Sundance 2010 noncompetition highlights
Here’s a list of the noncompetition Sundance premieres I’ll be keeping an eye on and why. You can see a full list of all the noncompetition films including the Next, Spotlight, Park City at Midnight and New Frontier categories at Movieline and elsewhere.
The Company Men (Director: John Wells). Three company men attempt to survive a round of corporate downsizing. Cast: Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Rosemarie DeWitt. (U.S.)
Why: Bello, Jones, Cooper and De Witt
The Extra Man (Directors: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini; screenwriters: Robert Pulcini, Jonathan Ames, Shari Springer Berman). A down-and-out playwright who escorts wealthy widows in Manhattan’s Upper East Side takes a young aspiring writer under his wing. Cast: Katie Holmes, John C. Reilly, Paul Dano, Kevin Kline, Alicia Goranson. (U.S.)
Why: The writing/directing team behind American Splendor. John C. Reilly and Kevin Klein don’t hurt
Jack Goes Boating (Director: Philip Seymour Hoffman; screenwriter: Bob Glaudini). A limo driver’s blind date sparks a tale of love, betrayal and friendship revolving around two working-class New York couples. Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tom McCarthy. (U.S.)
Why: director/star Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Killer Inside Me (Director: Michael Winterbottom; screenwriter: John Curran). Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford is a pillar of the community in his small Texan town until he starts killing people. Cast: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Simon Baker, Elias Koteas. (U.S.)
Why: Director Michael Winterbottom, Casey Affleck
Please Give (Director-screenwriter: Nicole Holofcener). In New York, a husband and wife butt heads with the granddaughters of the elderly woman who lives next door. Cast: Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Keener, Sarah Steele. (U.S.)
Why: Iffy on Holofcener but can’t argue with Platt, Hall and Keener
The Runaways (Director-screenwriter: Floria Sigismondi). In 1970s Los Angeles, a teenager named Joan Jett connects with an eccentric producer to form an all-girl band. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Scout Taylor-Compton, Michael Shannon, Alia Shawkat, Tatum O’Neal. (U.S.)
Why: It’s The Runaways for crapsakes. Plus it has Michael Shannon
Shock Doctrine (Directors: Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross). Based on the book by Naomi Klein, the film exposes how shock is used to implement economic policy in vulnerable environments. (U.S.)
Why: Being the pinko that I am, I get off feeling bad about my country. Suck on that, Glenn Beck
Untitled Duplass Brothers project (Directors-screenwriters: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass). A recently divorced guy meets a lady, but the problem is that her son isn’t interested in sharing his mother. Cast: Marisa Tomei, John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill. (U.S.)
Why: I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the real lo-fi title and that would be annoying, but I like the cast
UPDATE: Betty Ann Waters was included in the original lineup announcement I referenced for this post but the film is not actually playing Sundance. I have removed it from the highlights list.
Filed under: Film Festivals
Tags: Sundance, Sundance Film Festival
