About the Pink Sky
dir by Keiichi Kobayashi

This film takes place entirely inside the memory of the lead character, Izumi. In the memory Izumi is in high school and finds a wallet with $300,000 yen belonging to a wealthy college boy…the drama and self discovery spring from her initial decision not to return the wallet and ultimately what happens when her friends discover she has it. 

There were several things I loved about this film—the sound design for one, the cinematography, and the easy humor and repartee between the three lead girls. The cast, especially Izumi (played by Ai Ikedea), really captured that disinterested quality so many teens have that is simply masking for a secret hunger for self discovery. There was one casting choice in particular that I questioned, and some subject matter that I felt was sloppily handled, but all in all a solid offering from an exciting and gentle new voice in  Japenese cinema!

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. 

MY OWN AWARDS FOR SUNDANCE 2011: 

BEST LEADING ACTOR 
Peter Mullan - Tyrannosaur
Gilbert Sicotte - The Salesman 

BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Ellen Barkin - Another Happy Day
Lisa Haas - Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same
Donattella Finocchiaro - Lost Kisses 
Belgica Castro - Old Cats 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Samir Guesmi - A Few Days of Respite

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Pernell Walker - Pariah 

BEST DIRECTOR
Madeleine Olnek - Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same
Miranda July - The Future 
Dee Rees - Pariah 
Marialy Rivas - Blokes 

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Hot Coffee dir Susan Saladoff
Resurrect Dead (The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles) dir Jon Foy

BEST SURPRISE ENDING
Incendies 

BEST SHORT
Blokes dir Marialy Rivas

BEST ANIMATION
Something Left, Something Taken

CREEPIEST SHORT
The Strange Ones 

Boleta al Paraiso (Ticket to Paradise)
dir by Gerardo Chijona

The only Cuban film at this year’s festival, Ticket to Paradise is a difficult to describe. A group of wayward Cuban youths, led by the deliciously jailbait Alejandro, are left to fend for themselves on the streets of Havana. Alejandro figures out a way to get the group three square meals a day, free room and board, and all the comforts of home. His brilliant plan? To contract HIV and get into the government subsidized hospital. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes infuriating, this movie exposes a dark street logic that is not always comfortable to look at. 

Like Crazy
dir by Drake Doremus

To be fair, everyone else seemed to love this movie a lot more than I did, whereas I found it to be a bit cheesy and sentimental. Starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones, this is the story of a doomed first love (Though I had an interesting conversation with Matt Page afterward and he felt the love wasn’t doomed so I suppose it’s a film that leaves the audience to determine, to its credit). Anton Yelchin was more than capable, and quite believable and charming…but I felt the entire film lacked a certain depth that I was hoping for instead just skimming the surface.  

Perfect Sense 
dir by David Mackenzie

Dark and strikingly beautiful, strange and occasionally a touch silly, ‘Perfect Sense’ is not a perfect movie, but it’s worth seeking out for its unique vision that is hard to shake long after you’ve left its world behind. 

Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same d
dir by Madeline Olnek

One of the BEST movies of the entire festival. Hysterical and very much influenced by the sci-fi B-Movies from back in the day!! My favorite performance so far of the entire festival has been Lisa Haas’s performance as Jane, an earthling. I hope this movie gets bought so that the world can see it!!!

Martha Marcy May Marlene d
dir by Sean Durkin

Captivating film that held my interest for the duration, but then ended abruptly and left me feeling unsatisfied. Elizabeth Olsen was fine. Good at best and capable at worst. I’m excited to see her other film too.