If I Were Attending Sundance 2012…
Posted on | January 19, 2012 | No Comments
2011 was an intense self-education in the contemporary state of independent film. I followed industry blogs, twitter feeds, wikipedia-ed the shit out of filmmaking terms and titles, and began acquainting myself with people I Hope to One Day, Someday Collaborate With Or At Least Not Knowingly Embarrass Myself In Front Of.
It’s been awesome; it’s been real; it’s been a crash course; and it’s absolutely been information overload. Yesterday, I was discussing with a friend my disappointment in a handful of last year’s critically lauded independent films. And I wondered aloud how much of my disappointment was manufactured: if the Hollywood hype machine hadn’t set my expectations absurdly high would I still have felt hoodwinked? What would it have been like to have seen Film X without the baggage of knowing all its illustrious awards and critically lauded pedigree?
With those thoughts in mind, this year I am aiming to be a more conspicuous consumer of my industry news. I want to continue developing my taste in contemporary cinema but with as little baggage as possible.
Now I know directors whose projects I support, actors whose performances I enjoy, and producers whose taste I share. And I’ve learned how to get closer at the primary source of information for news instead of encountering effusive opinion after spoiler after effusive opinion after spoiler. (I will never forgive the critic who casually gave away a huge plot point in the first paragraph of their review of The Descendants, which I still have not yet seen.)
Most importantly, I’ve become more confident in my own taste. I know I tend to seek out small films with female protagonists, dark comedies, psychological thrillers, and yes, dammit I like a good rom-com (though I can’t think of one to link right now!). I’ve also began taking more risks in my film watching. I learned this last year attending festivals where I know this may be my only shot to see one particular film (as not all of them have or will get distribution).
While I am not going to Sundance this year, here are my selects. I don’t know what the critics are saying and what PR machines have already kickstarted but thought I’d add my drop of water to the bucket while I encourage you to find your own way.
Films I’d Most Likely See
• Robot and Frank – An offbeat buddy film between a retired jewel thief and his caretaker robot (voiced by Liev Schreiber). OMG. This is my must see. This is what I imagine a real life verson of Wall-E must look like! I also love the idea of seeing how an actor works out developing a multi-dimensional relationship with an inanimate object. This is also why CGI storytelling interests me.
• Simon Killer – From the filmmakers that brought you After School and Martha Marcy May Marlene comes the story of a recently dumped college graduate who escapes to Paris and befriends a prostitute. Also a must see. I like the juxtaposition of the dark Leaving Las Vegas premise against the romantic backdrop of the City of Light.
• 28 Hotel Rooms – Romance? Dramedy? as told through the bedroom encounters of two people in committed relationships…to other people. Like lead Chris Messina’s choice in projects (Greenberg, Ira and Abby, Jesse and Celeste Forever).
• For Ellen – Great leading cast with Paul Dano and Jena Malone (seriously where has this girl been lately?) playing an indie musician and wife on the verge of divorce. Also want to support the Asian American female writer-director So Yong Kim about whom I read an article in Filmmaker Mag. I was inspired by her courage to film her previous feature Treeless Mountain in Korea with two non-actor children as her leads. I’m curious what she can accomplish with a very experienced cast. Also curious to see Jon Heder not as Napoleon Dynamite.
• Nobody Walks – Directed by filmmaker Ry Russo Young, co-written by Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture, and the forthcoming HBO Girls) and with a stellar cast including Olivia Thirlby, John Krasinski, and Rosemarie Dewitt whose performance I loved in Rachel Getting Married. I attended an early WGA reading of this script at the end of 2010 (many thanks to Ry) and I’m interested to see how the words translate cinematically.
Films I Am Interested In But Might Not See Since They’ll Likely Get Distribution And I Can Be Patient
• For a Good Time Call… – Love the raunchy girl buddy comedy premise of two girls starting a phone sex line as a means to make rent for their fancy New York apartment (like an R-rated 2 Broke Girls). Also have loved Ari Graynor since catching her years ago in an off Broadway production of the Charlie Brown parody Dog Sees God. She is, however, best known as Kat Denning’s partner-in-crime in Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.
• Celeste and Jesse Forever – Read a draft of the script and loved its contemporary take on the When-Harry-Met-Sally Friends-or-Soulmates premise. Co-written by and starring Rashida Jones as Celeste, with Andy Samberg as Jesse. Ari Graynor supporting.
• Your Sister’s Sister – Love leading cast of Mark Duplass, Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt. It’s a pot boiler of a film where Jack, mourning the loss of his brother, holes up in a cabin with his best friend … and her sister. Romance? Awkward buddy film? Death? That said, I might pass at a festival since it’s already been purchased and will be distributed by IFC this summer.
• 2 Days in New York – A sequel to Julie Delpy’s 2 Days in Paris, but with Chris Rock playing lead Marion’s new love interest. I think Julie Delpy is a French lady vintage Woody Allen and would love to see how she refreshes the dysfunctional family / romantic comedy she has already established.
Honorable Mentions
• I Am Not A Hipster – how does one be or justify being creative in the midst of family loss?
• About Face – about ageism and multiculturalism in the evolving business of modeling. Fear this doc could be one-note though. I am more interested in Advanced Style whenever that is happening.
• Black Rock – horror / thriller with leading all female cast brought to us by the Duplass brothers and wifey.
• Save the Date – newest from Michael Mohan (short Ex-Sex and first feature Too Many Mornings) and produced by one of the producers of The Kids Are All Right. Starring sardonic lady superhero Lizzy Caplan and Community star Alison Brie.
And that’s it! Also, instead of powering through this list I would check myself every morning to see what I’m in the mood for and try something else on a whim. Follow a friend into a theater. Go into something blind Treat yo self. You know how I do.
Additional suggested reading: 10 Sundance Mistakes to Avoid.
P.S. Happy belated New Year bitches!
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