Ahhh, another snowy year at Sundance (particularly snowy this year) has come to a close. A lot of excellent films have been packed up in their canisters and sent to their new distributors. Even more will move along in the festival season, hoping to find a friendly home on some form of new-fangled download-to-your-alphanumeric-pager distro-strategy. But before these movies make it to screens of various sizes near you, I'd like to take you on a quick tour of all the titles I was able to catch this year. I've included my letter grade, a few words of what I thought, whether the film has yet to land distribution, and also my initial impression via my immediate tweet after seeing the film.
As you might notice, the films I saw at this year's festival included a whole lot of B grades. Frankly, the quality of films this go-around was a bit lower than in past years. There weren't a lot of bad films (I avoided both Lay the Favorite and Price Check after hearing rotten reports). It just seemed that filmmakers (or maybe the fest) was playing it a bit safe. While there are obvious exceptions (Compliance), no fewer than a dozen of the films I saw can be best summed up in one word: charming. I'll avoid too deep of an analysis on this trend as to the role of the economic downturn or the perception that distributors are avoiding challenging films. But it is safe to say that this trend led to a generally less risky batch of films -- and therefore a generally less rewarding crop. But there were certainly some gems to be found amongst the rhinestones. Now, here are my thoughts:
28 HOTEL ROOMS - Next - My Grade: B
This story of a long term affair takes place over a number of years, exclusively in the hotel rooms that the affair goes down in. It's pretty indie, but it works, mostly on the strength of Chris Messina. No need to rush out and see it but it will probably do a decent turn on pay cable.
ABOUT THE PINK SKY - World Dramatic Competition - My Grade: B
I wasn't particularly impressed by this somewhat mundane story that employs a heavy handed style to the detriment of its narrative.
My Review of ABOUT THE PINK SKY
AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY - US Docu Competition - My Grade: B
This doc chronicling the controversial career of Chinese activist/artist Ai Weiwei is a pretty by the book doc about an incredibly anti-establishment artist. It is well worth watching for anyone interested in modern art or Chinese politics - but there's no harm waiting to watch it at home (no theatrical plans yet, anyway).
THE AMBASSADOR - World Docu Competition - My Grade: B
There is no doubt that it is pretty fascinating to see this white Danish dude work his way through the layers of corrupt African bureaucracy, but I couldn't help asking myself if he was doing it to make a political statement, or just to say, "hey look how stupid these people are."
ARBITRAGE - Premieres - My Grade: B+
I really enjoyed this financial thriller that is far more thriller than it is financial. Instead of focusing on the details of the finance plot, Jarecki spends time making the story and characters interesting. The film sold to Lionsgate/Roadside for $3M.
My Review of ARBITRAGE
BACHELORETTE - Premieres - My Grade: B
It's almost funny just how obviously this film is going after the Bridesmaids crowd. It mostly disappoints but there are some pretty funny moments, especially Isla Fisher's reee-diculously dumb character who rivals Inspector Clouseau in idiocy at times.
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: A
Without a doubt, my favorite film of the fest, this beautifully whimsical film is a must see when it comes to a theater near you from Fox Searchlight ($1M), likely sometime next fall.
My Review of BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
BLACK ROCK - Midnight - My Grade: B-
Katie Aselton's survival-thriller follow-up to The Freebie needed a lot more comedy and another script pass. It did, however, sell to LD Entertainment for $1M+.
My Review of BLACK ROCK
CALIFORNIA SOLO - Premieres - My Grade: B
Robert Carlyle plays an over-the-hill rocker with an immigration problem almost as bad as his drinking problem in this respectable little indie that won't likely make more than a ripple.
CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER - Premieres - My Grade: B+
I rather liked this very commercial rom-com starring Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones that Sony Pictures Classic (odd choice?) bought for $2M. It should make some good late summer counter programming.
COMPLIACE - Next - My Grade: B
This was, without a doubt, the most controversial film of the festival. When all is said and done, Compliance will likely be the film that we remember from Sundance 2012 (along with Beasts and The Surrogate). It is the kind of extremely tough film that requires you to continually remind yourself, "this is a true story." That's simply the only excuse for the filmmaker to put the audience through such an ordeal. Magnolia has signed on for an undisclosed amount to bring it to screens of some sort in the next year or so.
THE END OF LOVE - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: B
The story here is all about Webber "directing" his son (or rather the scenes around his son) to tell a very competent and touching story - even if it feels a bit manufactured at times.
FILLY BROWN - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: A
I loved Youssef Delara and Michael Olmos's hard hitting hip hop story. Huge congrats to the guys. I seriously hope this one finds a good distributor soon.
THE FIRST TIME - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: B
The tweet says it all. There are a whole lot of scenes of teens sitting around talking about falling for each other - but ultimately the performances by Dylan O'Brien and Britt Robertson win us over.
FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL - Premieres - My Grade: B+
I had a lot of fun with this film about girls starting a phone sex business, mostly on the strength of stars Lauren Milller and Ari Graynor. Focus liked what they saw, buying worldwide rights to the film for $3M.
HELLO I MUST BE GOING - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: B
Todd Louiso's awkward comedy is pretty funny but runs a bit too long in its more sincere moments. Melanie Lynskey does a fantastic job in a role that seems like it was written for her (it wasn't).
I AM NOT A HIPSTER - Next - My Grade: B
I don't have a lot to say about this heartfelt indie about a rocker who just isn't that likable as a protagonist. This might the film from Sundance 2012 that I forget first.
THE IMPOSTER - World Docu Competition - My Grade: B+
This is a fascinating docu that is super stylized and well worth tracking down if it ever makes it to a screen near you - more likely on demand than in a theater.
KID-THING - Next - My Grade: C+
While those mundane moments of goat milking are fantastic, I just couldn't get on board with the central plot of a little girl riding around being a spoiled brat.
LIBERAL ARTS - Premieres - My Grade: B+
Josh Radnor didn't exactly win me over with Happythankyoumoreplease. But his sophomore effort shows a lot of promise, mostly on the strength of its supporting performances (except, sadly, a pretty weak Lizzie Olsen). The film sold to IFC for just north of $1M.
NOBODY WALKS - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: B
Another Sundance indie that no one needs to rush out and see, Ry Russo-Young's John Krasinski/Olivia Thirlby/Rosemarie DeWitt drama is, unfortunately, not as good as that cast deserves. Magnolia saw something they liked, however, buying the film for mid to high six figures.
RED LIGHTS - Premieres - My Grade: C
As if to confirm that Robert De Niro is allergic to decent films, Rodrigo Cortes's Buried follow-up was my least favorite film of the fest, mainly because it just feels like a failure of execution by Cortes. It seems like he just didn't understand what the writer was trying to do (the film is written by Rodrigo Cortes). Just to lock in my impression of the company, Millennium Entertainment bought the film for one of the highest totals of the fest: $4M.
ROBOT AND FRANK - Premieres - My Grade: B+
Yes, it's another "charming" Sundance film, but this Alfred P. Sloan winning near-future dementia dramedy is a great film because of tight writing and fantastic performances by Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, and the voice of Peter Sarsgaard. Sony/Samuel Goldwyn picked up the film for $2M and change.
ROOM 237 - New Frontiers - My Grade: B+
This isn't necessarily an expertly crafted docu, but the crazy theories professed by the Kubrick/The Shining scholars interviewed, make this one of the most entertaining films of the festival.
SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: A-
This wacky little sci-fi-ish comedy was one of my top films this year. Both Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass are great, but the funniest part, for me, was Jake Johnson. This one is going to get a release from Film District after their $1M+ purchase.
SAVE THE DATE - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: C+
Not even a the stellar cast of Lizzy Caplan, Allison Brie, Martin Starr, and Mark Webber could elevate this rom-com that just never gets the audience involved with any of its characters.
SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS - Midnight - My Grade: A-
I loved both the rocking performances and the innovative storytelling and editing in my favorite docu of the fest. Check out the review (also my favorite of the fest).
My Review of SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS
THE SURROGATE - US Dramatic Competition - My Grade: B+
Fox Searchlight took home the biggest sale of the fest with this $6M buy. Hawkes seems pretty damned likely to see awards buzz but I just don't feel the story goes on enough of a journey to quite be considered a home run. There wasn't a ton of buzz, but William H. Macy deserves some serious kudos as well.
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES - Docu Premieres - My Grade: B
Joe Berlinger's journey with Paul Simon through the history of his album Graceland is a great history lesson for music fans but fails to really get on top of the racial issues it tries a bit too hard to tackle.
V/H/S - Midnight - My Grade: B+
More than anything, the filmmakers involved with this found footage anthology subscribe to my favorite precept of horror filmmaking: Make it Fun! Magnolia/Magnet agreed, picking up the film for $1M+. This couldn't be a better match.
My Review of V/H/S
WISH YOU WERE HERE - World Dramatic Competition - My Grade: B
There are some unfortunate problems with Kieran Darcy-Smith's drama - but they're not because of the performances by Joel Edgerton, Felicity Price, or Teresa Palmer. Entertainment One picked up the film for an undisclosed sum.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS - Spotlight - My Grade: B
I finally got a chance to see Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank follow-up. It's not particularly entertaining and it's hard to like the characters, but it's an interesting adaptation of a book I have no interest in reading.
YOUR SISTER'S SISTER - Spotlight - My Grade: A-
Mark Duplass, Emily Blunt, and Rosemarie De Witt give excellent and fun performances in this somewhat stage play-esque story with plenty of laughs and plenty of heart. IFC has been on top of this one since TIFF.
Some of the notable films I didn't catch were Antonio Campos's mostly praised thriller SIMON KILLER which sold to IFC, James Ponsoldt's Mary Elizabeth Winstead starring sober-up drama SMASHED, Eugene Jarecki's War On Drugs Grand Prize Doc winning THE HOUSE I LIVE IN, and Mike Birbiglia's Best of Next winning SLEEPWALK WITH ME.
A final word of mention for the two Sundance 2012 films I came in having seen The Raid, and Oslo, August 31st. Both films are excellent. Both films were in my Top 10. Both films deserve an A. Go see 'em.