Film

Slamdance 2019: Utah premiere of Dons of Disco, first-class documentary about previously little-known lip synching scandal in pop music

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Some of the music industry’s most intriguing controversies have revolved around the lip-synched performances of singers. In 1991, Whitney Houston lip-synched the actual performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV but the prerecorded version that millions heard that day became a top 10 Billboard single. The group Muse was instructed to lip sync … Read more

Sundance 2019: The Biggest Little Farm full of charm but even bigger important ideas about nature, environment

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There is no question that the documentary The Biggest Little Farm, directed by John Chester, which chronicles how he and Molly, his wife, rejuvenated 200 acres of lands in the foothills of Ventura County into a vibrant agricultural ecosystem is an outstanding story that captures every imaginable emotion and quickly wins over the hearts of … Read more

Sundance 2019: Shooting The Mafia brilliantly sets larger context on the life’s work of courageous photojournalist Letizia Battaglia

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Sicily is the ancient cradle of toxic masculinity and unconditional violence. The Mafia—the Cosa Nostra – signifies power in its utmost pathological form. For many Americans, The Godfather film trilogy has codified a particular frame of reference when it comes to discussing the Mafia. In an interview before his death in 1999, Mario Puzo admitted … Read more

Sundance 2019: Eight documentaries, three Sundance Kids films highlight Utah connections to festival selections

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Editor’s Note: This is Part II of The Utah Review curtain raiser feature for Sundance 2019. Part I can be found here. It is a fixture in the annual slate of films for Sundance that the Utah Film Center, its cofounder Geralyn Dreyfous and the group to which she belongs Impact Partners Film as well … Read more

Sundance 2019: Utah’s film industry expands avenues for film culture, creative producers, state and local tourism

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Part I covers a broad overview of the state’s film industry and Part II will focus on the fiscal sponsorship initiative of the Utah Film Center as well as an overview of the films with a Utah connection that are in the Sundance 2019 slate. Read part II here. As Utah prepares to … Read more

Audacious, experimental, unflinching: Top Ten Moments of the Utah Enlightenment for 2018

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More apparent every year, the Utah Enlightenment is audacious, experimental and unflinching in its artistic entrepreneurship. In 2018, the pool for considering the most definitive moments of the Utah Enlightenment was as expansive and diverse as ever. The Utah Review presents the top ten moments for 2018, precisely because of promise and strength among its … Read more

Two examples of artistic entrepreneurship: Will The Sheep Come to Be Cleaned, The Wreath

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Two recent premieres of works by young Utah artists demonstrate their skills in developing as creative entrepreneurs in the community. Reviews of both are presented. Will The Sheep Come to Be Cleaned – Dat Nguyen In his most recent work Will The Sheep Come to Be Cleaned, Choreographer Dat Nguyen riffs off a metaphor that … Read more

Utah Film Center to present Hale County This Morning, This Evening, with director RaMell Ross attending Dec. 12

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Among the most prominent recurring elements in Toni Morrison’s novels are the roots of the small town black community in the South, even when the stories and characters are living and working in the North. Take, for example, Jazz (1992), a story set in Harlem where both main characters left the South because of the … Read more

Gratitude in three wonderful Utah programs: Repertory Dance Theatre’s Mosaic, NOVA Chamber Music Series’ Royal Musings, Spy Hop’s PitchNic

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This month, three leading organizations in Utah’s arts and culture scene presented programs: Repertory Dance Theatre’s Mosaic, NOVA Chamber Music Series’ Royal Musings and Spy Hop Productions’ 16th annual PitchNic premieres. Reviews of all three programs are presented. REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE: MOSAIC It took 93 minutes of dance to create the opulent mosaic of movement … Read more

Utah Film Center to screen new documentary about German design great Dieter Rams, with director Gary Hustwit attending

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In Rams, the new elegant, harmonious biographical documentary about Dieter Rams, the great German product designer, there are scenes of him visiting the new factory headquarters for the U.K. furniture brand Vitsœ, located in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. The new factory, indeed, epitomizes the 10 design principles that sit at the core of Rams’ philosophy … Read more