Dickens’ classic holiday tale has been told countless times, a testament to its durability.  The most recent iteration is from Robert Zemeckis, who brings his admirable ‘no fear of technology’ approach to the forefront.  Whereas his use of technology in the past rendered the technology rather seamless and invisible (think “Forrest Gump” or his “Back to the Future” trilogy), here the technology always seems to be on display.  Zemeckis has assembled a notable cast and outfitted them with 3D motion capture capability.  The result is an animated film with fluid life-like action, driven by the likes of Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Bob Hoskins and Robin Wright Penn.

The splashier of the two films is “Inglorious Basterds.” Tarantino’s revenge fantasy is set ‘once upon a time in Nazi occupied France.’ After a bumpy opening at the Cannes Film Festival and after some likely judicious editing, the 152 minute film now delivers an impressive romp.  Brad Pitt leads the titular posse of Jewish guerilla fighters, pulled from various corners of the USA and dropped behind enemy lines to kill some Nazis.

Music Box Films' Cloud 9 (Wolke 9) is an award-winning German film opening in New York on August 14 and Los Angeles on August 28. Directed by Andreas Dresen who won The German Film Award for Best Director and starring Ursula Werner, who won for Best Actress, it also stars Horst Rehberg as Ursula's husband and Horst Westphal as her lover.

The 2009 version of the Palm Springs International ShortFest and Short Film Market is concluded and, as the largest festival of its kind in North America, press more easily can navigate the 315 films via not only the programs at the Camelot Theatres multiplex but their film library, abuzz each day with buyers, filmmakers and press.

In Las Vegas, we just wrapped Dennis Hopper’s 11th Annual CineVegas Film Festival, the ultimate, the alternate and the best partying film festival in the world - the additional must-to-check annual event in Las Vegas for both filmmakers and party goers who likes independent films

Brad brings you hi spring film reviews of Throw Down Your Heart, Adoration, Sleep Dealer, and Hunger

The big news at Sundance was the economy. Buyers were cautious with their wallets, and many films are still awaiting a sale.  But as always, there were myriad gems being screened and at least one well-named stinker.

One wonders how much bigger the Palm Springs International Film Festival can get.  Unlike our economy, it seems to grow and prosper every year, and the 2009 version sported 208 films from  73 countries and set, once again, records for attendance and box office. Among the Oscar-winning and –nominated celebrities who were honored at the Gala were director Ron Howard and Sean Penn, an odds-on favorite for the lead role he played in Milk.

No top ten film list is really worth one thin dime if it does not grapple with comedy versus drama, animation vs. live action, documentary vs. narrative, studio vs. independent and yes, American versus the rest of the film world. Support these films in their video life and they might just cut back on making lame, bloated superhero cookie cutter epics. Unless you like that sort of thing. In which case, what are you doing reading this?

Here's the annual Sundance Film Festival Roundup, complete with my views and reviews on the parties and events, the lounges, and the festival in general, for those who are interested, or weren't able to make it there. I try to keep it real here, so you'll not only hear about the great, happy moments (of which there were many!), but also my gripes, complaints, and sometimes outright whining. :)