At film festivals, as opposed to theaters I frequent in my everyday life, it is acceptable to walk out of movies because you can just walk right into another (hopefully better) movie; I always try to sit by the aisle near the exit, just in case I want to leave mid-movie.

In addition to my attendance at sundance for 15 years, I've also attended Tribeca, Toronto, & Telluride film festivals. There are more walkouts at Sundance than at any other festival I've attended. Perhaps, it's because of the self-important attitude of many of those who come to "screen" films.

Walking right into another (hopefully better) movie is rarely possible. I'm not sure about you, but even as a local it takes an hour to get from one theater to another. I can only imagine how long it takes for someone on a bus. Not to mention needing a ticket to a screening if you're not a package holder (or member of the "press"), or needing to be present 2 hours before a screening to get a wait-list ticket. So, that argument is pretty weak.

What typically happens is that someone walks out of a screening only to be found later drinking coffee and talking on their phone. As I said in my earlier post, before cell phones, blackberries, and iphones it was very rare to see someone walk out of a screening.

As a member of the "press" shouldn't you stick around long enough view the entire movie? Should your review be based on a complete screening? Good thing you didn't walk out of The Eye and write a review on the first 75% of the movie.

You haven't been to enough festivals if you've never heard an audience member ask a director in a Q&A why their movie was horrible. This is what makes festivals great. The press gets to hide behind a byline and write a horrible review. In a Q&A, members of the general public get to voice their opinion face to face with the director.

I don't disagree with your review of the Informers. It was bad. Really bad. However, I'm standing up for the festival, the craft, and those who spend their time and money in an attempt to entertain the masses. I'm also taking a stand against the practice of walking out of festival movies. Frankly, I think it's a practice that should be stopped. Oh, I also take stands against the use of pda's during films, showing up late, and talking during fims.