Michelle Kung: Sundance Friday: Hanks, Malkovich and Politics On Show

Last night, writer/director Sean McGinly 's film "The Great Buck Howard," about a has-been "mentalist" ( John Malkovich ) and his harried assistant, made its debut at the 28th Annual Sundance Film Festival. Also making their Sundance debuts were Colin Hanks , who stars as the put-upon assistant, and his father Tom , who not only plays his on-screen pops, but also co-produced the films with partner Gary Goetzman . "I've known a lot of people that have come here, and I've always wanted to come and see movies," Hanks the elder said to the cluster of three non-TV writers (Props to fellow journos from EW and the Deseret Morning News!) firing questions as a unit at the end of the red carpet. "Sundance has become this phenomenon that's become the economic, as well as the artistic lifeblood of all movies. Every knuckled-headed PR guy, every agent, every executive is here to make deals, but I think all the people are here to see movies. And I think we made a good movie." "I'm trying to keep it all ... (link)