At the start of the year the film industry does what most of us do; it looks back over the past year and celebrates, and it begins looking forward to the year ahead and thinking about what’s next.
We’ll have plenty of time for “looking back” in the lead-up to the Academy Awards, on Monday 25th February (NZ time). Today I thought we’d take a look at some of films that caused a stir at the Sundance Film Festival in late January; the ones we’ll hopefully see in NZ in the coming months.
The crowd at www.indiewire.com asked 42 critics from their Criticwire Network to participate in a poll of the best films and performances at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Here’s a list of the films that topped each category:
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE and BEST DIRECTOR – Before Midnight. Dir. Richard Linklater
It seems there is still life in this romantic drama series, with director Richard Linklater adding another “Before” film to his collection - following-on from Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004). Set in Greece nine years after the last film, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celeste (Julie Delpy) are holidaying with their infant twin girls. While Hawke is feeling guilty about being away from his teenage son, Celeste is concerned Jesse wants to move back to Chicago. Before Midnight was picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Classics after its screening, so hopefully we’ll be able to catch up on the last nine years of Jesse and Celeste’s lives soon.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – After Tiller
Dr George Tiller was a third-trimester abortion doctor who was assassinated in 2009 by an anti-abortion activist. This documentary, by directors Marsha Shane and Lana Wilson, is an up-close-and-personal look at the remaining four doctors in America who continue to perform third trimester abortions. It’s obviously a polarising and emotional issue; the reviews indicate the directors have tried not to take sides on the issue, and have captured a “sympathetic” and “thoughtful” portrait of the doctors involved.
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE - Miles Teller in The Spectacular Now
Directed by James Ponsoldt (Off the Black, Smashed), the synopsis for this drama reads: “Sutter (Miles Teller) is a high school senior who lives for the moment; Aimee (Shailene Woodley) is the introvert he attempts to "save." As their relationship deepens, the lines between right and wrong, friendship and love, and "saving" and corrupting become inextricably blurred.”
This was one of the most loved films to screen at Sundance, and will no doubt catapult Teller (a young actor who has played the funny guy in films like Footloose – the latest version) into leading actor territory. Picked up for distribution by A24 Films it has a July release date slated for the U.S, so will hopefully it will play here soon after.
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE and BEST ENSEMBLE - Ben Foster in Ain't Them Bodies Saints
Another universally liked film, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is written and directed by David Lowery, and tells the story of a love triangle between robber Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck), his wife Ruth (Rooney Mara) and detective Patrick (Ben Foster). Set in Texas in the 70s, the critics are raving about Bradford Young's stunning cinematography, the performances, and the poetic visuals and soundtrack. It sounds like a must see this year.
BEST FIRST FEATURE – Fruitvale
Ryan Coogler‘s Fruitvale took home the top honors this year, winning the Grand Jury Prize for Drama, and also scooping the Audience Award. Not bad for a debut feature. Fruitvale tells the true story of Oscar Grant, an African American man infamously killed by police in Oakland, California on New Year’s Day in 2009. The film follows Oscar on the last day of his life, with flashes back to 2007 when he spent a period of time in jail. Michael B. Jordan apparently gives a breakout performance - it looks like a heartbreaker to me.
For a full list of the top five films in each category, head to http://www.indiewire.com/survey/top-films-and-performances-of-sundance-2013/
And here’s a list of the official winners from the Sundance Film Festival 2013.
U. S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Fruitvale
U. S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Blood Brother
World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - Jiseul
World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - A River Changes Course
Audience Award: U. S. Dramatic presented by Acura - Fruitvale
Audience Award: U.S. Documentary presented by Acura - Blood Brother
Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic - Metro Manila
Audience Award: World Cinema: Documentary - The Square
Audience Award: Best of NEXT - This is Martin Bonner
Directing Award: U. S. Dramatic - Afternoon Delight
Directing Award: U. S. Documentary - Cutie and the Boxer
Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic - Crystal Fairy
Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary - The Machine Which Makes Everything Disappear
Cinematography Award: U. S. Dramatic - Ain’t Them Bodies Saints Cinematography Award: U. S. Dramatic - Mother of George Cinematography Award: U. S. Documentary - Dirty Wars
Cinematography Award: World Cinema Dramatic - Lasting Cinematography Award: World Cinema Documentary - Who Is Dayani Cristal?
U. S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Achievement in Filmmaking - Inequality for All
U. S. Documentary Special Jury award for Achievement in Filmmaking - American Promise
U. S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting - Miles Teller & Shailene Woodley, The Spectacular Now
U. S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Sound Design - Shane Carruth & Johnny Marshall, Upstream Color
World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award - Circles
World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Punk Spirit - Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer
Editing Award: U. S. Documentary - Gideon’s Army
Editing Award: World Cinema Documentary - The Summit
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic - In A World…
Screenwriting Award: World Cinema Dramatic - Wajma (An Afghan Love Story)
Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize - Computer Chess
Short Film Grand Jury Prize - The Whistle
Short Film Jury Award: US Fiction - Whiplash
Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction - The Date
Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction - Skinningrove
Short Film Jury Award: Animation - Irish Folk Furniture
Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting -Joel Nagle, Palimpsest
Short Film Special Jury Award - Kahlil Joseph, Until the Quiet Comes
Short Film Audience Award, Presented by YouTube - Catnip: Egress to Oblivion