May 17, 2009 CineVegas shines spotlight on the silver screen

Anyone familiar with Spinal Greatest Dad,” a dark comedy a Wednesday night, but it’s also Bay Hotel and Casino. Tap can attest to the value of starring Robin Williams as a one of the biggest parties of the This is a “dive-in” movie, turning things up to 11. It’s, as father and high school teacher whole festival. meaning you can watch from the Christopher Guest’s character so trying to connect with his June 11, 2009 - The Jackpot cool comfort of the pool. eloquently puts it, “one louder.” teenage son and get the girl (in Premieres party will be held And on Monday, there will be Where regular amps (or in this this case, an art teacher) in the at Lavo in the Palazzo. There a screening of “Attack of the 50 case, film festivals) only go to face of tragedy. will also be a party at Sapphire Foot Woman” at a drive-in the 10, this one goes to 11. And it’s For more on the films, check Gentleman’s Club that night. festival’s organizers are building that extra notch, the ability to out the listings below. So you’ve got celebs, nightclubs, (temporarily) on Fremont Street go beyond a regular dial, that’s strip clubs – that sounds like a in downtown Las Vegas. driving this year’s CineVegas The parties formula for success. Groth sums all this excite- film festival. Part of the fun of having a June 12, 2009 – Official ment up, “[The films and parties] Not coincidentally, this is film festival in Las Vegas is that, CineVegas party at Rain in the combine to make up six days and CineVegas’ 11th year and with Photo courtesy CineVegas well, it’s Las Vegas. Movie stars Palms. Just a short walk from nights in Vegas that you won’t 10 years of world premieres, CineVegas’ opening night film is Saint John of Las Vegas, directed by Hue Rhodes, and and movie watchers alike flock CineVegas headquarters and want to miss a second of. Good featuring Steve Buscemi and Sarah Silverman. crazy parties and more than to Vegas on normal weekends, some of the screenings, there’s thing they pump oxygen into a few events that only a film partying their hearts out in no excuse for missing this one. the casinos.” and a slew of other offerings Steve Buscemi, the film centers festival in Las Vegas could nightclubs, in hotel rooms, even June 13, 2009 – Official like documentaries and advance around Buscemi’s character, an offer already behind them, the poolside. CineVegas party at Moorea The tickets screenings of highly anticipated ex-gambler, who returns to Las creative forces over at CineVegas But with CineVegas, the Beach Club at Mandalay Bay. If all this sounds like a good indie flicks. Vegas as part of his job as a fraud have pulled out all the stops to parties are just a little wilder, Here’s where holding a festival way to spend a few days, you’ll “This year’s CineVegas investigator. make sure this year’s festivities just a little bit more off the wall in Vegas gets great – partying be pleased to know that it’s not will rock anyone looking for Other high-profile screenings bring it to a whole new level. than a normal weekend and, poolside. just celebrities and the ultra-rich exhilarating new films from include the “Sure Bets” series, We’ve broken down the things because everybody is celebrating June 14, 2009 – The closing that can afford CineVegas. uninhibited and adventurous which are early screenings of that set this year’s CineVegas movies, you might just find night party will be at the Playboy There are four ticket package filmmakers,” Trevor Groth, much-buzzed about independent (June 10 - 15, 2009) apart, yourself dancing near someone Club in the Palms. We shouldn’t options, starting at $500 and CineVegas’ artistic director, studio films. Included in this run but let us just say, before we go you watched on screen a few have to explain why that one is winding down to just $100 said. are “500 Days of Summer,” star- any further – it’s pretty much hours before. worth going to. that pair everything together Opening the festival this year ring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and everything. While laying out the details In addition to parties, – admission to films, parties is the world premiere of “Saint Zooey Deschanel and “Moon,” The films of every CineVegas soiree CineVegas throws some events and events. John of Las Vegas,” which will starring Sam Rockwell and This year CineVegas’ film would take too long, here’s the that feel like parties. Plus, individual tickets to screen at Planet Hollywood on Kevin Spacey. lineup is the most ambitious rundown on the big ones: On Saturday night, the films can be purchased for $10. Wednesday, June 10. Directed The festival will close with yet – with nine world premieres June 10, 2009 - The opening festival is holding a screening To purchase tickets or for more by Hue Rhodes and starring Bobcat Goldthwait’s “World’s (affectionately known as the night party will be held at Privé of “Yellow Submarine” at information on packages, visit festival’s “Jackpot Premieres”) in Planet Hollywood. Sure, it’s Mandalay Beach at Mandalay cinevegas.com. CineVegas highlights

Wednesday, June 10 Daylight (Drama/Thriller) Mercy (Drama/Romance) Directed by David Barker, featur- Directed by Patrick Hoelck, Saint John of Las Vegas ing Alexandra Meierhans and featuring Scott Caan, Wendy (Comedy/Drama) Michael Godere. Glenn, Troy Garity and Erika Directed by Hue Rhodes, featur- Also screening on Friday. Christensen. ing Steve Buscemi and Sarah Also screening on Sunday. Silverman. Redland (Drama) Directed by Asiel Norton, featur- Humpday (Comedy) Thursday, June 11 ing Lucy Adden, Mark Aaron and Directed by Lynn Shelton, featur- All In: The Poker Movie Sean Thomas. ing Mark Duplass, Josh Leonard (Documentary) Also screening on Friday. and Alycia Delmore. Directed by Douglas Tirola, featuring Matt Damon, Phil Moon (Sci-fi/Thriller) Yellow Submarine (Animated) Hellmuth, Jennifer Tilly Directed by Duncan Jones, Directed by George Dunning, Photo courtesy CineVegas and Annie Duke. featuring Sam Rockwell and featuring The Beatles. The comedy World’s Greatest Dad, Kevin Spacey. This iconic movie will be Also screening directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, will be screened at the Mandalay Beach on Friday. screened on June 14. The film features In the Loop (Comedy) Robin Williams (above), Daryl Sabara area (the pool at Mandalay Bay) Directed by Armando Iannucci, and Alexie Gilmore. as a “dive-in” movie. featuring Peter Capaldi and James Gandolfini. Sunday, June 14 Patriotville (Comedy) World’s Greatest Dad (Comedy) Directed by Talmage Cooley, fea- Friday, June 12 Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, turing Justin Long, Emmanuelle Easier with Practice (Drama) featuring Robin Williams, Daryl Chriqui and Rob Corddry. Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Sabara and Alexie Gilmore. Also screening on Saturday. featuring Brian Geraghty and Closing night film. Marguerite Moreau. 500 Days of Summer (Comedy) Also screening on Saturday. Bronson (Action/Drama) Directed by Marc Webb, featuring Directed by Nicolas Winding Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Etienne! (Comedy) Refn, featuring Tom Hardy, Matt Gordon-Levitt. Directed by Jeff King and James Lance. Mizushima, featuring Harmony and Me (Comedy) Richard Vallejos and Monday, June 15 Directed by Robert Byington, Megan Harvey. featuring Kristen Tucker, Justin Adam (Romance/Comedy) Also screening on Rice and Alex Karpovsky. Directed by Max Mayer, featuring Saturday. Also screening on Sunday. Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne and Pete Gallagher. Saturday, June 13 The Headless Woman (Drama) Asylum Seekers (Comedy) Directed by Lucrecia Martel, fea- Directed by Rania Ajami, featur- turing Mara Onetto and Claudia ing Pepper Binkley, Bill Dawes Cantero. and Judith Hawking. Also screening on Sunday. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (Sci-Fi) Godspeed (Drama/Thriller) Directed by Nathan Juran, featur- Directed by Robert Saitzyk, ing Allison Hayes and William featuring Joseph McKelheer, Cory Hudson. See this classic cult Knauf and Courtney Halverson. movie at a temporarily-erected Also screening on Sunday. drive-in in downtown Las Vegas.

— Written by Jamie Helmick