It’s the new year which means, there’s no rest for the wicked and the Sundance Film Festival is upon us. It’s funny how January is known as a dead time for movies — and it is for mainstream films — but in the realm of independent cinema, the first month of the year is that time when filmmakers are cramming to finish their Sundance-bound pictures.
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And the diverse, eclectic Sundance lineup runs the gamut. You’ve got the Dramatic Competition slate, high profile Premieres from name filmmakers laden with stars, the Midnight section with horror, strange comedies and uncategorizable stories, World Cinema, Documentaries from the U.S. and abroad, daring indies in the NEXT section and plenty of Feature Presentations, and so much more. Sundance has pretty much something for everyone. Without further ado, here’s our guide. Stay warm in Park City, Utah and get ready for an overabundance of cinema.
“Mandy”
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Olwen Fouéré
Synopsis: Set in the primal wilderness of 1983, a broken and haunted man hunts an unhinged religious sect who slaughtered the love of his life.
What You Need To Know: The follow-up to mondo science fiction-horror hit “Beyond the Black Rainbow,” Canadian-residing filmmaker Panos Cosmatos sounds like he’s got another cult classic waiting in the wings with “Mandy.” Starring Nicolas Cage (in an apparently bat shit crazy performance) as a bereaved father out for bloody, ferocious revenge against ravaging idolaters and supernatural creatures… what more do you need than that?
“Arizona”
Cast: Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Wilson, Lolli Sorenson
Synopsis: Set in the midst of the 2009 housing crisis, a single mom and struggling realtor’s life goes off the rails when she witnesses a murder.
What You Need To Know: Connected to the world of James Franco, Danny McBride and friends (executive producer on “Vice Principals,” producer on “The Disaster Artist,” an first AD on “This Is The End”), director Jonathan Watson has clearly impressed his pals enough to get McBride to star in the darkly comedic “Arizona.” Seth Rogen and Kaitlin Olson make cameo appearances.
“Piercing”
Cast: Christopher Abbott, Mia Wasikowska, Laia Costa, Marin Ireland
Synopsis: A man headed away on business kisses his wife and baby goodbye with a deranged plan to check into a hotel, call an escort service and kill an unsuspecting prostitute.
What You Need To Know: Breakthrough American filmmaker Nicolas Pesce, who debuted at Sundance with “The Eyes of My Mother” in 2016, makes fucked up, psychologically disturbing horror films, so it’s perhaps no surprise, his latest sounds typically unhinged. Before you think it reads like gross fantasy torture porn on paper, apparently the girl (Wasikowska), turns the tables fast and there’s a dark comedy undercurrent.
“Come Sunday”
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Condola Rashad, Jason Segel, Lakeith Stanfield
Synopsis: Evangelist Carlton Pearson is ostracized by his church for preaching that there is no Hell.
What You Need To Know: Following 2016 Sundance entry “Complete Unknown,”director Joshua Marston (“Maria Full Of Grace”), who took off a big chunk of 2011-2016 to direct TV, is back already, perhaps working at his fastest pace ever. Based on the true story of a controversial and courageous man, “Come Sunday” sounds like it’s a big showcase for the always-impressive Chiwetel Ejiofor.
