Last Updated on August 3, 2021
And so it comes to an end – with my eleventh Sundance (in a row!) officially in the books. In many ways, this was a game changing year for the festival, with the advent of streaming more apparent than ever as all of the big sales, including the record-breaking acquisition of PALM SPRINGS, had a streaming component. Hulu especially seemed to be working overtime to establish themselves in features, shelling out $22 million for the aforementioned PALM SPRINGS as well as another $8 million for Justin Simien's BAD HAIR, which, interestingly, came with a world-wide component. This is noteworthy because, currently, Hulu only operates in the U.S, so could an international expansion (now that they're owned by Disney) be in the works?
All this aside, it was another good year for Sundance. I saw some really good movies, if not full-on materpieces, making it a semi-mixed bag compared to last year, but overall, it was still a great year and, as always, I'm lucky to have been able to attend.
Here are some of my favorites from this year's fest!
Promising Young Woman
In many ways, I don't think people are prepared for Emerald Fennell's PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN. The trailers make it look like a revenge fantasy, but one thing that's not being conveyed it how darkly humorous it is, with chunks of the film being absolutely side-splitting, before Fennell pulls the rug out from under us in perhaps the gutsiest final act I've seen in a mainstream film in years. Don't miss this one.
Palm Springs
This is the one Hulu and Neon spent a cool $22 million on, making it the biggest acquisition in the festival's history. While it remains to be seen how the film will go down once it hits theaters (or more likely streaming), it's a hilarious riff on a familiar formula made fresh by the edgy humor and the dynamic star pairing of Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. Plus, any film that prominently used Genesis' "The Brazilian" is good with me.
Charm City Kings
As far as I'm concerned, nowhere near enough people saw Angel Manuel Soto's CHARM CITY KINGS at the fest this year. A dynamic coming-of-age film about motorcycle culture in Baltimore, this is dazzlingly well directed by Soto, who deserves to shoot to the top of everyone's list the next time a big franchise needs a new director, with some of the best performances of the fest from young Jahi Di’Allo Winston, CHI-RAQ's Teyonah Parris, and rapper Meek Mill.
The Nest
This was one of the more divisive movies at the fest, with some loathing Sean Durkin's grim look at a family caught-up in 80's excess, but I thought THE NEST was one of the best movies of the festival. Jude Law and Carrie Coon give outstanding performances as an upwardly mobile couple living way beyond their means in Thatcher-era London, while their family is literally torn apart at the seams.
Ironbark
As far as purely entertaining films go, IRONBARK ranks up there with the best of the fest. A star vehicle for Benedict Cumberbatch, playing a real-life English salesman caught up in Cold War spy games during the Cuban Missle Crisis, this was one of the few movies to get a legit theatrical deal with Lionsgate/Roadside, and it's not hard to see why. I expect this to be a prestige release for them, and it's certainly a film you'll be hearing more about as the year goes on.
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