Film Feature: 10 Movies to Watch For From Sundance 2014

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Average: 5 (1 vote)

The Guest
The Guest
Photo credit: Sundance

The Guest
Writer: Simon Barrett
Director: Adam Wingard
Starring: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer, Sheila Kelley, Leland Orser, and Lance Reddick

Again, a horror movie from a director on the rise to the forefront of his genre, Adam Wingard. Last year was an amazing one for the independent horror filmmaker as his “You’re Next” earned major buzz and the second “V/H/S” film (he’s been a part of both) improved on the first. Very little is known at all about Wingard’s latest and, you know, that’s how I like it. The midnight slate this year is weaker than last (perhaps because films with horror themes like “Cold in July” and “Life After Beth” are in competition) but this one stands out (I’m also hoping “Cooties” and “Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead” live up to late-night movie potential).

Synopsis:
Still struggling over the loss of their oldest son, Caleb, to the war in Afghanistan, the Peterson family finds some solace when an unexpected visitor knocks on its door. David, a steely eyed and charismatic soldier who was recently discharged, is welcomed into their home when he comes to fulfill a promise he made to his fallen comrade. Siblings Anna and Luke are at first reluctant to accept David’s presence, but he soon wins them over by scoring kegs for Anna’s friends and roughing up some bullies from Luke’s school. Though he appears to be the perfect houseguest, a mysterious and sinister chain of events causes Anna to question whether David is actually whom he claims to be.

Laggies
Laggies
Photo credit: Sundance

Laggies
Writer: Andrea Seigel
Director: Lynn Shelton
Starring: Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell, Ellie Kemper, Jeff Garlin, and Mark Webber

Another year, another Lynn Shelton movie. Last year’s “Touchy Feely” didn’t get the response that “Humpday” and “Your Sister’s Sister” drew but this one has a spectacular cast that includes the underrated Keira Knightley and the underused Chloe Moretz. The former so often makes smart decisions when it comes to scripts and we’ve been waiting for the latter to get material that lives up to her talents. Let’s hope this is the movie that makes Chloe Moretz an awards season contender.

Synopsis:
Content to remain in a permanent adolescence, 28-year-old Megan clings to her job as a sign flipper for her father’s accounting company as her high school friends get married and advance their careers. When her high school boyfriend proposes unexpectedly, Megan panics and forgoes attending a professional-development retreat to hide, at least temporarily, at the home of her new 16-year-old friend, Annika, and her attractive, single dad.

Life Itself
Life Itself
Photo credit: Sundance

Life Itself
Director: Steve James

The director of “Hoop Dreams” returns to Sundance with a documentary about a man who loved his work, Roger Ebert. Based on Ebert’s memoir, “Life Itself” has been largely crowd-funded and promises to be more than just a love letter to the most influential film critic that ever lived. Ebert was actually working with James on the production before he passed, and the entire film world is pumped to both pay respects one last time to a legend and celebrate what he brought to the film community at a place where he was such a powerful figure. Ebert loved independent film and Sundance. We’ll be giving some of that love back next week.

Synopsis:
In 2013, we lost Roger Ebert—arguably the nation’s best-known and most influential movie critic. Based on his memoir of the same name, Life Itself recounts Ebert’s fascinating and flawed journey—from politicized school newspaperman, to Chicago Sun-Times movie critic, to Pulitzer Prize winner, to television household name, to the miracle of finding love at 50, and finally his “third act” as a major voice on the Internet when he could no longer physically speak.

Listen Up Philip
Listen Up Philip
Photo credit: Sundance

Listen Up Philip
Writer/Director: Alex Ross Perry
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, and Kristen Ritter

Alex Ross Perry’s “The Color Wheel” created a stir on the arthouse movie scene and his follow-up boasts two great performers in Elisabeth Moss and Jason Schwartzman, who one feels hasn’t really gotten a great part like he may have here in years. Perry has a unique, confident voice and I can easily see him having crafted roles for Moss and Schwartzman that will stand out in their career and push their work to the next level. I know as little about this film as any Sundance work this year but there’s something about the potential chemistry of Perry and this cast that has me incredibly intrigued.

Synopsis:
Anger rages in Philip as he awaits the publication of his sure-to-succeed second novel. He feels pushed out of his adopted home city by the constant crowds and noise, a deteriorating relationship with his photographer girlfriend Ashley, and his own indifference to promoting the novel. When Philip’s idol, Ike Zimmerman, offers his isolated summer home as a refuge, he finally gets the peace and quiet to focus on his favorite subject—himself.

A Most Wanted Man
A Most Wanted Man
Photo credit: Sundance

A Most Wanted Man
Writer: Andrew Bovell
Director: Anton Corbijn
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright, and Daniel Bruhl

Anton Corbijn was a major voice in the music video world who made waves with his work on the Joy Division biopic “Control” and the underrated George Clooney flick “The American.” He’s back with a simply ridiculous cast fronting an international thriller. PSH, Robin Wright, Rachel Mcadams, Daniel Bruhl, Willem Dafoe — in a thriller from Anton Corbijn. Sign me up.

Synopsis:
Anton Corbijn’s adaptation of John Le Carre’s psychological novel follows German spy Gunther Bachmann as he tracks down Issa, a suspicious Chechen-Russian immigrant on the run in Hamburg. Pressured by his German and American colleagues to capture and interrogate his suspect as a Muslim terrorist, Bachmann instead asks for more time to carefully track Issa’s movements and his relationship with his German immigration lawyer, Annabel Richter. Using his secret contacts and keen skill, Bachmann uncovers a connection between a world-renowned Muslim philanthropist and a terrorist group and devises a plan to use Issa and Annabel in a brilliant ploy to expose the scheme.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

quint's picture

ill watch anything with

ill watch anything with christina hendricks in it.

Rich Dad's picture

Sundance

Great pics and great critique Brian. I cant wait for the full reviews.

Slattery, PSH, Iranian vampires? Yikes! Rich

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