Friday morning, I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life: Skip the noon (read: last) showing of "The Cove," or go to the movie looking completely homeless. A heady combination of sleep deprivation and an unplugged alarm led me to wake up, heart pounding and wild-eyed, at 11:45 a.m. For context, it's important to note that the level of my vanity cannot be overstated - and that my hair looks like Courtney Love's on a bad day when I first wake up in the morning. But I also studied marine biology for many years, at one point wanting to make it my career, and had "The Cove" picked as one of my top movies to watch at the festival. Reminding myself that 90% of my time at the theater would be spent in darkness, I took a cue from young Hollywood and threw on a pair of sunglasses (instant glamour!) and snuck in the back.

As it turns out, watching people risk their lives to put a stop to a horrifying annual slaughter of dolphins has a way of dissipating concerns about your bangs. Part environmental warning, part heist flick, "The Cove" tells the gripping story of Richard O'Barry, who become an international sensation as the dolphin trainer on the set of hit TV show "Flipper" in the 1960s. Richard almost single-handedly created the dolphin park industry, exploding demand for dolphin shows and swim-with-dolphin programs due to the popularity of the show. But when one of the dolphins on the set committed suicide in Richard's arms (by holding its breath - dolphins are not auto-breathers, which means they choose whether or not to take their next breath), he realized how desperately miserable the creatures were in captivity. He has since spent the last 30+ years working to free captive dolphins and stop the dolphin trade industry.

Still from "The Cove"

The full house at the screening was instantly absorbed in the film, watching as Richard assembled a crack team ("our version of Ocean's 11") to infilitrate a hidden cove in Taijii, Japan, where it is rumored over 23,000 dolphins are killed every year. Outrunning local police, sneaking in at night and enlisting champion free divers to plant audio and recording equipment in the cove, Richard and his team captured for the first time ever horrifying footage of the annual dolphin slaughter. When Richard marched into the International Whaling Commission meeting (from which he has been permanently banned) with a TV strapped to his chest playing the footage, the audience at Lars Hockstad burst into wild applause. The slaughter still continues every year - the film urges people to get involved by texting "dolphin" to 44144 or visiting the film's website.

Still reeling from "The Cove," I headed home for a quick shower (no more Courtney Love bedhead) and made my way down to the State for an afternoon screening of "In the Loop." This one hadn't initially been on my radar, but an overwhelming amount of recommendations caused me to add it to my schedule. I'm so glad I did, because "In the Loop" is biting, brilliant political satire at its best. The banter is so rapid-fire, you're almost afraid to laugh in case you miss the next line. Pitting UK and US politicians against each other in a cat-and-mouse game of "will we or won't we invade?" (the country to be invaded is never named, but it's impossible not to think of Iraq), "In the Loop" may be one of the best-written, funniest movies you'll see all year. Keep an eye out for it - national buzz is already building.

Still from "In the Loop"

My last flick for Thursday was "Mary & Max" at the City Opera House, and it made the day a three-for-three hit for me. Although studios like Pixar and filmmakers like Hayao Miyazaki have gone a long way in changing audience perceptions about animation, the genre still tends to be underappreciated for the vast potential it offers as a visual medium. Only in recent years has the movement gained momentum, especially in the independent film world - groundbreakers like "Waltz with Bashir" and "Persepolis" have helped on that front. "Mary & Max," a claymation film that opened the Sundance Film Festival this year, will hopefully kick the door open even wider.

Still from "Mary & Max"

Oscar-winning writer/director Adam Elliot created this poignant, funny film (based on a true story) about a socially awkward Australian schoolgirl who accidentally becomes pen pals with an isolated, overweight middle-aged man in New York. The two exchange letters, chocolates and secrets over the years, building a heartfelt global connection that sees them through colleges, marriages and Overeaters Anonymous meetings. Animation aside, this is definitely a film for adult audiences. It's one well worth seeking out - an eccentric, inventive film that's unlike anything else you'll see at the festival.

Coming up in the Day 5 recap: Reviews from "The Examined Life" and "Sneak Preview with Jeff Garlin," plus outtakes from the 5K Costume Run and Filmmakers Party.

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