocate who invokes social change mort in Harry Potter) and Brendan Not your average Tool Bands new DVD meets hype and Snatch sounds interesting to you, then be sure to head up to the festival. The best way to get tickets for any screening is to show up at the appropriate theater a couple hours in advance and tough out the cold weather in the waiting line. If that's not appealing to you, know that Focus Features has picked up //* Bruges and it should be getting a nationwide release before too long. The festival's line-up is looking up from last year's letdown. At this point, it feels as if almost ever)' film could be worthy of the awards given out at the awards ceremony on Sat. Jan 26. This year's judges include Marcia Gay Harden (actress. Mystic River), Sandra Oh (actress, Grey's Anatomy), Jason Reitman (director of Juno), Quentin Tarantino (director/producer/writer/actor, Pulp Fiction) and many others. The festival will be taking place everyday until Jan. 27. For a complete listing and description of films, showtimes and locations, and even to see a new free short film a day, check out sundance.org/festival How to avoid getting a ticket Mei Sundquist Life writer For the second installation in The College Times' How To series, we will try to teach students how to bypass a traffic violation. Adam Magneson Life writer So I watched the new Tool DVD. Before you watch it, be warned that it does contain some disturbing images and artwork, from the mind of Adam Jones and many collaborators. The DVD contains the music video for the song "Vicarious," a documentary, some commentary and credits. This was more than enough to keep me " " • • " • ' - • . . . . , „ Gleeson (Mad Eye Moody in Harry Potter). In Bruges (pronounced burr-rouge) is a more-than-worthy film to open the festival. The film constantly jokes with idea that nobody knows where Bruges is, especially the audience ("it's in Belgium"). It's a gritty comedic action flick about two hitmen (Farrell and Gleeson) who are sent away by their boss (Fiennes) to hide away in the nooks and crannies of Bruges after a hit goes horribly wrong. Their orders are to lay low in the medieval fairytale city, only leaving to eat and do a little occasional sightseeing. Gleeson acts like the dad who's excited to be experiencing a little piece of tucked-away history'; whereas, Farrell acts like his 5-year-old child angry that they're not doing what he wants to do (get drunk and pick up on natives). The initial tone is fun, but before you know it, it gets action-packed and even manages to be somewhat, not completely, but somewhat artistic and original. Be warned that it's filled with the great colorful language of the Irish and about as violent and offensive as could be. If this mix of Grosse Pointe Blank f I II J I V I I I II I • I 1I I I Amazon.com entertained for an evening. For those who don't know Tool or Adam Jones, Adam Jones was a sculptor before starting Tool and is known for his strange, psychedelic and sometimes disturbing S«TOOL-05 1. Don't do anything illegal. 2. If that doesn't work out for you, at least keep an eye out for hidden police cars. This is easier in the winter, because they will usually be the only cars parked on the side of the road without frost on their windows and snow on their hood. Also, police cars will be turned on, so you will be able to see a fog coming from their exhaust stock-xchng Po-po with a radar gun. pipe. If you make the same commute every day, you should have a good idea ofwhere your local policemen like to hide. 3. If you do get pulled over, the first rule is that you must be respectful to the cop. Even though you're probably angry and frustrated and late for something, never let this show when handing over your license and registration. Turn your engine and radio off completely, and give your full attention to the officer. Don't make jokes, don't be sarcastic, and don't tell the officer that he has beautiful eyes. These tactics never work. Just realize thaj: the person who pulled you over is probably overworked and underpayed, and deserves your respect. 4. Cops will generally ask you why they pulled you over. So before the officer comes to your window, make a mental list of all the illegal things you have done. Are both your brake lights working? Are you wear5«TI CKET.M |