My Most Anticipated Films of Sundance 2012

Following the lead of my beautiful friend Dor, below you will find my most anticipated films at this year’s Sundance

For Ellen - Paul Dano, i just can’t quit you. And from the looks of our picture taken togeter Sundance 2010, you can’t wait to get back with me too

Hello I Must Be Going - I’ve loved Todd Luiso since Phenom on ABC. I’m excited to see what he can do as a director.

Detropia - Detroit has captured my imagination since me and my dear friend Amanda drove through and were approached by a homeless man without a face. It has always been the worst place in the country for me to imagine spending any time in, and my friend told me recently you can buy $100 houses there. Now, thanks to the gals who directed Jesus Camp I may actually be able to answer what.the.fuck.happened.to.detroit.

The House I Live In - I’m humiliated to say but I’ve never seen a film by Jarecki and I’m excited that this one will be my first. The War on Drugs, in practice, is almost as laughable as the War on Terrorism. I have very high expectations for this.

About the Pink Sky - I don’t know much about the director Keiichi Kobayashi, or Japanese cinema in general, but the description in the film guide really captured my attention. Looking forward to this one.

Four Suns - The description in the film guide reminds me of a unique Czech blend of Bass Ackwards with a heavy helping of Tilsammans. I count those two films among my favorites so I’m excited!

Young & WIld - Debut film by Marialy Rivas, who directed my *favorite* short last year Blokes. Enough said.

China Heavyweight - Ryan I’m doing boxing research!

Bachelorette - Kiki Dunst, I must squeeze you and love you and gush and we must have photographic evidence! I saw her once at Arclight. I was about to tell her I loved her through thick and then but then her friend came up and slapped her butt and she got all giddy and distracted. No one slap her butt please.

Kid-Thing - Seems really interesting

28 Hotel Rooms  - Seems like the mosaic, fragmented style of storytelling that I adore and seems far too absent at this year’s festival!

Room 237 - Jonathan Snipes composed the music for this film which just makes it really bad ass. 

Great films.

Blokes
dir by Marialy Rivas
My favorite short in the program, and I promise it’s not just because there was a really hot masturbation sequence.  At its best moments, it captured the complete overpowering desire that befalls you when you’re an adolescent and you have just realized you are a sexual being. I found myself back there instantly, holding my breath for a lot of the more charged sequences. And in the end realizing, no matter how much we want to stand up and do the right thing, we are all flawed individuals. 

We’re Leaving
dir by Zachary Treitz
Sweet piece about a couple with a pet alligator who have to move out of their home after 26 years.

Babyland
dir by Marc Fratello
Twisted tale of what people will do in times of desperation. I actually really liked this piece a lot and thought the lead was great.

sexting
dir by Neil LaBute
Neil LaBute is like nails on a chalkboard to me.  This short was no different, though it felt way longer than eight minutes. Starring Julia Stiles who, to her credit, did the whole shoot in 4 hours. But gross gross gross. 

Brick Novax Part 1 & 2
dir by Matt Piedmont
If this were a web series I’d totally watch it. Great art direction, hilarious dialogue. Really creative and just awesome.  

The Wind is Blowing on My Street
dir by Saba Riazi
Wow this story. Shot in Tehran, a young woman is accidentally locked out of her apartment without her head scarf and has to sit on the street waiting for someone to unlock the building. The shame and scorn she faces in the brief minutes she’s outside. The actress was listed as Anonymous, so that should give you an idea of how scandalous this movie is.