“This is not Berlin” – World Cinema
Director: Hari Sama
Screenwriters: Rodrigo Ordóñez, Hari Sama, Max Zunino
Producers: Ale García, Antonio Urdapilleta, Hari Sama, Verónica Valadez P.
Official Synopsis: 1986, Mexico City. Seventeen-year-old Carlos doesn’t fit in anywhere, not in his family nor with the friends he has chosen in school. But everything changes when he is invited to a mythical nightclub where he discovers the underground nightlife scene: punk, sexual liberty, and drugs.
Cast: Xabiani Ponce de León, José Antonio Toledano, Ximena Romo, Mauro Sánchez Navarro, Klaudia García, Marina de Tavira.
Pay Attention: This isn’t necessarily a groundbreaking storyline, but it’s atypical for Mexican films and we’re curious what “mythical” really means in this context.
“After The Wedding” – Premieres
Director and screenwriter: Bart Freundlich
Producers: Joel B. Michaels, Harry Finkel
Official Synopsis: Seeking funds for her orphanage in India, Isabelle travels to New York to meet Theresa, a wealthy benefactor. An invitation to attend a wedding ignites a series of events in which the past collides with the present while mysteries unravel. Based on the Academy Award-nominated film by Susanne Bier.
Cast: Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Billy Crudup, Abby Quinn.
Pay Attention: A Day One premiere, this English-language adaption of Susanne Bier’s 2006 Oscar nominee for Foreign Language Film is a strange one. Freundlich doesn’t have the best track record, but the festival has slotted this as the big narrative opening night film and, in recent years, that’s been a good sign. That being said, as an adaptation of a known property and with Moore and Williams in the fold why does it still not have distribution? We’re puzzled.
“Blinded by the Light” – Premieres
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Screenwriters: Sarfraz Manzoor, Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges
Producers: Gurinder Chadha, Jane Barclay, Jamal Daniel
Official Synopsis: In 1987 during the austere days of Thatcher’s Britain, a teenager learns to live life, understand his family and find his own voice through the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Cast: Viveik Kalra, Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Kulvinder Ghir, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura.
Pay Attention: You already know the beginning, middle and the end of this one without stepping into the theater. It’s also part of what’s becoming a whole genre of ’80s Brits finding their groove with American pop culture. But, it’s a formula that can totally win over a Park City crowd and start an “only in Sundance” bidding war.
“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” – Premieres
Director: Joe Berlinger
Screenwriter: Michael Werwie
Producers: Michael Costigan, Nicolas Chartier, Ara Keshishian, Michael Simkin
Official Synopsis: A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy from the perspective of Liz, his longtime girlfriend, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.
Cast: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Haley Joel Osment, Kaya Scodelario, John Malkovich, Jim Parsons.
Pay Attention: I mean, Efron as Ted Bundy. Plus, Berlinger’s return to narrative filmmaking after some celebrated success in the documentary field. It’s likely going to be incredible or a total mess.
“I Am Mother” – Premieres
Director: Grant Sputore
Screenwriter: Michael Lloyd Green
Producers: Timothy White, Kelvin Munro
Official Synopsis: In the wake of humanity’s extinction, a teenage girl is raised by a robot designed to repopulate the earth. But their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger arrives with alarming news.
Cast: Clara Rugaard, Rose Byrne, Hilary Swank
Pay Attention: One of two Aussie films in Premieres, a very rare occurrence, we’re also curious on the fact this seemingly genre play wasn’t plopped into the Midnight slate. Does that mean it’s more or less commercial than it’s description indicates?
“Late Night” – Premieres
Director: Nisha Ganatra
Screenwriter: Mindy Kaling
Producers: Ben Browning, Howard Klein, Jillian Apfelbaum, Mindy Kaling
Official Synopsis: Legendary late-night talk show host’s world is turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpectedly hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline.
Cast: Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, John Lithgow, Paul Walter Hauser, Reid Scott, Amy Ryan.
Pay Attention: Distributors should start getting those wire transfers ready. If any movie has the potential for breakout success on paper (and that official still alone) it’s this one.
“Official Secrets” – Premieres
Director: Gavin Hood
Screenwriters: Sara Bernstein, Gregory Bernstein, Gavin Hood
Producers: Ged Doherty, Elizabeth Fowler, Melissa Shiyu Zuo)
Official Synopsis: The true story of British Intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun, who prior to the 2003 Iraq invasion leaked a top-secret NSA memo exposing a joint US-UK illegal spying operation against members of the UN Security Council. The memo proposed blackmailing member states into voting for war.
Cast: Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, Rhys Ifans.
Pay Attention: Hood’s directing skills scare the crap out of us, but Knightley and Fiennes have shown pretty good taste over the past decade. We’ll see.
“The Report” – Premieres
Director and screenwriter: Scott Z. Burns
Producers: Steven Soderbergh, Jennifer Fox, Scott Z. Burns, Danny Gabai, Eddy Moretti
Official Synopsis: The story of Daniel Jones, lead investigator for the US Senate’s sweeping study into the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program, which was found to be brutal, immoral and ineffective. With the truth at stake, Jones battled tirelessly to make public what many in power sought to keep hidden.
Cast: Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Ted Levine, Maura Tierney, Michael C. Hall.
Pay Attention: The fact this is Burns feature directorial debut is notable. He’s a talented screenwriter with a resume that includes “Contagion,” “The Informant!” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.” And speaking of actors with good taste how about Driver, Bening, and Hamm?
“Little Monsters” – Midnight
Director and screenwriter: Abe Forsythe
Producers: Jodi Matterson, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Keith Calder, Jessica Calder
Official Synopsis: A film dedicated to all the kindergarten teachers who motivate children to learn, instill them with confidence and stop them from being devoured by zombies.
Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Alexander England, Josh Gad.
Pay Attention: First, you read that synopsis and think “Yep, that sounds like a Sundance Midnight flick.” And then you see it stars Nyong’o and Gad as two of the teachers? O.K., we might need to stay up late for this one.
What Sundance movies are most intriguing to you so far? Share your thoughts below.