“…it was hot, it was loud, it was drunk it was Vegas baby!”

Over 1,000 people comprised of indie film fans, patrons of the arts, filmmakers, Vegas VIPs and celebs attended the opening night gala celebration of the CineVegas Film Festival.  Festivalgoers jammed into the enormous theater at the Planet Hollywood Hotel, well, more like a concert hall normally used for a show involving scantily-clad ladies.  The fest has clearly come into its own as the event in Vegas to see, be seen and be seen getting drunk watching a film gawking at celebs.  Or at least that’s what most of the crowd, um, myself included, were doing as we waited for the opening night film, Saint John of Las Vegas (click link for review), to begin.

Celebrities walked the red carpet including Saint John star Sarah Silverman.  Other celebrities walking the red carpet included many local celebs which was confusing at times since they were not as well known to media outlets outside of Las Vegas.  The confusion turned to chaos when an up and coming actress named “Susie,” crashed the red carpet with her publicist in tow and almost made it down the line until she was abruptly yanked away.  (The full story of Susie’s yanking off the red carpet was recounted in a bar later, the details of which were wiped away by alcohol.  Damn memory erase — foiled again!)

Designated Chairman and uber-cool film legend Dennis Hopper kicked things off in a way that could only happen in Vegas.  As his name echoed from the loudspeaker, a cloud of smoke formed and Dennis emerged from the floor to the sounds of epic music quickly accompanied by laughter and applause.  He greeted the crowd and introduced CineVegas programmer Trevor Groth who then introduced director Hue Rhodes who then introduced the film.  There were a lot of introductions.  Hue humbly thanked everyone on his crew and shared a touching anecdote about taking a budget phone call as his wife was in labor.  Of course, he thanked his wife most of all. Aw.  How can you not like a guy who tells a story like that?

Following the screening was a raucus Q&A session.  Sarah Silverman’s brand of shock comedy rocked the crowd as she recounted dreams of being gangbanged.  She’s so cute when she’s dirty, but Sarah is more thinky than kinky since there’s always a point wrapped up in there… somewhere.

Club Prive was the location for the afterparty which was provided a mixer for Vegas locals and the indie film elite.  Vegas tends to bring out the inner porn star in everyone as men and women dressed like they were prepping for their money shots.  Drinks flowed freely as loud club music drowned out the conversation.  I do recall talking to Foot Fist Way director Jody Hill about the return of his HBO series Eastbound and Down.  A second season of the show starring funnyman Danny McBride is coming and it’s going to get very nasty.  Most of the filmmakers at the party were pimping their movies in between rounds of free drinks.  The most interesting approach to this was a model sporting a vampire bite to promote the dark horror flick The Revenant.

All in all, it was hot, it was loud, it was drunk it was Vegas baby!

Words by Chris Gore, photos by Dustin Downing

Carrot Top  – lookin’ good my friend! Lookin’ real good!

Hottie Playmate Holly Madison – now in the cast of Peep Show

Romany Malco

Photos by Dustin Downing

“He never wins.  At anything!  He never even wins at those cheap lottery scratch cards.”

Steve Buscemi does not do funny things.  Steve Buscemi does not say funny things.  Steve Buscemi is just funny.  Buscemi has always shined in even the smallest role in films like Reservoir Dogs and The Big Lebowski, but he shines brightest in his leading role in Saint John of Las Vegas by first-time director Hue Rhodes.  If silent film star Buster Keaton is the model for deadpan loser humor, than Buscemi is the modern day equivalent.

Steve plays John, a lowly insurance claims officer cursed with the worst luck in the world.  He’s not just a loser, he is an epic fail.  His keys don’t work.  He can’t open the door at work.  He never wins.  At anything!  He never even wins at those cheap lottery scratch cards. He’s not just stuck in cubicle, he’s stuck in his life.

A shining ray of smiley yellow sunshine comes in the form of Sarah Silverman in a standout role as a co-worker on a winning streak.  (Steve hilariously bones Sarah in the ladies room.  Classic!)  John finally gets a chance to turn things around and impress the midget boss (yes, an actual midget played by Peter Dinklage) when he is teamed up with Virgil (Romany Malco).  Virgil is a cheapskate when it comes to per diem, but he’s also a savvy insurance jockey who proves false claims, saving the company millions.  John can move up to a level six adjuster if he can just prove the stripper in the wheelchair is faking her injury.

The pair take an investigative road trip to Vegas and encounter weirdness that can only be found on the road like an armed group of male nudists and getting a lapdance from a stripper in a wheelchair.  Did I mention there’s a stripper in a wheelchair? Saint John is one of those road trip indie movies that will remain memorable for its quiet sense sense of calm, cool and classic humor.

Words by Chris Gore

St John of Las Vegas on IMDB