CINEMAST’S 10 MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS AT SUNDANCE 2017
Article by John Pugh
The Sundance Film Festival is right around the corner and Team Cinemast is ready to brave freezing cold temperatures all in the name of great movies! What are we most looking forward to at this year’s iconic festival? We thought you might want to know so here’s a little run down!
*For a more info on the following films, simply click the movie title.
JOHN’S 10 MUST-SEE TITLES AT SUNDANCE 2017!
WIND RIVER
SICARIO and HELL OR HIGH WATER were at the top of many critics’ Best of the Year lists for 2015 and 2016. They were definitely in the top of mine. My love for those films started with the great scripts by actor/writer Taylor Sheridan. Now, Mr. Sheridan is giving his directorial debut with WIND RIVER., a thriller centering around the discovery of a body in a snow filled Wyoming landscape. We can only expect great things from this.
WIND RIVER stars Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and Jon Bernthal.
BUSHWICK
Every Sundance we look forward to the fun and twisted genres showcased during the “Park City at Midnight.”. It was a pleasant surprise to see COOTIES directors Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott back at Sundance with their new film BUSHWICK. Though I wouldn’t consider COOTIES a horror classic, I did find it entertaining. The fact that writer/actor Nick Damici is involved in the BUSHWICK screenplay, sparks my interest even more and pushes BUSHWICK to my must-see list of the festival. Also, judging off the pictures, this is looking like it might be the most ambitious film of the Midnight selection.
BUSHWICK stars Dave Bautista, Brittany Snow, Arturo Castro.
THE DISCOVERY
An obvious hot ticket at Sundance 2017 is Charlie McDowell‘s THE DISCOVERY. McDowell’s first film, THE ONE I LOVE was featured at Sundance 2014 and was well received. This new romantic sci-fi drama sounds really intriguing and controversial. It tells the story of a physicist who scientifically proves that the afterlife exists. The fact that this is a Netflix Original and that it’s already scheduled to start streaming March 31st, 2017 made me wonder if I should skip it. Maybe see something else that may be little further out for acquisition and release date. However the realization that with no theatrical run I’d miss the opportunity to see the film with an audience, I decided this was a must-see. A decision that even seemed more sensible after I got a look at this outstanding trailer for the film.
THE DISCOVERY stars Rooney Mara, Riley Keough, Jesse Plemons, Jason Segel and Robert Redford.
A GHOST STORY
David Lowery, who’s featured film AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS played Sundance 2013, graces fest attendees with his presence twice at Sundance 2017! Coming fresh off Disney’s remake of PETE’S DRAGON Lowery brings us his new secret project, A GHOST STORY. This quiet , observant character study finds Casey Affleck looking in on his mourning significant other from beyond the grave. Lowery also wrote a script for another film playing at this year’s festival. More on that in a minute.
A GHOST STORY stars Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, and Brea Grant.
REMEMORY
Filmmaker Mark Palansky, helmer of 2006’s whimsical romance PENELOPE is back at Sundance with REMEMORY, a yarn about a device that is able to record and play memories. I’m a sucker for good sci-fi movie and like THE DISCOVERY, I’m hoping this one also fits the bill. Anton Yelchin also stars in the film making the title of this film all the more relevant. That late Yelchin is also appearing in another anticipated Sundance entry called. THROUGHBRED.
REMEMORY stars Anton Yelchin, Peter Dinklage, Julia Ormond.
CITY OF GHOSTS
Director Matthew Heineman gave us great insight and tense moments in the Academy Award Nominated documentary, CARTEL LAND. That film played Sundance 2015 and took home the Directing Award for U.S. Doc and the Documentary Special Jury Award in Cinematography. With CITY OF GHOSTS, Heineman gives us a real life look at heroism set to the backdrop of ISIS-induced terror.
THE POLKA KING
Writers/directors Maya Forbes (INFINITELY POLAR BEAR) and Wallace Wolodarsky team with (HACKSAW RIDGE) Producer David Permut to bring us a new comedy that is sure to deliver smiles and laughs. How could it not? The fil is called THE POLKA KING and it stars Jack Black!
THE POLKA KING stars Jenny Slate, Jack Black, Jason Schwartzman.
THE YELLOW BIRDS
Director Alexandre Moors‘ crime drama BLUE CAPRICE made in into Sundance 2013. Now he’s back with the war drama THE YELLOW BIRDS. Accompanied by an all-star cast and David Lowery as one of the writers. It’s no wonder this will be a hot ticket.
The Film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Tye Sheridan, Toni Collette, Jennifer Aniston, and Jack Huston.
BAND AID
2016 was a banner year for musicals. Movies like SING STREET and LA LA LAND are ushering a new age of the movie musical. Zoe Lister-Jones‘ directorial debut BAND AID looks to continue that trend in a story about a fighting couple who try to salvage their relationship by forming a band and singing about their problems. Sounds all-too-fun to pass up.
BAND AID stars Erinn Hayes, Brooklyn Decker, Zoe Lister-Jones, Colin Hanks and Fred Armisen.
FREE AND EASY
Finally, i’m greatly looking forward to director Jun Geng‘s FREE AND EASY, a comical yarn about a travelling soap salesman and a crime gone wrong. This one looks to be hilarious and populated by one ridiculous situation after the next. I’m always down for a glorious slice of Asian Cinema, and I suspect this one will satisfy my craving.
FREE AND EASY stars Zhiyong Zhang, Xu Gang.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY TITLES AT THE 2017 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL:
RAW
MANIFESTO
GOLDEN EXITS
THE HERO
BAD DAY FOR THE CUT
MUDBOUND
78/52
REBEL IN THE RYE
WALKING OUT
BRIGSBY BEAR
COLOSSAL
PERSON TO PERSON
TO THE BONE
IN LOCO PARENTIS
WILSON
XX
POP AYE
DAYVEON
THE NILE HILTON INCIDENT
THEIR FINEST
THOROUGHBRED
BEATRIZ AT DINNER
IT’S NOT YET DARK
MARJORIE PRIME
MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI
Check out the full Program Schedule at the Sundance Site.
For a look at Adam’s 10 Must-See Films at Sundance 2017, CLICK HERE!
