Sundance catalog is out
The catalog for this year’s Sundance Film Festival came this week, which was my first chance to see what everyone else’s first impression of The Nines would be. The festival organizers write the descriptions for the films, so you’re sort of at their mercy. Fortunately, John Cooper wrote up a very nice blurb for The Nines.
Three actors–Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, and Melissa McCarthy–are a delight playing different roles in the three different scenarios that comprise John August’s film The Nines. In “The Prisoner,” a troubled television star finds himself under house arrest with his chipper publicist and disillusioned neighbor providing his only link to the outside world. “Reality Television” is a Project Greenlight-style show tracing the behind-the-scenes tribulations of a half-hour sitcom. And in “Knowing,” an acclaimed video-game designer and his family have car trouble on an outing and find themselves stranded deep in the woods.
Writer/director August is firmly at the helm of this unique film. The three stories are linked to each other on a metaphysical plane, forming a stylish puzzle of coincidences that questions the underlying notions of both life and art. Does the creator have a responsibility to his or her creations? If we shape the lives we lead on any level, why not on all levels? Are we or are we not responsible for our own happy endings?
If you need tidy conclusions to these and other questions films sometimes pose, The Nines may not be for you. But if you love great writing, direction, and performances and are willing to ask questions, The Nines offers an upbeat, as well as enlightening, adventure.— John Cooper
My only correction would be in the first paragraph: Part 2 concerns a one-hour drama pilot, not a sitcom. The hijinks are more harrowing than hysterical. And for the record, he doesn’t mean that kind of “happy endings.” Shame on you.
You can see the printed version with all of the other information as a .jpg or a .pdf. There’s an online version of the entire shebang at the Sundance website.
Articles
December 29th, 2006 at 9:27 am
“The new phonebook’s here! I’m somebody now!”
grins
Congratulations, John. I hope we get to see the film at some point…:)
December 29th, 2006 at 10:05 am
I noticed your film was shot using a Sony HD Cam. Were you able to deliver the movie in a digital format or did you actually have to print to film?
December 29th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Van:
The catalog is a little misleading on this point. We’re projecting from HD Cam, but the movie was actually shot on film (and some SD video).
We prepared for going out to film from the start, but deliberately held off on the film-out until we knew about distibution. It’s a huge expense for a movie of this size.
December 29th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Congrats, John - its a great blurb. And as a big fan of Melissa McCarthy - thanks for bringing her a little further out into the public awareness - good to see someone taking care of their friends (it helps when their friends are mega-talents). I mean, seriously, the world would be a little better off with greater exposure to Marbles Hausgaw, as she will tell you.
December 30th, 2006 at 8:32 am
Mr. August:
Congrats on The Nines! Your work as a writer is great.
I am a high school teacher who is taking a group of students to the festival this year. We were a small group chosen by Sundance to attend the festival and view some films. Maybe we will run into each other in Park City. Congrats again.
Jason
December 31st, 2006 at 12:40 am
As an avid gamer, I love the idea of a game designer having to survive in the middle of nowhere. It sounds like he’s thrust into the very scenario he creates at his job. It’s a cool idea. I won’t be able to make it Sundance, but I’ll see it as soon as I possibly can.
January 1st, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Any chance of Hope Davis or Ryan Reynolds being on the Q&A panel at Sundance?
January 2nd, 2007 at 7:12 am
Aw John that’s a great blurb! How exciting!
Glad to see Ryan Reynolds’ name in the same sentence with the word “delight” since I’ve been delighted with him since Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place” and have been disappointed with his stuff since. Sounds like you gave him a chance to show us what he’s got. Can’t wait to see The Nines.