2012 Sundance Film Festival - A First Half Recap
Six days down, four to go. The2012 Sundance Film Festivalis a little over half way done and Peter and I have been working our butts off trying to bring you our opinions on the most buzzed about and potentially biggest movies at the festival. We’re not done yet, as the festival doesn’t end until Sunday. In case you missed anything, here’s what we’ve posted so far:
I explain why you should follow and care aboutthe happenings at the Sundance Film Festival.
The documentarySearching for Sugar Manis about a ’60s rock star, but shares more in common with Harry Potter than you’d think.My review is here and you’ll get a chanceto see it soon as Sony Pictures Classics picked it up
You’ve heard aboutThe Raid, you’re dying to seeThe Raid, and myself and Jordan Raup from The Film Stagetell you why it lives up to the hype in our video blog.
The director ofBuried,Rodrigo Cortés, is back at Sundancewith the polarizing but awesomeRed Lightswhich, at its heart, is a spiritual sequel toGhostbusters.
The untraditional musicalI Am Not A Hipsterhas a narrative from the soul, according to Peter, with music that’s “beautiful yet raw and full of emotion.” Check out the trailerhere.
I talk with Ethan Anderson from First Showing, on video,about why we loveTim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie. Look below for an interview.
What happens when a young American student loses his mind in France?Antonio Campos’sSimon Killergives us a disturbing look at just that.
Peter said “The First Timeis the kind of movie I hope to see at Sundance each year.“Read his review here.
The wonderfulCeleste and Jesse ForevercementsRashida Jonesas the leading lady we all knew she could be.It was later picked up by Sony Pictures Classies.
The writer and director of the off-beat comedyRubber,Quentin Dupieux, is back with a film that getsa ton of laughs for “no reason,“Wrong.
Richard Geregives one of the best performances of his career inthe financial morality taleArbitrage.
I spoke, on video, withTim Heidecker, Eric WareheimandWill Forteabout their upcoming comedyTim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie.
Produced by fellow film journalistBrad Miska, Peter thought the horror filmV/H/Smarks “the return of the horror anthology film.”
MondayJosh Radnor’sLiberal Artsis heartwarming, funny and provocative. It’s my favorite film at Sundance to this point and you’re able to read about how Radnor harnesses his inner Cameron Crowe.
Even with her amazing co-starAaron Paul(Breaking Bad), Peter thoughtMary Elizabeth Winstead’s performance as an alcoholic inSmashedwas “a must-see tour de force.”
The characters inSafety Not Guaranteed, including one played byAubrey Plaza, go on a comedic journey to figure out if time travel exists.It took Peter on a ride too. He loved it.
Before Sundance,Spike Lee’s latest,Red Hook Summer,was best known for Lee reprising his role fromDo The Right Thing. Now, as stated in this review, people know it as a swing and a miss from the filmmaker.
The Surrogate, starringJohn Hawkes, Helen HuntandWilliam H. Macy, wowed not only audiences, but me too, with its humor and honesty.Fox Searchlight agreed and picked the film up for $6 million.
