Time for a look back at the summer’s best and worst in the 2014 Summer Movie Roundup.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
RELATED: See all of Marvin Brown’s reviews from his film archive.
Campus MovieFest 2014
Universal Studios
DAY 3: The Films
I’ll let my brother John Brown handle this:
“So seven hours later 71 short films seen. Lots of laughs, incredible cinematography, great writing and story lines some touching moments and all with the best movie watcher in the world — my big bro!”
John Brown, left, and Marvin Brown at the 2014 Campus MovieFest at Universal Studios. Photo credit: John Brown
Campus MovieFest 2014
Universal Studios
DAY 2: Workshops
Producer-writer-actor Grant Heslov (Argo, The American) details the struggles and successes of the collaborative process. (Credit: Marvin Brown)
Tom Shadyac, with Marvin Brown. Shadyac, director of hits Ace Ventura, Bruce Almighty and the Nutty Professor remake, shares his experience of walking away from commercial films. Shadyac, seriously injured in a bike accident, would reevaluate his life and career, culminating in his life-affirming documentary I Am.
Director Jake Kasdan (The Zero Effect, Bad Teacher) fields question concerning his career, while promoting his upcoming comedy Sex Tape. (Credit: Marvin Brown)
Up next: Day 3, The Films
Campus MovieFest 2014
Universal Studios
Day 1: Setting Up
The CMF bills itself as the “world’s largest student film and music festival.” In its 13th year of doing what it does best, the event brought together college and university students from around the globe to screen their films, workshop and network with each other, and walk the Red Carpet for the culminating awards ceremony.
The affable cofounder and Vice President ViJay Makar and his skillful team undertook what must have been (but didn’t feel like) a daunting task of corralling hundred of students and managing dozens of workshop hosts, celebrity presenters and an untold number of film screening.
How this thing works: Students at participating colleges and universities are supplied with Apple laptops, Panasonic HD camcorders, and training–all for free. The students are given one week to create their own short movies, with each school hosting red carpet finales to showcase its top movies. The movies must be five minutes or less, and use music created by the students themselves or contributed by independent artists.
This thing can only get bigger by the year.
Sundance Film Festival 2011*
Park City, Utah
The Main Event
Among Day Three’s assortment of films and stars was a nice diversion to the heart of Park City and the Sundance Film Festival: Main Street. Nestled between the Wasatch Mountains and adorned with quaint and sleek storefronts, the main strip is alive with celebrities, tourists and industry hopefuls.
The Wasatch Mountains surround Park City. (Credit: Marvin Brown)
With mountains peeking over every roof and around every bend, Main Street seems at once an upscale getaway and an inviting hometown. Great shops and eats on every block. Friendly crowds, which is status quo for Park City, never took away from attractive smallness of the Main.
Lunch was had at The Eating Establishment—yes it was—a great restaurant near the top of the ascending Main Street. The breakfast portions are huge and the burgers have to be held with two hands. Interestingly, some store facades are manipulated to hype up the Sundance angle, so you might wonder why your favorite shop suddenly has a new name.
Main Street was great. If you’re going to take a break from screening films, yeah, this will do the trick!
Eccles Theater is one of several theaters around Park City that screen Sundance films. (Credit: John Brown)
My brother seems surprised to find a Playboy store on the main strip. It’s either new, or one of those Sundance Surprises.
Snow alert: Up until today it’s been clear skies. But today on Main Street, Sundance got its snow. And snow. And more snow. By the time lunch was done, the sidewalk and streets were covered.
OK, on to the shows.
| Movie reviews from Sundance screenings:
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest
John Brown at Eccles Theater in Park City (Credit: Marvin Brown)
| Lights come up. Saying goodbye to Park City.
*Note: Since marvincbrown.com had not been created at the time of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, I decided to go back and repost these reviews and festival items, which were catalogued elsewhere—mainly because I needed to get these reviews into my archives, but also because it was an enjoyable experience I’d like to share.
Sundance Film Festival 2011*
Park City, Utah
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
Rated R
Past and present collide gently and shockingly in Sean Durkin’s evocative Martha Marcy May Marlene. Making its debut here in Park City, the effective drama charts the escape of Martha (an amazing Elizabeth Olsen, Oldboy) from her two-year life in a backwoods, Upstate New York cult. After reconnecting with her estranged sister (Sarah Paulson)—her only remaining family—Martha tries to make sense of her values, purpose and trauma.
John Brown, right, with director Sean Durkin (Credit: Marvin Brown)
As the film tracks backward, we sense the mounting dread of cult life, but tense present-day scenes underscore that unstable family relationships may have helped drive Martha to the cult. Lead and supporting roles are gripping from top to bottom. But let’s single out veteran character actor John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone, The Sessions), whose quiet menace as the cult’s leader chills the blood.
Subtle editing and past-present transitions are powerful. Durkin’s direction—sure-handed, never showy—packs a punch.
See it | Skip it
*Note: Since marvincbrown.com had not been created at the time of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, I decided to go back and repost these reviews and festival items, which were catalogued elsewhere—mainly because I needed to get these reviews into my archives, but also because it was an enjoyable experience I’d like to share.
Marvin Brown, with actor John Hawkes (Credit: John Brown)
At Tarantino Film Fest. Up first: Reservoir Dogs!
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