BAMcinemaFest 2017: 8 Must-See Films To Watch

Landline

“Landline”
Director: Gillian Robespierre
Cast: Jenny Slate, John Turturro, Edie Falco, Abby Quinn, Jay Duplass, Finn Wittrock
Synopsis: On the heels of their breakout hit “Obvious Child,” whirlwind talent Jenny Slate and writer-director Gillian Robespierre once again tackle a thorny subject with contagious irreverence. Landline tracks the splinters that form within a Manhattan family when sisters Dana (Slate) and Ali (Quinn) discover that their father (Turturro) is cheating on their mother (Falco), as they themselves give in to their own taboo temptations. Set amid the retro-wonderland of the 1990s with period-perfect detail — from stone-age Macintosh desktops to stonewashed jeans — this brash comedy is counterbalanced with deeply felt observations on family, relationships, and commitment.
Why It’s Anticipated: Because, as mentioned, “Obvious Child” was a breakout debut at Sundance so much so that anything Robespierre touches immediately goes on our “ones to watch” list. Here’s our Sundance review.

En el Séptimo Día

“En el Séptimo Día”
Director: Jim McKay
Synopsis: Acclaimed director Jim McKay’s (“Our Song,” “Girls Town”) first film in over a decade is this timely, compassionate, often humorous look at life in New York as an undocumented Mexican immigrant. José works long hours doing bicycle deliveries for a restaurant in Carroll Gardens, and then spends his day off on the soccer fields of Sunset Park. When his team makes it to the championship, he and his teammates are thrilled. But José’s boss throws a wrench into the celebration when he tells José that he has to work the day of the finals. Knowing he’ll be fired if he doesn’t show up for work, José is forced to choose between his job and his loyalty to his team. Shot on the streets of Brooklyn, “En el Séptimo Día” vividly captures the everyday struggles and camaraderie that bind this community together in a universally relevant story of fortitude and dignity.
Why It’s Anticipated: Well, it’s the centerpiece film for one, so it’s clearly a picture the festival considers one of their heavyweights. Jim McKay hasn’t directed a film since 2004 (“Everyday People“), but that doesn’t mean he’s gone away. He’s been all over television, helming episodes of uber-acclaimed shows like “The Wire,” “Breaking Bad,”The Americans,” “The Good Wife” and many, many more. Just on a practical level, it would be remarkable to see what a director with thirteen straight years of a nearly daily filmmaking regimen can do now.

Wind River

“Wind River”
Director: Taylor Sheridan
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Gil Birmingham, Jon Bernthal, Julia Jones, Kelsey Asbille Synopsis: This striking directorial debut from Oscar-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (“Sicario,” “Hell Or High Water“) is a tense, engrossing murder mystery set in the desolate tundra of a Wyoming Native American reservation. A wildlife officer (Jeremy Renner) discovers the body of a teenage girl, setting off an investigation that will find him partnered with an FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) and reopening unresolved wounds from his past. Sheridan channels the existential spirit of both hard-boiled noir and classic ‘70s crime procedurals, abetted by a plaintive score from Nick Cave and fellow ‘Bad Seed’ Warren Ellis.
Why It’s Anticipated: See above, really. There’s a million reasons to like this one, perhaps chief among them the great transition from screenwriter to director for Taylor Sheridan (though please don’t stop writing great screenplays for others, too). But, also, it’s a strong reminder how good Jeremy Renner can be. That gets lost in big tentpoles like “The Avengers” and the ‘Bourne’ films, but consider this one a very big, if unshowy, comeback for the actor. Here’s our review.

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“The Strange Ones”
Director: Lauren Wolkstein & Christopher Radcliff
Cast: Alex Pettyfer, James Freedson-Jackson, Emily Althaus, Gene Jones
Synopsis: Following a violent incident, two young men (Alex Pettyfer and James Freedson-Jackson) go on the run through a desolate rural landscape. As relationships, identities, and realities shift in unexpected ways, tensions mount, creating an atmosphere rife with unease. This masterful feature debut by Lauren Wolkstein and Christopher Radcliff, hauntingly lensed to emphasize both the majesty and menace of nature, is a spellbinding psychological mystery.
Why It’s Anticipated: Sometimes films get overlooked and that’s the case with this SXSW offering that didn’t get much traction in Austin earlier this year. But, at the very least, Alex Pettyfer is looking for redemption, and it looks like he’s found it here.

Princess Syd

“Princess Cyd”
Director: Stephen Cone
Cast: Jessie Pinnick, Rebecca Spence, Malic White, James Vincent Meredith
Synopsis: Nine years after a traumatic childhood incident, brash 16-year-old Cyd (Pinnick) heads to Chicago to spend the summer with her aunt (Spence). Spending languorous, sunny days at the beach and at barbecues, Cyd develops a budding relationship with the androgynous Katie (White) while grappling with her own issues of sexuality and spirituality. Featuring naturalistic performances and moments of unexpected lyricism, this new film by Stephen Cone is a portrait of a young woman testing the waters of the real world for the first time.
Why It’s Anticipated: Cone’s “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party,” which played at BAMcinemaFest 2015, was an auspicious beginning, and this sounds provocatively engaging.

The Big Sick

Honorable mentions: There’s also “The Big Sick” from producer Judd Apatow and “Silicon Valley” star Kumail Nanjiani, but we presume you’ll know about that one as it’s likely going to be a slightly mainstream/indie-sized hit. Make no mistake, though: it’s an awesome, bittersweet crowdpleaser that you should totally see. Other recommendations include additional Sundance picks like “Lemon,” “The Incredible Jessica James,” “Majorie Prime,” “Columbus” and, hell, most of the festival. BAMcinemafest runs June 14-20