Robert Redford created the Sundance Film Festival and continues to be a strong presence there each January. Thanks Sundance Kid..
As for me, at my 12th Sundance, I’ve already posted my pictures and blogged about them. At Festival 2012, with the theme “Look Again”, I chose 14 films to see in 5 days. Many people have been asking me on Facebook and elsewhere, “What did you see? What did you like? Who did you see?” So here goes…
These are the 14 films I saw, (out of 160!) and they represent several of the film categories offered at Sundance. There are 12 categories, you can read all about them and a lot more at the Sundance website, Sundance 2012.
From the Premiere category, I saw “2 Days in New York”, starring Chris Rock, written by the very funny Julie Delpy.
Also in Premieres, I saw “Robot and Frank”, starring Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon and Liv Tyler. Also “Lay the Favorite”, a Vegas gambling film that starred Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones. And my favorite, “Arbitrage”, that starred the fabulous Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. I think you’ll be seeing this one in theaters very soon. Gere was there..
I saw 2 films in the Documentary Premiere category. “Ethel”, about Ethel Kennedy, by her daughter the talented filmmaker Rory Kennedy, was a joy to watch for a kid like me who grew up admiring the Kennedys. You’ll be seeing that on HBO soon.
Ethel and Rory Kennedy
Another great documentary was “About Face”, an intimate view of aging but still beautiful models whose images graced us for many years. I think you’ll see this one on HBO also.
From the US Dramatic Competition category (where you vote after the screening!) I saw: “Filly Brown”, (loved it) “Hello, I Must Be Going”, (ok) “LUV”, (intense) “Nobody Walks”, (not bad) and “Smashed” (excellent). I did not see the audience winner, “Surrogate”, which was the talk of the town. Darn! I missed that one. I’ll catch it at the Ritz in Philly. I urge you to read about all of these films at Sundance 2012. If bought, they will be around in a few months or so to see…
In the World Cinema Dramatic Competition , I screened two films. I love seeing films from other countries. Bring on the subtitles! They where “Father’s Chair”, from Brazil, and “The Last Elvis”, from Argentina. I enjoyed both.
I didn’t get a chance to see any films from the US or World Documentary Competition categories…damn! In US competition, “The Queen of Versailles” was another very talked about film at the Fest. That was bought and will be out soon.
Finally, from the “Next” category, films described as pure, bold works by promising filmmakers, I saw “Compliance”. This was a very controversial premiere of this film that I attended at the Library Theater. Read about the film by clicking on the Film Guide at Sundance 2012. Google the controversy. It’s based on a true story.
That’s what I saw…read about them all, and the winning films at Sundance 2012. Enjoy the movies!
