January 19, 2004

SUNDANCE PREVIEW, PT 2

I saw another four films from the festival yesterday… but I'm holding out until full coverage starts tomorrow… back to more of the field, with a look at the World competitions coming tomorrow…

PREMIERES

Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School - The man who brought us early Marlon Wayans and late Sinbad, Randall Miller, now zings the heartstrings in the film with the title least likely to be said correctly at Sundance this year. Geoff Gilmore avoids using the word "sappy" in his capsule about the film, but hey, you never know where the heart may lead.

The Matador - Richard Shepard's film, hoping to get past the direct-to-video shelf for the first time, is movie star driven, leading with Pierce Brosnan as a professional killer and Greg Kinnear as a good looking guy.

Drum - Taye Diggs stars in Zola Maseko's film about the birth and growth of the South African magazine. Set in the 50s, the film looks to be a fascinating period piece about a place Americans know little about.

Heights - A chatty New York film with Glenn Close, director and co-writer Chris Terrio will be have to make it very interesting to rise above the clutter.

Snowland - German gothic comes to Sundance in Hans W. Geissendoerfer's 2 hour 22 minute film.

The Chumscrubber - With a name like The Chumscrubber, Arie Posin's film better be good. Comedic suburban angst meets a well-gathered cast. All that talk better be great or is will be "one of those Sundance films."

MirrorMask - Dave McKean may or may not be a true artistic genius. It's hard to say after one film. But this collaboration with Neil Gaiman and The Jim Henson Company is one of those film experiences that has to be experienced to be believed. It may give you convulsions, but its images and ideas will stay with you for a long time.

Reefer Madness - A musical build on the classic classically bad movie. From director Andy Fickman.

Rory O'Shea Was Here - Damien O'Donnell's feel-good P.C. handicapped coming-of-empowerment that belongs on PAX TV and not at a film festival… but they do have Irish accents. Coming to theaters via Focus Features, presumably because big Universal didn't want to suffer through trying to sell another bad movie from the suddenly misfiring Working Title.

AMERICAN DOC COMPETITION

After Innocence - What happens to a man who has been wrongfully imprisoned only to be set free years later? This is the question behind Jessica Sanders' new film.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston - Potentially one of the finds of the festival, Jeff Feuerzeig's look at a little known artist, thought a genius by some, but hampered by manic depression, tells a story that many Sundance visitors will find familiar.

The Education of Shelby Knox - Does complete sex education in school mean something to you? If so, you may well find your favorite film in Marion Lipschutz & Rose Rosenblatt's doc. If not, you may wonder why they bothered.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room - Yes, we're still talking about Enron. Let's all hope that Alex Gibney does more than beat a blue state breast and really gives us an impartial look at corporate American gone wrong.

The Fall of Fujimori - It won't be as funny as Imelda, but Ellen Perry's film is another look at a south-of-the-US politician who rises and falls dramatically.

Frozen Angels - Haggen-Daaz, Baskin-Robbins, someone really cool's testicles… the choice of frozen treats is getting closer and closer to your grocery shelves. What will become of it all? Eric Black & Frauke Sandig try to answer that question.

Mardi Gras: Made in China - Who makes the beads that cause drunken women on the streets of New Orleans to "show us their breasts?" David Redmon goes past the Nikes and to the Chinese poor to find out.

Murderball - Handicaps are a major theme at this year's festival. This film from Henry-Alex Rubin & Dana Adam Shapiro is the documentary entry in the arena. See the guys and gals overcome tough obstacles to beat each other up just like us fully able jerks!

New York Doll - Can one NY Doll be anywhere near as interesting as all the Ramones and Metallica were last year? We'll soon know whether Greg Whiteley can turn that trick.

Romantico - A buzz film, Mark Becker's look at illegal immigration could be one of the serious minded hits of the fest.

Shakespeare Behind Bars - Does anyone "C-I-L-L" their landlord in Hank Rogerson's new doc that comes a generation after Weeds and the Norman Mailer/Jack Henry Abbott Show.

Trudell - Some will watch Heather Rae's doc to find out just who John Trudell is, while others will revel in this opportunity to learn about a talent whose profile has never been as high as deserved.

AMERICAN DRAMA COMPETITION

Between - Oh, does David Ocañas movie smell like a "Sundance film!" How many people will want to go to Tijuana with Poppy Montgomery?

Brick - Joseph Gordon-Levitt is this year's "King of Sundance," with this film and the new Gregg Araki. The director here is Rian Johnson, who pushes through this hyperrealist story on style.

Ellie Parker - Pre-fest word is that Scott Coffey's film has two things going for it… Naomi and Watts.

Forty Shades of Blue - Rip Torn gets to rock & roll, but the phrase "Russian woman living in Memphis" is enough to send most acquisitions execs running from Ira Sachs' new film.

How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer - A feel-good Spanish-speaking chick flick from first-timer Georgina Garcia Riedel. We know these women will have curves, but will they have legs?

Junebug - Phil Morrison delivers a suuuutheeern actor's movie that will probably delight many of the snowbound Park City audiences.

Loggerheads - Smells like Sundance spirit… let's hope that director Tim Kirkman surprises and delights.

Me and You and Everyone We Know - What's scarier than a first time writer/director putting herself in her film? Not much. But Miranda July may have turned the trick.

Police Beat - The Senegalese bike cop movie of the decade!!! Robinson Devor is back after the goofy The Woman Chaser brought his debut to Sundance a few year's back. Has he got the whimsy just right this time?

Pretty Persuasion - Another major buzz film, Evan Rachel Wood fronts Marcos Siega's film as a 90210 teen who decides to accuse a teacher of sexual harassment… falsely. This year's Heathers?

Thumbsucker - It's a goofy comedy! But is Mike Mills' film really funny… even with a big time cameo community of actors?

Who Killed Cock Robin? - The praise for Travis Wilkerson is making me scared… very scared. But it could be the Tarnation of 2005.

E-ME.

Sundance Part I

January 3, 2005 - Reflections On A New Year
December 31, 2004 - The Ten Best
December 30, 2004 - The Ten Worst
December 29, 2004 - Movies You Should Have Seen, But Didn't