Sundance is right around the corner, and as entertaining as it is to go and see the movies, half the fun is trying to guess what will be a breakout hit and what will flop. A few years ago, everyone was buzzing about “Escape From Tomorrow” which turned out to be a huge disappointment, while “The Babadook” sneaked in during the 2014 festival and has gone on to make huge waves with fans, critics and the industry. There is nothing better than stumbling across a gem that nobody expected, but to be honest, unless a movie has previously been screened somewhere before Sundance, it’s all pretty much guess work when figuring out what to see.
Thankfully, I’m a pretty good guesser!
Below I’ve compiled a list of films that interest me, and I’ll be trying to see during the festival. Be sure to keep an eye out for live updates once I hit Park City as well as reviews of the movies I see. Tickets can be purchased at the Sundance web site along with a program guide providing a more detailed summary of who is in it and what it’s about.
“Results” — To be honest, the only reason I’m interested in this is for Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill from “The Avengers”). I really couldn’t care less about the lives of personal trainers, but I absolutely love her and would go see a movie where she just sits and reads the phone book.
“Stockholm, Pennsylvania” — What would it be like to find out that your whole life was a lie and the people you thought were family had actually kidnapped you? Not only that, but how would you assimilate back into “normal” life once returned to your “real” family?
“The Witch” — Could be a fun and creepy supernatural thriller.
“City of Gold” — Documentaries are one of my favorites, and as a pretty decent chef myself, I can’t pass up the chance to take a look into the food world of Los Angeles.
“Larry Kramer In Love and Anger” — Larry Kramer is known for being a firebrand and revolutionary in the gay-rights movement. His work not only in the literary world but also the political arena changed history and helped improve the lives of countless LGBT people.
“Glassland” — Desperate people can make deals with the devil to do what they think is right, even if the consequences outweigh the benefit.
“Last Days in the Desert” — Almost everyone has heard the Biblical story about Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness and being tempted by the devil, but the Bible doesn’t do much to flesh out the story. Ewan McGregor stars as Jesus and the devil and fills in the blanks.
“Sleeping with Other People” — A bunch of funny people in what could be a sex comedy. Most likely not as raunchy as “American Pie”, but Jason Sudeikis and Amanda Peet haven’t shied away from doing naughty stuff in the past, so we’ll see.
“DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: The Story of the National Lampoon” — National Lampoon are responsible for some of the greatest comedies of all time, and this documentary gives us a look behind the scenes.
“Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck”— Whether you like Nirvana or not, the influence Cobain had on the music world is undeniable. The documentary dives into his private life like never before.
“It Follows” – Sundance Midnight Movies are where to go for action or horror, and this looks to scratch that horror itch nicely!
“The Nightmare” — Imagine waking from a dream and being plagued with sleep paralysis while the creatures from the depths of nightmares come to life around you.
Image Credit: RogerEbert.com