Sure, there are edgier, more exciting film festivals than Sundance: For young, emerging filmmakers, South by Southwest is our pick. Perhaps the highest quality selections come from the critic-curated New York Film Festival. When we want to watch some seriously out-there fare, we turn to Sundance’s evil twin, Slamdance. But there’s no denying that the movies that make a big splash January 21-31 in Park City are sure to be some of the biggest indie-crossover sensations of next year — which is why we’re poring over the just-released list of films that will be in competition in 2010. And because we never tire of playing amateur studio exec, we’ve chosen the ten Sundance selections that interest us most and tell you why we can’t wait to watch them.
U.S. Documentary Competition
Ron Galella, the focus of Leon Gast’s Smash His Camera
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (Director: Tamra Davis) — The story of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose work defined, electrified and challenged an era, and whose untimely death at age 27 has made him a cultural icon. Why we’re excited: Like most art buffs, we’re totally obsessed with Basquiat’s tragic story.
Restrepo (Directors: Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington) — Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington’s year dug in with the Second Platoon in one of Afghanistan’s most strategically crucial valleys reveals extraordinary insight into the surreal combination of back breaking labor, deadly firefights, and camaraderie as the soldiers painfully push back the Taliban. Why we’re excited: We’re hoping the talented duo of journalist Junger and photographer Hetherington will help us understand what’s really happening in Afghanistan.
Smash His Camera (Director: Leon Gast) — Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sued him, and Marlon Brando broke his jaw. The story of notorious, reviled paparazzo Ron Galella opens a Pandora’s Box of issues from right to privacy, freedom of the press and the ever-growing vortex of celebrity worship. Why we’re excited: We have a serious attraction-repulsion thing going with celebrity culture. Perhaps this film will help us work out our issues.
U.S. Drama Competition
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine (Director: Derek Cianfrance; Screenwriters: Derek Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis) — A complex portrait of an American marriage, Blue Valentine charts the evolution of a relationship over time. Cast: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman. Why we’re excited: A character-driven drama starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. How could it go wrong?
Holy Rollers (Director: Kevin Tyler Asch; Screenwriter: Antonio Macia) — A young Hasidic man, seduced by money, power and opportunity, becomes an international Ecstasy smuggler. Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Danny A. Abeckaser, Ari Graynor, Jason Fuchs Why we’re excited: The plot’s intriguing, and Jesse Eisenberg has been on a roll lately.
Howl (Directors and screenwriters: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman) — A nonfiction drama about the young Allen Ginsberg finding his voice, the creation of his groundbreaking poem HOWL, and the landmark obscenity trial that followed. Cast: James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels Why we’re excited: James Franco as Allen Ginsberg. Need we say more? (Okay, maybe we also need to say that we look forward to the strong possibility of Franco engaging in more Milk-style boy-on-boy action.)
World Cinema Documentary Competition
Space Tourists / Switzerland (Director: Christian Frei) — A humorous and laconic view of the way billionaires depart our planet earth to travel into outer space for fun. Why we’re excited: Best. Documentary premise. Ever.
Fix ME / France, Palestinian Territories, Switzerland (Director: Raed Andoni) — When Palestinian filmmaker Raed Andoni gets a headache that won’t quit, he seeks out help and insight in different forms in his hometown of Ramallah. Why we’re excited: We’ve seen so many political documentaries about Israel-Palestine, but far too few films that explore daily life in the occupied territories.
World Cinema Narrative Competition
Nuummioq / Greenland (Directors: Otto Rosing and Torben Bech; Screenwriter: Torben Bech) — A young man’s journey through the exquisite natural landscape of Greenland allows him to piece together elements of his past and move on with his life. Cast: Lars Rosing, Angunnguaq Larsen, Julie Berthelsen, Morten Rose, Makka Kleist, Mariu Olsen Why we’re excited: How often do we get to see a film from Greenland? Plus, even if the story sucks, there will be plenty of gorgeous scenery to distract us.
Grown Up Movie Star / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Adriana Maggs) — After her mother runs away, a teenage girl, determined to grow up fast, is left to care for her hopelessly rural father. Cast: Shawn Doyle, Tatiana Maslany, Jonny Harris, Mark O’Brien, Andy Jones, Julia Kennedy Why we’re excited: We’re suckers for a good, strange coming-of-age story.
All film descriptions courtesy of Sundance.