We won’t be attending Sundance this year (what else is new) but for all those who are, we thought we’d help you out by listing the dozen and or so films worth checking out. Of course, they’re predominantly films already floating around our radar but there’s always the “An Education”-type films of the world that can come out of nowhere. Nevertheless, here are they are in alphabetical order:
“Abel”
Diego Luna’s directorial debut follows a young boy who returns to a father-less home and must take over the patriarchal head of the household role. Things become complicated however when a stranger shows up claiming to be his father. Luna’s BFF Gael García Bernal and, strangely, John Malkovich produce.
“Animal Kingdom”
Written and directed by David Michôd, the film centers on a 17 year old boy who must navigate his way between a Melbourne crime family and a cop who wants to save him. Stars the perennially underrated Guy Pearce and underused Joel Edgerton, among others.
“Blue Valentine”
The story of two lovers in a failing relationship played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams that intertwine with flashbacks to their relationship’s blossoming beginnings. That’s enough to sell your ticket alone, right? Derek Cianfrance helms with a score by indie-folkers Grizzly Bear.
“Buried”
Rodrigo Cortes directs Ryan Reynolds in this one-man show about a civilian contractor buried alive and set predominantly in the coffin itself. Considering the one-act play-nature of the film (if it’s in as a confined a space as it suggests), it’s sure to raise eyebrows for its audacity no matter what the outcome. We’re also kind of curious how on Earth he’s getting cell phone reception down there.
“The Company Men”
John Well’s film boasts big names like Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, Chris Cooper, Rosemary DeWitt and Maria Bello and follows three mens’ lives as they become victim to corporate downsizing, possibly from Ryan Bingham. A teaser for the film landed online about a week, generating some pre-festival buzz.
“Cyrus”
Starring Marisa Tomei, John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill, mumblecore mavens the Duplass Brothers’ held no bars with casting for their first studio effort. The film centers on a love triangle between two single parents and the woman’s adult son.
“Frozen”
Three skiers are left hanging on a chair lift and must fight isolation, the freezing cold and darkness to get back to civilization. Actor Adam Green writes and directs with Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore and Kevin Zegers starring as the ‘Frozen’ trio.
“Hesher”
Spencer Susser tackles this story about a young kid trying to deal with a loss and the anarchist who helps him and his family on their journey. Not convinced? How does the trio of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman and Rainn Wilson sound?
“Holy Rollers”
Inspired by actual events, Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha star as two Hasidic Jews involved with the smuggling of ecstasy into New York during the ’90s. The film itself seems like a much more serious affair than its casting suggests, exploring ideas of devotion versus blind faith.
“Howl”
The film will be a triple threat of sorts with three separate narratives: Allen Ginsberg finding his voice; society’s reaction and the infamous obscenity trial; as well as an animated segment bringing the poem to life. James Franco stars as said poet alongside Jon Hamm, Mary Louise-Parker and Jeff Daniels.
“I Am Love”
Luca Guadagnino’s film stars the always versatile and commanding Tilda Swinton as the head woman of her wealthy industrial Italian household, the Recchis, who turns her affluent family upside-down when she begins a forbidden love affair with a young cook. Pullitzer prize winning composer John Adams will be scoring.
“Jack Goes Boating”
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut is a relationship drama about two lost souls in New York who find themselves in each other, while the couple that set them up face tough times in their marriage. Amy Ryan and Tom McCarthy co-star.
“Please Give”
Nicole Holofcener’s film follows the story of a family waiting out on a cranky elderly neighbor to expand their apartment to a dream home. Things become complicated however when they become friends with the neighbor and her family. A great cast rounds out this one featuring Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Amanda Peet and Rebecca Hall and features a score by Marcelo Zarvos (“Sin Nombre”).
“The Kids Are All Right”
The dynamic of a family of four with same sex parents (Annette Benning, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) is thrown into chaos when the children ask to meet their sperm donor father, played by Mark Ruffalo. Lisa Cholodenko (“High Art” and “Laurel Canyon”) helms.
“The Killer Inside Me” – Based on a story by pulp writer Jim Thompson, Casey Affleck plays a small-town sheriff who spirals downward into a sociopathic murderer as a means to keep his clean cut image in tact. Directed by the eclectic, style-shifting Michael Winterbottom (“24 Hour Party People,” “Welcome to Sarajevo,” “Code 46,” “A Mighty Heart”) the pic features Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba and Simon Baker.
“The Runaways” – Rather than a straight up biopic, former music-video-director turned filmmaker Floria Sigismundi’s feature will focus on the relationship between The Runaways’ Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, played by Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, their rise to fame and eventual fall out. Watch out for Michael Shannon in a potentially scene-stealing performance as their band’s notoriously oily manager, Kim Fowley.
“Sympathy For Delicious” – Written by and starring Christopher Thornton, Mark Ruffalo’s film follows a paraplegic DJ who acquires the ability to heal, only to prostitute his new-found powers for sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. Orlando Bloom, Laura Linney, Juliette Lewis and Ruffalo co-star, while Montreal orchestral rockers, the Besnard Lakes will be scoring with musical contributions from members of the Mars Volta and Shiny Toy Guns.
There’s also plenty of documentaries and shorts that sound interesting including Spike Jonze’s robot-love-story short film “I’m Here,” James Franco film-school project “Herbert White,” Adrian Grenier turning the camera back at the paparazzi in “Teenage Paparazzo,” David Guggenheim’s focus on the education system, “Waiting For Superman,” the story of Pablo Escobar’s son by Nicholas Entel titled “Sins Of My Father” and looks at the world of social networking and virtual worlds in “Catfish” and “Life 2.0.” Also, let’s not forget one of the best documentarians working today, Alex Gibney (“Taxi to the Dark Side,” “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”) returns with “Casino Jack and the United States of Money.” Finally, we’re curious about Tamra Davis’ “Jean-Michael Basquiat: The Radiant Child” which should be an intriguing look at a fascinating artist.
Lots to see. Again, we’re not going this year, as per usual, but if you want to send in reports, or give us a head’s up about something we should know about — perhaps an interesting soundtrack detail we should know about — drop us a line via email and let us know, cheers.