One of the Sundance Film Festival's most anticipated films, a psychological mystery-thriller called "The Night Listener," debuted to muted enthusiasm Saturday night in Park City. The film stars Robin Williams as a popular New York radio host who becomes intrigued with a listener, a 14-year-old Wisconsin boy dying of AIDS after suffering sexual abuse at the hands of his parents.

    Williams wasn't at the Eccles screening -- he's shooting a movie in Canada -- but screenwriter Armistead "Tales of the City" Maupin was, along with Williams' co-star, Toni Collette. The actress plays the boy's mysterious adoptive mother, whom Williams begins to suspect is fabricating her son's existence.

    "How do you prepare for a role like that?" an audience member asked Collette afterwards.

    "Oh God," answered the Oscar-nominated actress. "I don't know how I prepared."

    "She's Toni Collette," interjected director Patrick Stettner. "She can do anything."

    -- Brandon Griggs