Thursday, January 14, 2010

Sundance 2010 Preamble

I'm flying out to gorgeous Park City a week from today. I vow to not complain about the cold. I vow to not write boring posts about what I'm eating or the room in which I'm sleeping. I vow to try and complete at least the "oscar'ish" portions of the FB Awards before I leave.

Do me a solid and peruse the list of films on offer at Sundance. Let me know in the comments which films you're most interested in hearing about. Keep in mind that the star-laden films aren't always the ones to be at (Did you know Carey Mulligan's name at this time last year?). That said... Obviously I will see the Annette Bening / Julianne Moore lesbian epic (hey, it's epic to me) The Kids Are All Right. But what else should I make time for?

You can't see everything and there's a lot of cinema.
*

36 comments:

Michael Parsons said...

It's a wonderful Afterlife, just because my friend Goldy is in it.

Guy Lodge said...

I wholeheartedly recommend "Lourdes," which was robbed of a jury award at Venice -- a film that manages to delve into matters of faith AND retain a sense of humour. It's lovely.

And "His & Hers" was one of the best docs I saw last year -- such a simple, clever concept, so beautifully executed.

As a Tilda-phile, I'm sure you'll be taking time for "I Am Love" -- she's (surprise) superb in it, though the film, while supremely pretty, is a little vapid.

I don't need to remind you to see "Blue Valentine," do I? DYING to know how that one turns out.

Michael W. said...

I'm really looking forward to Howl, The Dry Land and Blue Valentine.

And being from Denmark I have to recommend the documentary The Red Chapel. It really is amazing what those guys are getting away with doing on their trip to North Korea.

Also the film Nuummioq is of interest to me being Danish, because it's the first local produced film from Greenland. Several Danish films have been made there, among others the Oscar nominated Qivitoq and the powerful Heart of Light, but Nuummioq is, as said, the first Greenlandic produced film.

cal roth said...

There's a movie with Natalie Portman.

Robert said...

I'd really love to see "12th and Delaware", which is by the same directors as "Jesus Camp" and has to do with abortion. I really liked "Jesus Camp" so it should be interesting to see what this one is like.

Also, "Lourdes" does look really interesting! I'd definitely take time to see that if I was over there.

Thais Afonso said...

3 Backyards, becuase Falco and Davitz are alegelly superb in it.

Armless, because the plot seems so interesting!

The Company Men, because the trailer without dialogues is awesome! It looks like "Up in the air: the other side of the coin"

Mother & Child, because Anette Bennning is in it. And because Naomi Watts is in it.

OtherRobert said...

The film I'm most anticipating is Buried, starring Ryan Reynolds as a man buried alive after an ambush in Iraq, mostly because I doubt this plot can sustain a 90 minute film. I'd say Frozen, but that is the single most idiotic premise for a horror film I've encountered in a long time. I'll probably see it when it comes out just to tear it to shreds.

Ashley said...

The Runaways movie with Dakota Fanning. I'm very interested to see how this film will turn out.

Boyd said...

yay for more fest coverage from Mr Film Experience in person! Check out Io sono l'amore (of course), Yo, tambien (to up the Duenas love), Contracorriente, The Temptation of St Tony (when was the last time you saw a great Estonian movie?), and Twelve, just because a Joel Schumacher-directed Sundance movie with Chace Crawford sounds like something so barmy it might actually be good.

Dimitra said...

Howl and Hesher are the ones I REALLY want to see.

Lucas S. said...

I'm really looking forward to Hesher,witb Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Lucas S. said...

Oh,Howl is one I'm looking forward to,too.

adelutza said...

I will be at Sundance too, as a full time volunteer . I have a list of 25 films to see but if I manage half I will be content . Last year I managed 11 ...

Jennie said...

3 Backyards
Buried
The Extra Man
Get Low
HIGH School
Holy Rolers
HOWL
Obselidia
Smash His Camera

Anonymous said...

I'll add my support for Howl. Been Looking forward to it for a while now.

Holy Rollers also looks interesting.

As for A Prophet, if you havent seen it, is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Highly reccomended

Anonymous said...

Didn't Get Low get on your likely oscar nominated actors list (for Duvall, Spacek & Murray) just after it played at TIFF and when it was assumed it would be released late in 2009. I saw it at TIFF and it was very good. I'd try to see that one.

Unknown said...

So envious of your attendance! I’m not envious of the cold weather, lines and overwhelming number of choices. I downloaded the app to enhance my virtual experience and have been dazed by the long list of films.

Just view anything with Annette Bening and maybe Sympathy for Delicious, Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut.

Looking forward to your spot on reports, star sightings and anything to make me feel like I’m there with you…except I’ll be warm.

Lev Lewis said...

That's so awesome that you're going. "Blue Valentine" seems to definitely be the one most people are talking about. I'd look out for "Hesher", as well. I know nothing of the film, except that I've seen some of the shorts that the team behind the film have made and they're fantastic. Can't wait to read your coverage.

emmanuel ramos barajas said...

Welcome to the Rileys with MELISSA LEO!
Io sono amore with Tilda Swinton.

Amir said...

Blue Valentine, because two of the most talented young thesps are in that film. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, how could it get better?

Rob said...

Get Low is a miserable film that's inexplicably garnering praise -- catch it when Sony Classics releases it.

The Runaways and Howl seem like must sees.

"Three Backyards" is made by Eric Mendelsohn, whose "Judy Berlin" is pretty great, and the cast on this one seems disaster-proof. Also, rumor has it that it was called "Four Backyards," but their budget was so small, they excised one of the stories. Not a joke.

Travis said...

Definitely Hesher! Can't wait to see how Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman are in the film!

Runs Like A Gay said...

Would saying Joel Schumacher's Twelve be horribly unfashionable?

Mike C said...

I think Nuummioq and Contracorriente from the international choices look very interesting and would enjoy hearing about them.

adam k. said...

OMG I JUST realized that woman in the picture was Annette Bening! I thought it was Michelle Williams! Yikes.

Paul Outlaw said...

Nat: please give us your impressions of 3 Backyards, 7 Days, Armless, Blue Valentine, Undertow, Enter the Void, The Extra Man, Grown Up Movie Star, HOWL, The Killer Inside Me, Night Catches Us and The Runaways. ;-)

RJ said...

At first glance, All That I Love sounds interesting.

R-Co said...

I'm dying to see both Animal Kingdom and Hesher.

Animal Kingdom is written and directed by David Michôd, whose shorts Crossbow and Netherland Dwarf played Sundance over the last two years. He's also written a number of other shorts, including Nash Edgerton's Spider, which took out a Sundance Honourable Mention in 07. Michôd also wrote Hesher with director Spencer Susser, whose I Love Sarah Jane was one of my favourite shorts in recent years.

Yes, Dmô is a friend, but that just makes me a harsher critic! When his Animal Kingdom script was doing the rounds in Oz a few years back, people were telling me it was the best script they'd ever read. He's probably one of the most promising filmmakers exploding onto the scene this year, so well worth checking out.

My two cents.

Jude said...

HOWL. Because of Aaron Tveit, not James Franco.

DJ said...

Please try and see Blue Valentine! Also really interested in Mother and Child, Hesher, and Get Low.

Anonymous said...

I've heard fantastic things about Animal Kingdom, and Bran Nue Dae is a fun Aussie musical. There's also a 3D documentary about cane toads!

I can only talk about the Aussie titles though so...

Glenn (having trouble logging in)

johnnyboy7 said...

uh...hello. Kristen Stewart will rule the festival. She has too rockin movies coming out. Go so at least the Runaways but make time for Welcome to the Rileys if you can

Alex said...

I LOVE that there's an Annette Bening double feature.

Those two and "Welcome to the Rileys" with James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, and Melissa Leo.

Anonymous said...

"Mother And Child" please! Naomi Watts and Annette Bening rule!

Anonymous said...

Id love to hear about:

Blue Valentine: Ryan and Michelle together!you cannot miss this one.

The Romantics: great cast. Looks like harmless fun.

matt mendelsohn said...

3 Backyards, because I know it won't be anything like any of the other movies. And besides, my brother directed it!