“Nobody Speak: Hulk Hogan, Gawker And Trials Of A Free Press”
Synopsis: The story of the downfall of the Gawker Media empire, and the agendas and conflicting interests behind its destruction, following their publishing the infamous Hulk Hogan sex tape.
What You Need To Know: We live in a post-fact world in which distrust of the media is at an all-time high, and whatever we may feel about the organization itself (and its moral right to publish that sex tape), the crippling lawsuit against Gawker which resulted in its closure was, if not the first, then the most unmistakable salvo in a conflict which has only grown more bitter since. Investigative documentarian Brian Knappenberger, who did such a sensitive and stunning job exposing the tragic story of Aaron Swartz in “The Internet’s Own Boy,” dives deep into the story of the case; the personalities involved, such as editor Nick Denton; and the underdiscussed role played by Silicon Valley venture capitalist magnate Peter Thiel in the whole affair. This is an extraordinarily timely story that needs to be heard yesterday, but if anyone can strike a balance between urgency and thoughtfulness, it’s Knappenberger.
“Novitiate”
Synopsis: The young daughter of a loving, non-religious mother finds herself drawn to the life of sacrifice and piety of a Catholic nun during the early ’60s, amid the upheaval of sexual awakening and Vatican II.
What You Need To Know: The narrative feature debut of Maggie Bates, this unusual take on the coming-of-age, rite-of-passage drama might sound overly austere were it not for the excellent and appealing cast: Margaret Qualley (“The Leftovers“) takes the central role, with the permanently excellent Julianne Nicholson as her mother and Melissa Leo as the Reverend Mother of the convent. In support, “Homeland” and “White Girl” breakout Morgan Saylor and “Glee” star Dianna Agron play fellow novices, and overall this promises to be a fascinating glimpse into an arcane, literally cloistered world under threat from outside forces, as well as a unusual investigation into faith among the young.
“Mudbound”
Synopsis: Jamie and Ronsel return as close friends from WWII, but back on the farm that Jamie’s family owns and Ronsel’s has worked for generations, their interracial friendship faces a different, but no less corrosive, set of challenges.
What You Need To Know: It has taken Dee Rees far too long to get her second big-screen venture off the ground after 2011’s brilliant “Pariah,” but after her 2015 HBO biopic of Bessie Smith, she is finally back with this adaptation of Hillary Jordan‘s novel. Co written with Virgil Williams, the film will star Garret Hedlund and “Straight Outta Compton” breakout Jason Mitchell as the returning soldiers, while Carey Mulligan, Jonathan Banks, Mary J. Blige and Jason Clarke populate the microcosmic rural Mississippi world they come home to. An ensemble period drama about racism feels like an appropriate expansion of ambition from Rees’ intimate first feature (which also bowed in Sundance), and we can’t wait to see what she makes of it.
“Roxanne Roxanne”
Synopsis: The story of how a 14-year-old from the Queensbridge projects became an rap sensation by recording a response to U.T.F.O.’s “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
What You Need To Know: It went mostly ignored on release, unfortunately, but Michael Larnell’s “Cronies,” which debuted at Sundance two years ago, was a hugely impressive debut, not least because Larnell hadn’t yet finished film school when it screened in Park City. Now free and out in the world, he’s followed it up pleasingly swiftly with this biopic, a welcome and unusual look at a major woman in hip-hop history, Roxanne Shanté. Shanté herself is an executive producer, and the behind-the-scenes talent is steeped in hip-hop lore: Pharrell Williams produces (with Forest Whitaker), and RZA composed the score, while Nia Long and man-of-the-moment Mahershala Ali support newcomer Chanté Adams. This could be something pretty special.
“Thoroughbred”
Synopsis: Daughters of wealth and privilege Amanda and Lily reforge their childhood friendship, but when Lily is threatened with reform school rather than college, the unstable Amanda’s half-joking quips about killing him take on a darker outlook.
What You Need To Know: Each year the NEXT sidebar, which is dedicated to innovative features that make the most of restricted budgets, throws up a few interesting selections (recent NEXT winners have included Chad Hartigan‘s “This Is Martin Bonner” and Josh Mond‘s “James White,” for example). And 2017 is no different, with the intriguing-sounding “Thoroughbred” from debut filmmaker and playwright Cory Finley leading the pack. Starring “The Witch” revelation Anya Taylor-Joy alongside Olivia Cooke from “Me And Earl And The Dying Girl,” it also features one of the final performances from the late Anton Yelchin, and could well be the “Gossip Girl” meets “Heavenly Creatures” mash-up we never knew we wanted.
“Where Is Kyra?”
Synopsis: A fragile woman must find a foothold in life after her mother dies, as she tries to hide her grief from her new lover.
What You Need To Know: While other black filmmakers who emerged at the same time, like Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler and Dee Rees, have found wider audiences and leapt up to bigger fare, Nigerian-born, American-based filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu has mostly remained on the fringes, despite some gorgeous work with “Restless City” and “Mother Of George.” But expect that to change with his latest, “Where Is Kyra?,” which sees him work with big-name cast members for the first time. Michelle Pfeiffer, who has the lead role (Kiefer Sutherland plays the man in her life), is due for a big comeback year between this and Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother,” so expect a lot of attention for this, and it’ll be beautiful too, as the great Bradford Young (“Selma,” “Arrival”) is lensing.
“Wilson”
Synopsis: Misanthropic dog-lover Wilson discovers he has a teenage daughter and, reuniting with his ex-wife, determines to establish a relationship with her, through his own questionable means.
What You Need To Know: Daniel Clowes has adapted two of his previous graphic novels into screenplays: “Ghost World” and “Art School Confidential.” “Wilson” now cements the trifecta, with Clowes writing the film for Craig Johnson (“The Skeleton Twins“) to direct. Starring a suddenly ubiquitious Woody Harrelson, with Laura Dern, Cheryl Hines, Judy Greer and Margo Martindale all cropping up in support, we trust that Clowes’ uniquely dark-tinged sensibility and his facility for painting his characters in true, if often unlikable, colors will elevate this project above its somewhat Sundance-by-numbers premise. “Paterson” DP Frederick Elmes and can’t-miss composer Jon Brion are on hand to make sure the production has polish, in any case.
“Wind River”
Synopsis: An FBI agent teams up with a game tracker to solve a murder on a Native American reservation.
What You Need To Know: Originally best known as an actor on “Sons Of Anarchy” and elsewhere, screenwriter Taylor Sheridan has had about as good a start to his career as you could ask for. “Sicario” was the breakout indie crossover of 2015, and this year “Hell Or High Water” managed the same feat (and soon, probably, multiple Oscar nods). So our eyes are definitely on his directorial debut, which looks to be in the same classy, muscular neo-Western crime thriller territory as his previous writing-only work. A couple of “Avengers” alumni headline (Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen), and we hope in particular that this continues something of a comeback for Renner after his lovely, generous turn in “Arrival,” while a number of Native American performers make up the supporting cast, including “Hell Or High Water” scene-stealer Gil Birmingham.
“XX”
Synopsis: An anthology of four horror films directed by women, interspersed with haunting tableau images from animator Sofia Carrillo.
What You Need To Know: Anthology films are, almost by definition, hit or miss, but anything that at the outset sounds more than 50% enticing is probably worth the effort. And “XX” bats at a much higher average than that. It features an entry from Karyn Kusama (“The Invitation“); the second such horror-anthology contribution from Roxanne Benjamin after “Southbound,” which, along with format pioneers “V/H/S” and “V/H/S 2,” she also produced; a new segment from rising genre filmmaker Jovanka Vuckovic, whose “The Captured Bird” won the Fantasia short film prize; and most excitingly, a section called “The Birthday Party” which stars the wonderful Melanie Lynskey and marks the debut from musician St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark).
“The Yellow Birds”
Synopsis: Bartle and Murph become fast friends in training, but when they are out on maneuvers in Iraq, Murph goes missing. Only Bartle knows the story behind his disappearance, but a military investigator and Murph’s mother both demand answers.
What You Need To Know: A good candidate for the most unfairly underseen debut of the last few years, Alexandre Moors‘ extraordinary “Blue Caprice” announced the arrival of a very exciting new talent. Four years later, he returns to Sundance with a story that sounds both mysterious and timely, from a script written by David Lowery and R.F.I. Porto (who also wrote “Blue Caprice”), with a cast to die for. Everyone’s second favorite Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich, takes the lead role, with the ever-impeccable Tye Sheridan as the missing friend, while Jack Huston, Jason Patric, Toni Collette and Jennifer Aniston, as Murph’s mother, round out the ensemble. Moors’ quiet, uncompromising intelligence, and so-hot-right-now Ehrenreich’s turn could make this one of the standouts of the festival.
Other titles to look out for:
“78/52” is an intriguing-sounding shot-for-shot breakdown of the shower scene in “Psycho“; “Menashe,” a Yiddish-language verité-style drama about Orthodox Jews; Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker‘s untitled documentary on The Buena Vista Social Club; Maya Forbes‘ tragicomedy “The Polka King,” which stars Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman and Jacki Weaver; “Marjorie Prime,” from director Michael Almereyda, starring Jon Hamm, Geena Davis, Lois Smith and Tim Robbins, which we’re maybe most excited about because it has a Mica Levi score; “Fun Mom Dinner,” a comedy starring Katie Aselton and Toni Colette; Evgeny Afineevsky‘s doc “Cries From Syria“; Marti Noxon‘s anorexia drama “To The Bone,” starring Lily Collins and Keanu Reeves; “Manifesto,” which stars Cate Blanchett in 13 different roles delivering the manifestos that inspired influential art movements; “Rebel In The Rye,” a J.D. Salinger biopic starring Nicholas Hoult and Kevin Spacey, directed by Danny Strong; sci-fi “Rememory” starring Peter Dinklage; Michelle Morgan‘s feature debut “LA Times“; “Sidney Hall,” directed by Shawn Christensen, with Logan Lerman, Elle Fanning and Kyle Chandler; and Dustin Guy Defa‘s follow-up to “Bad Fever,” “Person To Person,” starring Michael Cera, Abbi Jacobson, Tavi Gevinson and Philip Baker Hall. Anything we’ve missed that we need to tell our intrepid Sundance troupe to keep an eye out for? Tell us below.