That's right, Sundance is officially over for another year. We woke on Monday morning to nearly 2 feet of snow, and I was certainly relieved that I didn't have to rush off to Park City or any other screenings first thing this morning. It's a funny thing out here in Salt Lake, as they react differently to winter storms, or is it that they simply don't react at all? Schools are running on time after nearly a two foot snowfall. Drivers barely ease up on their pace, and businesses are all "business as usual".

My day was at a much more relaxed pace however. I took my time this morning, hanging out around the house. I had considered going into town this morning, but instead decided to let the sun melt some of the mess off the roads and allow the plow crews a bit more time to push away last night's dumping. it certainly is a nice feeling to be able to relax a bit and move at a more leisurely pace. I caught up on a bit of World news, answered some e-mails, called my wife, and even found some time to go visit my canine buddy, Drake. Before I knew it, it was afternoon and nearly time to head into town to get some Wait List tickets for this afternoon's "Best of Fest" screening.

I know, I said that the Sundance Film Festival is over, and it IS. However, after the Festival, the organizers present a series of "Best Of Fest" screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City, Sundance Resort, and Ogden. These are free public screenings of the films that won the various Sundance Awards over the weekend. These screenings run on Monday and Tuesday after the Festival's final day. Mel and I decided to screen an earlier screening in Salt Lake, which was to screen at 3:30pm.

So I headed into town by 1pm, to get Mel and I some Wait List tickets for the 3:30 screening of "Push", winner of the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic. I arrived nearly two hours before the screening, after making my way through mostly cleared canyon roads and much more clear city streets. Unfortunately the timing of release of Wait List tickets was improperly published, and I was to find out that they only hand out the numbers ONE HOUR PRIOR to the screening. So I found a downtown coffee Shop, Salt Lake Roasting Company. I began writing more of my blog entries until it was time to head back down to Rose Wagner for some Wait List numbers. I hung out around Rose Wagner and waited for the Wait List line to form. Mel was going to meet up with me shortly after 3:00. Shortly before the lines began to form, I was offered a physical ticket from a local who happened to have one extra ticket for today's screening. So now only Mel would have to wait in the Wait List line, but with a low number, hewas ensured a seat. I headed into the theater and waited for Mel to arrive, saving him a seat.

Lee Daniels' "Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire" not only won the Jury Award, but also the Audience Award, which is actually a rarity here at Sundance. The film follows the story of Precious, a young lady growing up in hard times in Harlem back in the 80's. At the tender age of 16 Precious is forced out of school because of her second pregnancy. Her home life is miserable, to be kind. And actually her mother's lover is the father of both her children, forcing himself on Precious while her loser mother stands by, allowing this to happen. Her mother is mean, violent, and certainly NOT a good role model, only ever worried about "the Welfare" (check, that is). Because Precious was actually a good student, she is given an opportunity to attend an "alternative" school, but her mother wants no part of it. Eventually Precious leaves home and finds some success with school and parenting. This, however, would not be the end of her life's struggles, but I won't ruin that for you.

I agreed with some of the casting, including stellar performances from the young lady portraying Precious: Gabby Sidibe. There is some celebrity in this fiilm as well, with singer Monique, Rockstar Lenny Kravitz, and Pop Idol Mariah Carey also putting in a good performance. I enjoyed some of the camera work, but found some inconsistencies within the film's style and tempo, and even within some of the minor casting. The film obviously has merit, ottherwise it would not have won both the Grand Jury and Audinece Awards in the Dramatic Competition.

I headed back to the house, relaxed a bit, and then waited for Mel and Deb to get home for some dinner. This would be my last night of dinner with Deb, as Tuesday Mel and I planned to go to Ogden to screen more of the "Best OF Fest" series. My trip is almost over.

More to follow. In the meantime... Butter up that popcorn, turn down the lights, and crank up that projector baby, I want to see some more films!

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