Fur-donning celebs that include Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen best be wary of taking Park City by foot--PETA have descended on the Sundance Film Festival.A line of protestors from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals formed in front of Alaskan Fur Gallery on Main Street today around 4:15 p.m., disrupting pedestrian traffic and chanting loudly."You must, you must, you must understand! Their blood, their blood, their blood is on your hands!" the group screamed on the bustling street, where several times Mary Kate was spotted walking, as well as Sir Ben Kingsley making the rounds in a leather snow cap and a shearling-lined coat.

I thought some of you might be interested in this review of The Wackness. So far, most of the synopsises we've been reading have been beyond brief and fairly vague. This gives a more in depth picture in what the movie is about, and though it barely mentions MK, I think that if the movie is a success, it would give MK a lot more credibility. I can't wait to see the movie and hear about what imparitial viewers think of her performance.


SUNDANCE REVIEW: THE WACKNESS
01.19.08
By Devin Faraci

Is it too early to declare The Wackness the best film of Sundance 2008? I mean, it's only day two (or three, if you actually got here on opening day), but I have a hard time imagining a movie I am going to love as completely as I loved this one. To be fair, I'm predisposed to adoring The Wackness - it's set in New York City in 1994, which was where and when I was living what might turn out to be the best days of my life. But even beyond that, I think the movie is just wonderful and is real, honest, hilarious and even a little bit touching. Let me reiterate: I really loved this movie.

Luke is a pot dealer just about to graduate high school. He's not a loser, but he's not one of the cool kids. He only gets invited to the parties when they need more weed. Luke is also in a very strange form of therapy - he's selling pot to his classmate's shrink father, who is paying him in the form of sessions. The Wackness takes place over the summer between high school graduation and leaving for college as the lives of Luke and his therapist fall apart in major ways.

Sir Ben Kingsley plays Dr. Squires, the shrink who is looking to recapture his youth by hanging out with the dope dealing kid. He's a huge mess, taking bong hits in his office and a handful of pills when he gets home. Josh Peck, the fat kid from Mean Creek (he's not fat at all anymore) is Luke, who is in love with Squires' daughter, played by Olivia Thirlby, the best friend from Juno. Peck and Kingsley have terrific chemistry (both comedic and emotional), and the best scenes in the film are the ones where they play off each other. They're great apart as well, though, and Kingsley's performance in here almost makes you forget that he's taken to doing Uwe Boll movies of late - even though he sort of seems to be imitating Harvey Keitel. Peck is just incredible, playing an Upper East Side white kid who is deep into hip hop (he discovers Biggie Smalls over the course of the summer) and he can play whole scenes with just his eyes. Peck's in almost every scene of the movie, and you almost feel like he's not in it enough - that's how great he is.

The Wackness opens with a few too many references to remind you that it's 1994, but once the movie gets going it settles into the period perfectly. It's weird to think that a movie set when I was 21 years old is a period piece, and I wondered how many of the 90s jokes in the film ('When I'm with you I want to listen to Boyz II Men') were lost on the older people in the packed screening room. Who cares, though? Writer/director Jonathan Levine perfectly captures the era and makes the New York of 94, the city that was just beginning to turn ino Disneyland, come to life.

Levine, who directed All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (a supposedly terrific horror film the Weinsteins bought, sat on and then dumped and which should be getting a release this year. I have a screener I have not yet watched - you can bet I'll be rectifying that right quick) punctuates the general realism of The Wackness with flights of fancy moments, including a subway car rap video that makes for one of the best title shots of the decade. As a screenwriter he's deft in the way he balances absurdity and reality; Dr. Squires is an epic fuck up and substance abuser who comes close to Hunter S Thompson levels, but Luke's low key white boy energy balances it all out.

More than once the film seems on the verge of spinning out of control and crashing into maudlin sentiment, but Levine keeps it working. The one time when the movie actually appears to have gone over the edge into Good Will Hunting schmaltz (and the comparison is inevitable), Levine gives Kingsley a gloriously snotty line that deflates it all. There's been a lot of talk about how the cynical, ironic generation would never be able to make movies that have heart, but The Wackness proves that they sure as hell can, and that you can walk out of a movie feeling good about the characters and where they end up without feeling manipulated or like you've been coated in cheese.

It's worth noting that The Wackness - which as of now has no distributor, but that'll be changing damn fast - has an incredible soundtrack of mid-90s hip hop. Whoever buys this movie needs to make sure they release a CD of this immediately; The Wackness could be the leading edge of a 90s revival.

There's a lot more to say about this movie, including the wonderful supporting turns by Method Man as a Jamaican drug lord and - gasp! - Mary Kate Olsen as a Phish Head, but I'm pressed for time. I look forward to seeing this movie again when it gets released, and writing up a longer review. I'm really looking forward to all of you discovering and falling in love with this movie.

(source)

Mary-Kate's Awkward Kiss Helps Kickoff Sundance
Filed under: Ben Kingsley , Mary-Kate Olsen , Sundance Film Festival



Sundance kicked off yesterday in Park City, Utah with the premiere of "The Wackness," a film starring Mary-Kate Olsen and the creepy kiss she shares with the much older Ben Kingsley.

An insider told the New York Post that one of the movie's production assistants developed a weird crush on Mary-Kate during filming in New York. According to the source, "He would do anything for her, get her tons of coffee, pay special attention to her, tell her stories, stare at her."

No big deal, right? Just an odd but harmless crush. Too bad the twin has something going on with one of his bosses now. The source later said that Mary Kate, "does have a thing going with one of our producers. They have a date to make out."

Ummm... is that the latest fad in dating or is this a 13-year-old producer? Making a date to go make out? Call me old fashioned (or a pig), I'm not going anywhere that doesn't involve a decent meal first!

(source)

(source)

her makeup & hair looks really good.
it was obviously professionally done for the photocall below.

(source)

hair = washed!
i want more!

Sundance kicked off yesterday in Park City, Utah with the premiere of "The Wackness," a film starring Mary-Kate Olsen and the creepy kiss she shares with the much older Ben Kingsley.

An insider told the New York Post that one of the movie's production assistants developed a weird crush on Mary-Kate during filming in New York. According to the source, "He would do anything for her, get her tons of coffee, pay special attention to her, tell her stories, stare at her."

No big deal, right? Just an odd but harmless crush. Too bad the twin has something going on with one of his bosses now. The source later said that Mary Kate, "does have a thing going with one of our producers. They have a date to make out."

Ummm... is that the latest fad in dating or is this a 13-year-old producer? Making a date to go make out? Call me old fashioned (or a pig), I'm not going anywhere that doesn't involve a decent meal first!

Photos: Getty Images

More photos of Mary-Kate Olsen and Ben Kingsley at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of "Wackiness" after the jump.

(Hint: right-click with your mouse to open the thumbnails up in a new window or tab.)

Photos: Getty Images

SUNDANCE REVIEW: THE WACKNESS
Cinematic Happenings Under Development,NY- 5 hours ago
Mary Kate Olsen as a Phish Head, but I'm pressed for time. I look forward to seeing this movie again when it gets released, and writing up a longer review. ...

More here

More here

Mary-Kate Olsen - Park City on January 18th


Mary-Kate Olsen - Leaving 'In Bruges' Premier at Sundance Film Festival

The Wackness
Variety,CA- 5 hours ago
Kingsley has a ball with Squires' gonzo character, getting a bizarre makeout session with none other than Mary-Kate Olsen as a barely-legal Central Park ...

Posh Spice Tops Blackwell's Worst Dressed List
KXAN-TV,TX- 6 hours ago
3: Mary-Kate Olsen - "She resembles a tattered toothpick - trapped in a hurricane." _ No. 4: Fergie - "Yes, when it comes to couture chaos, guess it's all ...

Kingsley, Mary-Kate Olsen hook up in Sundance film 'The Wackness'
The Canadian Press- 6 hours ago
PARK CITY, Utah - Here's an image that'll be difficult to top at Sundance: Mary-Kate Olsen making out in a telephone booth with Gandhi. ...

This week could be a big one for Mary-Kate Olsen. She’s always been precocious, but after her new movie “Wackness” premieres at the Sundance Film Festival, she may bust out of the “Full House” typecasting for good.

Olsen was spotted all over Park City, Utah yesterday. Whether she was doing press photos, interviews, or just hanging out, the paparazzi sure seemed to love the former child star.

Today’s Sundance buzz is all about Sir Ben Kingsley making out with one of the Olsen twins in a phone booth. No, it’s not the aftermath of a particularly out-of-control Park City bash – just a scene from The Wackness, in which Kingsley plays a psychiatrist who trades his services for weed and hooks up with another of his dealer’s clients, played by Mary-Kate Olsen. Per the Associated Press, Olsen “said she'd been worried about pulling off Kingsley's hairpiece during filming but pronounced the make-out session ‘fun.’” Good to know.

Unknown director Amy Redford was on hand for the premiere of her film The Guitar yesterday. Her father, a fellow named Robert, said all the right things to the Salt Lake Tribune. “She will probably have a rougher time than anybody…She did it on her own.”

We told you yesterday’s hot ticket would be Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, and sure enough, the Weinstein Company has swooped in and purchased the international rights to the documentary. Domestic rights remain available if you’re interested.

Or maybe you just want to look at the pretty people. Entertainment Weekly’s photo gallery includes Mary-Kate snuggling with Colin Farrell. Sorry, Sir Ben.

Filed under: Mary-Kate/Ashley Olsen

TMZ.com: Mary-Kate Olsen is crafty when it comes to covering her face -- but today, TMZ caught her in a very revealing moment! The miniature mogul decided snowy Park City, Utah was the appropriate place to let her cheek bones catch some rays. See Also ... Read more

Blackouts and Blowouts and Makeouts
E! Online- 9 hours ago
I make my way inside the crowded venue, where Paris Hilton is already partying and Mary-Kate Olsen is hanging with DJ Samantha Ronson after the premiere of ...

Paris "LESBOT" Hilton attended the Vitaminwater at MySpace Music Nights party in Park City, Utah, last night.

It was a star-studded event at club Harry O’s. Maroon 5 performed a set as Mary-Kate Olsen attended the event with DJ Samantha Ronson. Olsen & Ronson were up front the whole time smoking and enjoying the music prior to Ronson later taking over DJ duties.

Paris Hilton showed up and posed and danced for the crowd like only Paris can do...To bad there wasn't a Paris & Kim Kardashian re-unite, it has been nearly a year since the two were together.

Sean Hayes from Will and Grace was also spotted at the party.

Sounds like a lot of gayness to me!

UF gymnastics loses close one
Gainesville Sun,FL- 9 hours ago
They've said that the group of Here's an image that'll be difficult to top at Sundance: Mary-Kate Olsen making out in a phone booth with Gandhi. ...

Mary-Kate Olsen and DJ slash Lindsay Lohan BFF Samantha Ronson spin some secrets at the MySpace Nights at Tao party at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Friday night. MK has been in town promoting her film, The Wackness, which co-stars Ben Kingsley.

2008 Sundance Film Festival - "The Wackness" Screening, 18 Jan 2008



















































































^ omg how adorable!


Love what she's been wearing lately and how happy she looks! Now she only needs to stop sucking her cheeks in.
Wish she has a bigger part in this movie than what it was in FC.