'Napoleon Dynamite' debuts at Sundance with a bang
No , not our hero this time. However the fact that Elvis has used this name in the past is being noted in a few accounts.
PARK CITY -- A Draper filmmaker's first feature drew
cheers, laughter and a standing ovation in its
premiere screening at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.
"Napoleon Dynamite," by former Brigham Young
University student Jared Hess, is a comedy about a
dorky Idaho teen (played by Jon Heder) who triumphs
over stuck-up classmates, a nerdy brother (Aaron
Ruell) and an obnoxious uncle (Jon Gries) still trying
to recapture his '80s glory days.
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Though Elvis Costello fans may recognize the name from
one of the singer's mid-'80s personas, Hess said
Napoleon Dynamite was the name of someone he met while
on his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Chicago.
"He asked, 'How come you people are called elders?' "
Hess said. "We asked 'What's your name, sir?' He said,
'My name's Napoleon Dynamite.' I thought, 'That is the
freshest name I've ever heard.' "
MONDAY January 19, 2004
Utahn's 'Napoleon Dynamite' debuts at Sundance with a bang
By Sean P. Means
The Salt Lake Tribune
Review
PARK CITY -- A Draper filmmaker's first feature drew cheers, laughter and a standing ovation in its premiere screening at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.
"Napoleon Dynamite," by former Brigham Young University student Jared Hess, is a comedy about a dorky Idaho teen (played by Jon Heder) who triumphs over stuck-up classmates, a nerdy brother (Aaron Ruell) and an obnoxious uncle (Jon Gries) still trying to recapture his '80s glory days.
"We couldn't have had a better audience," Hess said Saturday after the show. "We're very excited."
On Sunday, several distributors were reportedly eyeing the film and a deal may be announced as early as today. In the meantime, the movie has spawned a fashion trend on Park City streets: campaign buttons saying, " Vote for Pedro" or "Vote for Summer" -- a reference to a student body election shown in the film.
The scene that drew the loudest response at screening was when Napoleon performs an impromptu disco routine for a school assembly. For Heder, 26, a BYU animation student from Salem, Ore., watching the scene was the most harrowing moment of the night.
"The whole film was going fine, and then the dance scene comes on and I'm going "oh, no," said Heder, who also choreographed his character's dance moves. "But the people liked it."
The movie was filmed in Hess' hometown of Preston, Idaho, and he employed several BYU friends for key crew positions. The cast is mostly unknowns, with the exception of Diedrich Bader ("The Drew Carey Show") as a karate instructor, former child actress Tina Majorino ("Corrina, Corrina") as Napoleon's female friend, and Haylie Duff (sister of "Lizzie McGuire" star Hilary Duff) as the school's most popular girl.
In the post-screening Q-and-A session, audience members commented on Hess' use of '80s fashion and music in a story set in 2004. "Part of the aesthetic of the film is the '80s, but that's kind of the style in Idaho right now," Hess said.
Though Elvis Costello fans may recognize the name from one of the singer's mid-'80s personas, Hess said Napoleon Dynamite was the name of someone he met while on his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chicago.
"He asked, 'How come you people are called elders?' " Hess said. "We asked 'What's your name, sir?' He said, 'My name's Napoleon Dynamite.' I thought, 'That is the freshest name I've ever heard.' "
"Napoleon Dynamite" has three more screenings during the festival, including a run Tuesday, 10 p.m., at the Broadway Centre Cinemas in Salt Lake City
Comments
I posted comments from Elvis` Vh1 interview
on the Diana Krall Jazz Princess forum and got these
comments -
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jazzanddianafan
Reply
Re: Elvis talks about Diana`s new album.
Quote:
They don’t have any easy idiot-friendly structural
devices for people with limited musical imaginations.
You know, it is that kind of arrogant, egotistical
remark that has earned Mr. Costello his reputation....
hopefully, he did not actually mean it to come across
as 'either your smart enough to understand and
appreciate my music or your just too stupid for
words'...
There might well be one or two intelligent, musically
imaginative people who just don't care for 'North'...
it could happen....
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jazzygal karla
Reply Re: Elvis talks about Diana`s new album.
I know little, if nothing about Elvis Costello. He's
that guy who's now Diana's husband - that's how I
think about him. Yet that 'idiot-friendly' comment
made me laugh. Sounded like something Joni Mitchell
would say...
~
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Coda
Reply remarks by EC
I wonder if Elvis really thought through his
"idiot-friendly" remark before he said it. All I can
say is it's okay if everyone doesn't like or
understand every kind of music ("different strokes for
different folks") but there's no need to call people
names.
However, I was interested to read about his role in
collaborating with Diana's new songs. I am really
interested in hearing them...and also hearing Diana's
perspective about her new songs. As a writer, I
understand it's sometimes difficult to put something
very personal "out there" and you hope people respect
your feelings (because you've made yourself
vulnerable) even if they don't completely understand
your work. However, there will be some people who do
understand, and you just thank God for those people,
because those are the people you're writing for.
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fore15
Reply Re: remarks by EC
Man that's why Elvis Costello ROCKS!! because he says
what he means!!!
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skipjack7l
Reply
Coda eloguently states:
"As a writer, I understand it's sometimes difficult to
put something very personal "out there" and you hope
people respect your feelings (because you've made
yourself vulnerable) even if they don't completely
understand your work. However, there will be some
people who do understand, and you just thank God for
those people, because those are the people you're
writing for. "
Those words may be easier to take than EC's
interpretation of his feelings about the acceptance of
his writing-but I think he felt just that same way
!..Add to it the special vulnerability of his open
heartfelt work. I do agree with him that the melodies
are complex..and the poetry.. "except to say that it's
sensational"......and the guy is a pistol with
words..and honest in his delivery ..whenever.. ..
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Posted by: johnfoyle | January 19, 2004 3:25 PM