Wednesday 18 January 2012

Sundance 2012

It's that time of year when the Who's Who of Tinseltown gather in the frozen cold of Park City, Utah with the not-so-famous, but just as awesomely talented, and watch a crop of indie films that are sure to get people talking. Sundance 2012 kicks off this Thursday the 19th and runs through Sunday the 29th. Here's a breakdown of some of the flicks I find pretty cool and will be keeping an eye out for in my local theaters.




Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap
Directed by Ice-T

The rapper turned actor presents this film about rap, cutting through all the dazzling layers and players to get to the soul of this often controversial art form that has influenced a generation. He talks with the cats I grew up listening to Chuck D, Nas, Mos Def, Dr. Dre, Grandmaster Caz, Snoop Dogg, Ice-Cube and Afrika Bambaataa. I think it's a must see for anyone who loves music in all its forms.

Hello, I Must Be Going
Directed by Todd Louiso

Melanie Lynskey is Amy, a 35 year old woman whose husband suddenly divorces her, leaving her with absolutely nothing. Demoralized,she is forced to move back in with her parents. In the midst of this depressing mess her life has become, she meets a young man spending the summer in town with his parents. They have an affair and it's through this highly unconventional romance that she reignites her self esteem. Sounds typical, but director Louiso made a compelling case for it on the Sundance site. This one is scheduled to open the festival on Thursday.

Excision
Directed by Richard Bates, Jr.

Pauline is a straight up psycho. She loves to pick scabs, dissect road kill and dreams about performing surgery on total strangers. Her parents, classmates and even her therapist all find her highly disturbing. The only one who understands her is her younger sister Grace, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. This looks to be a hellagood horror comedy and it stars John Waters. John "freakin" Waters people. I love him!

Grabbers
Directed by Jon Wright

First some fishermen disappear, then the whale carcasses wash up and finally the murders start. Something evil is stalking the townfolk of Erin Island and it's up to two mismatched cops to find out what in the ever loving hell is going on. They finally discover a large tentacled monster has been using their village as a dining room and the only weapon is booze. Apparently the monster is not into wine with his dinner. You gotta love a horror flick where the only recourse to survival is getting shit-faced.

My Brother, The Devil
Directed by Sally El Hosaini

Mo is is very lonely teen whose desperate need for any kind of attention leads him on some dangerous paths. He idolizes his handsome, charming older brother, Rash, a drug-dealer and gang banger whose crimes support the family and make him quite popular. Aching to be just like his brother, Mo takes a dangerous job that sets him and his brother down a road of revelation. I am eager to see this because it is an urban masculine tale directed by a woman.

Any thoughts? Films you'll be looking forward to?

8 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Grabbers sounds funny! Hopefully it's meant to be.

Unknown said...

I didn't know Ice-T directed a film. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing that.

Unknown said...

@Alex Yes, Grabbers is definitely supposed to be funny. It's actually a tribute to the old monster movies.

Unknown said...

@Bonjour It sounds fantastic doesn't it? I am definitely eager to see this.

FilmMattic said...

Grabbers has an absurd plot. It may be just what the doctor ordered. I think some inanity and over-the-top humor can be effective, so long as the director avoids, the common sin of "these films:" an egregious tonal imbalance, because, when you mess with silly, you have to go full-silly.

Nice list, Mel! I wish I was in Park City today.

Unknown said...

@Matt Thanks! Indeed, Grabbers certainly has an absurd plot. LOL I think it just might work though. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I wish I was in Park City, too.

Craig Edwards said...

These all sound pretty interesting! Well culled, Ms. B!

Unknown said...

@Craig Thanks! I normally expect to see the Sundance films on DVD, but from the sound of these, I believe I will be venturing to the theater.