Whether it’s the product of it being the first big film festival of the calendar year, or that it’s a proverbial rough full of diamonds, the Sundance Film Festival always generates a huge amount of intrigue and enthusiasm in the film industry. The performance of it’s big gems from last year doesn’t hurt either; Oscar Best Picture nominees Boyhood and Whiplash both premiered in Park City, as did other indie hits like Frank, God Help the Girl and The Skeleton Twins. You never know what will come out of Sundance, but here are some films we’re keeping our eyes on this year.
Stockholm, Pennsylvania
Saoirse Ronan is an incredible actress who manages to fly under the radar and work on a broad spectrum of films. After being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Atonement at the ripe old age of 13, she has done everything from young adult book adaptations to action thrillers and animated movies. Fresh off her part in The Grand Budapest Hotel, she’s back in a dramatic role for Nikole Beckwith’s Stockholm, Pennsylvania playing a girl who was kidnapped and held captive for 17 years. Back home with her parents, she struggles to restore her relationship with her family while also fighting to let go of her feelings towards her former captor. Ronan is sure to turn in another strong performance in this one.
The Witch
Writer/director Robert Eggers debut feature, a U.S./Canada co-production, is a chilling period piece set in 17th-century New England. When a couple decide to uproot and ply their trade on a new farm near the edge of a haunting wood, unseen evils cause their lives to unravel. The Witch has already started screening and early reviews are positive. Last year Sundance had a hit horror film in The Babadook; maybe The Witch is this year’s most frightening find.
Unexpected
Kris Swanberg, the better half of Sundance regular Joe Swanberg (Drinking Buddies), brings her new film to the festival this year. Unexpected stars Cobie Smulders as Sam, a high-school teacher who receives a heaping dose of good news/bad news: she’s pregnant, but her school’s closing and she’s losing her job. At the same time, one of Sam’s most promising students gets pregnant, allowing the two to confide in and support each other as they enter motherhood. Many actors have their big breaks at Sundance (Michael B. Jordan, Shailene Woodley, and Abigail Breslin to name a few), and Gail Bean, who plays the pregnant student Jasmine, might be one to watch this year.
Hellions
Hellions is the latest from Canadian filmmaker Bruce McDonald. Set on Halloween night in the sleepy town of Waterford – Pumpkin Capital of the World – Chloe Rose stars as Dora, a teenager who unwittingly answers her door expecting trick or treaters, but instead opening her home to evil creatures called hellions. Luckily she has T-1000 himself, Robert Patrick, to protect her. McDonald’s films always have a unique Canadian vibe to them, so it makes sense that he sets his latest in the small Ontario town. His last stab at the horror genre, Pontypool, also used an out of the way Ontario location as its setting.
Knock Knock
The Keanu-sance continues! After kicking ass in last year’s surprisingly fun John Wick, Reeve’s dives into some psychological horror under the direction of one of the genre’s best talents, Eli Roth. Reeves plays a successful family man who receives a visit from two mysteriously attractive young women bent on making his life a living hell. Hellions and Knock Knock are both screening in the Park City at Midnight program this year, and would make a pretty good home invasion double feature.
A Walk in the Woods
In what may be a first, Sundance founder Robert Redford is starring in a film at his own festival. A Walk in the Woods is an adaptation of Bill Bryson’s humorous book where he recounts his attempt to hike the 2100-mile long trail with his estranged friend Stephen. This adaptation has been in the works since 2005 with Redford confirmed to star from its inception. With a script from Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine) and an ensemble cast that includes Nick Nolte, Mary Steenburgen, Nick Offerman, Emma Thompson, and Kristen Schaal, A Walk in the Woods has the makings to be a fun adventure.
Don Verdean
To be honest, we were pretty much sold on this film the minute we saw that it starred Sam Rockwell and Jemaine Clement. Director Jared Hess got his big break at Sundance in 2004 with Napolean Dynamite, but hasn’t done a whole lot since then. Here’s hoping that this comedy, about a man who makes a living unearthing religious artifacts, can see Hess back in quirky form. With the cast he’s gathered, including supporting roles for Amy Ryan, Danny McBride, and Will Forte, that shouldn’t be too hard.
Mistress America
Mistress America reunites director Noah Baumbach with actress Greta Gerwig and New York City, a formula that combined in 2012 to make the delightful black and white comedy Frances Ha. Expectations will be high for the duo as they make their third feature together (Greenberg was the other in 2010). This time around Gerwig plays Brooke, an adventurous New Yorker who helps liven up her future stepsister’s big city experience. In 2005 Baumbach won directing and screenwriting awards at Sundance for The Squid and the Whale. We’ll see if he can repeat that success 10 years later.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Scientology is a religion that many know about and have heard strange things about, but the group is so tight lipped that we can’t really grasp just how crazy it is. Acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney is looking to blow the whole thing open with Going Clear. The film is based on the book by Lawrence Wright and highlights many aspects of the church’s history and practices. It is also said that the film details the relationships of the church and its A-list followers, John Travolta and Tom Cruise chief among them. HBO had 160 lawyers review the film to prepare for any legal action from the church. Reaction to this truth bomb could be swift and intense.
The Sundance Film Festival runs from January 22 to February 1.
