Park City Predictions: 50 Hopeful Films Heading to 2011 Sundance Film Festival
My favorite time of the new year is near. In about 78 days from now, I'll be trading in one wintery scene for another, except this one has got tons of goodies in the shape of world film premieres from burgeoning and established indie, doc and foreign filmmakers. Here's what we do know about the upcoming 2011 edition of the Sundance FIlm Festival.
We know that the closing of the Racquet Club (due to renovations) might mean we can expect "tighter" apres-screening Q&A's and perhaps, a minor drop in the usual amount of titles offered than in the previous years. We know that Richard Linklater will take a quick break from editing Bernie, to present the 20th anniversary edition of Slackers. We know that Kevin MacDonald's Life in a Day, the doc where YouTube users submitted video to eventually make for some nutty montage, will be premiering in Park City. As for what else will be shown, it's anyone's guess. This is where IONCINEMA.com comes in.
As a team of weary eyed Sundance programmers are watching and deliberating on the thousands of films they received on their end, I've taken it upon myself, now a tradition on the site, to reveal my informed, speculative predictions list of 50 hopeful film titles that I believe have the best odds of showing at next year's edition. Each individual film on the list will gradually be released over the week, but if you're impatient like I am, click away on the arrow below. Enjoy!
As a team of weary eyed Sundance programmers are watching and deliberating on the thousands of films they received on their end, I've taken it upon myself, now a tradition on the site, to reveal my informed, speculative predictions list of 50 hopeful film titles that I believe have the best odds of showing at next year's edition. Each individual film on the list will gradually be released over the week, but if you're impatient like I am, click away on the arrow below. Enjoy!
#18. Homework- Gavin Wiesen
Despite their being enough the odd Sundance face or two among the cast comprised of Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Sam Robards, Alicia Silverstone, Blair Underwood and Rita Wilson, I'm not sure where/how writer-director Gavin Wiesen's directorial debut fits in the scheme of things. The shot in New York coming-of-age film could end up in Park City, SXSW or Tribeca. Once again, it all depends on style, tone and the overall packaging. Slim chances for Homework to debut here, unless it really feels like a band apart.
This is about a homework-averse high school student (Highmore) who strikes up an unexpected friendship with the girl he's loved from a distance (Roberts). Angarano plays a graduate of the high school, while Wilson and Sam Robards play the mother and stepfather, respectively, of Highmore's character.
This is about a homework-averse high school student (Highmore) who strikes up an unexpected friendship with the girl he's loved from a distance (Roberts). Angarano plays a graduate of the high school, while Wilson and Sam Robards play the mother and stepfather, respectively, of Highmore's character.
* Producers: Kara Baker, P. Jennifer Dana, Darren Goldberg and Gia Walsh
#25. Live with It - Jonathan Levine
I'm mentioning Jonathan Levine's Live With It only because he has been to the festival with his previous picture (The Wackness) and the fact that it would play extremely well at the festival. The situation is different this time out with his third film, as Summit Ent. picked up the rights during production, so it therefore becomes a question if the distributor wants to push this Black List dramedy prior to The Beaver. My impressions are: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is well-liked by the fest and they could easily grab the most media attention of all festival titles presented there if they launch this as a world premiere screening in the Premieres section. Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anna Kendrick and Anjelica Huston star.
Based on the autobiographical spec ("I'm With Cancer") written by Will Reiser, Gordon-Levitt plays a 25-year-old who learns he has a rare form of terminal cancer. His family and friends – from girl-crazy best buddy Kyle (Rogen), to insecure girlfriend Rachael (Howard) and overbearing but loving mom (Huston) – attempt to help him through this process in the best way they know how…which is reflected in some of the most hilarious and bizarre ways ever. It’s about two men dealing with “friendship, love, and survival – in no particular order.”
Based on the autobiographical spec ("I'm With Cancer") written by Will Reiser, Gordon-Levitt plays a 25-year-old who learns he has a rare form of terminal cancer. His family and friends – from girl-crazy best buddy Kyle (Rogen), to insecure girlfriend Rachael (Howard) and overbearing but loving mom (Huston) – attempt to help him through this process in the best way they know how…which is reflected in some of the most hilarious and bizarre ways ever. It’s about two men dealing with “friendship, love, and survival – in no particular order.”
* Producers: Evan Goldberg, Ben Karlin, Seth Rogen
#52. Butter - Jim Field Smith
The Weinsteins have a good rapport with the festival, and along with the hope of giving the TIFF preemed Submarine an extra showing in the Spotlight section, they might try to grab a Premieres space for Jim Field Smith's Butter. The film is officially ready (see Smith's pic) and footage was shown at the AFM - so they have the option of waiting until the fall, or gain entry into the theatrical market with a The Kids Are All Rightmindset - build buzz early and position the family comedy early summer.
Scripted by Jason Micallef (it's a really good screenplay - think Best in Show), set in a small Midwest town, this follows a young orphan who named Destiny, after being adopted by a Midwestern family, discovers she has an uncanny talent for butter-carving. She eventually finds herself up against the ambitious wife (Garner) of the retired reigning champion in a town's annual butter-sculpting contest. Crazy cast includes: Rob Corddry, Jennifer Garner, Ashley Greene, Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Wilde and will introduce Yara Shahidi.
Scripted by Jason Micallef (it's a really good screenplay - think Best in Show), set in a small Midwest town, this follows a young orphan who named Destiny, after being adopted by a Midwestern family, discovers she has an uncanny talent for butter-carving. She eventually finds herself up against the ambitious wife (Garner) of the retired reigning champion in a town's annual butter-sculpting contest. Crazy cast includes: Rob Corddry, Jennifer Garner, Ashley Greene, Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Wilde and will introduce Yara Shahidi.
ioncinema
xoxo
Carrie
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