Once again, not a cool kid, didn’t go to the Sundance Film Festival. But I did read all about the movies getting the buzz. Actually, I think my favorite part is perusing the pics from the Entertainment Weekly photo booth. I love how everyone looks like they’re having a blast, letting loose and hamming it up. Actors.
Here are the films that tickle my fancy:
Winter’s Bone: The Grand Jury prize winner about a teenage girl’s coming-of-age in the rural Ozarks, as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact. Cast is mostly unknowns, which adds to the appeal.
Happythankyoumoreplease: One of the Audience Award winners. It’s another quirky take on the romantic comedy, a la (500) Days of Summer, and starring Kata Mara, Malin Akerman and Richard Jenkins.
Sympathy for Delicious: Actor Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut about a paralyzed DJ with the power to heal others but not himself. Stars Ruffalo, Orlando Bloom, Juliette Lewis and newcomer Christopher Thornton as the DJ.
3 Backyards: The story of three people from the same suburban town during the course of one curious autumn day, starring Edie Falco, Embeth Davidtz and Elias Koteas.
Blue Valentine: This drama charts the rise and fall of a marriage between a young couple, played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
Cyrus: A comedy about a divorced guy who meets the woman of his dreams – except her adult son still lives with her. The cast is what gets me: John C. Reilly, Catherine Keener, Jonah Hill and Marisa Tomei. Definitely can’t wait for this one.
Douchebag: I also like the sounds of this one, too. On the verge of getting married, a guy escorts his younger brother on a wild goose chase to find the brother’s fifth grade girlfriend. Again, all unknowns in the cast, but it sounds hilariously poignant.
The Dry Land: This drama is about a U.S. soldier returning home from war struggles to reconcile his experiences abroad with the life and family he left in Texas. Stars America Ferrara, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Ritter and Melissa Leo
Mother and Child: A drama centered around three women: A 50-year-old woman, the daughter she gave up for adoption 35 years ago, and an African American woman looking to adopt a child of her own. Stars Naomi Watts, Samuel L. Jackson, Annette Bening, Kerry Washington, Jimmy Smits and a bunch more.
Holy Rollers: Even though it stars Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha and Ari Graynor, it’s not a comedy. Action takes place in Brooklyn, where a youth from an Orthodox Jewish community is lured into becoming an Ecstasy dealer by his pal who has ties to an Israel drug cartel.
The Kids Are All Right: Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life. Stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson.
Look for several of these coming to your theater soon. One hopes.