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Sundance 2016 Awards: 'Birth of a Nation' Wins Audience & Grand Jury
8 hours ago
The official awards for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival were announced tonight at a ceremony in Park City. We've been anxiously awaiting the results of the awards at Sundance, and now we know who won big - The Birth of a Nation, the powerful directional debut of actor Nate Parker (read my review). The film won both the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize, which has been the case at Sundance for the last four years (last year Me & Earl & the Dying Girl won both). In addition, the other Audience Awards were the docs Jim: The James Foley Story and Sonita, and the film First Girl I Loved. Read on for the full list. Here's the full release of winners with synopsis info next to each. The 2016 festival wraps up this weekend. 2016 Sundance Film Festival Jury Awards: The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to: The Birth of »
- Alex Billington
Sundance 2016: Animated Disney Films as Therapy in 'Life, Animated'
15 hours ago
We all know that movies can change lives, in small ways and in big ways. But that change is often internal, and it's hard to track exactly how we are affected. The documentary Life, Animated (which premiered at Sundance) is an absolutely wonderful documentary that perfectly captures how one autistic boy learned to communicate and engage with the world through Disney animated movies. It's a triumphant and inspiring story, but it's also a beautiful documentary that features many clips from Disney movies as well as original animation (by Mac Guff). The film is about Owen Suskind, following him as he moves into his own place for the first time in his life. His entire VHS collection of Disney movies is the very first thing he unpacks. At Sundance last year, I was moved to tears by a film about autistic children called How to Dance in Ohio (please seek it »
- Alex Billington
Sundance 2016: Frightening Iranian Ghost Horror 'Under the Shadow'
20 hours ago
Sundance loves to find and premiere the next generation of horror films, and this is one of them. It's very likely most people have never seen a ghost movie like this before, which is refreshing for the genre. Under the Shadow is a horror-thriller set in Tehran, Iran, about a mother and her daughter encountering eerie supernatural forces in their bombed out building. The only worthwhile comparison to make is that this film reminded me of The Babadook, another Sundance film (from 2014), with a plot involving tensions between a mother and her child, not to mention some very creepy things going on. Under the Shadow is frightening and captivating, and while it doesn't have the most extensive mythology, it is a satisfying horror experience. The film is set entirely in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, when both countries were bombing / attacking each other's major cities without much warning. »
- Alex Billington
For the Love of Storytelling - Why I Can't Stop Going to Film Festivals
29 January 2016 4:34 PM, PST
When you really think about it - film festivals are a bit crazy. They gather up 100+ films, show them all 3 or 4 times over the course of 10 days, invite thousands and thousands of movie fans to town, and most of us (at least many of my colleagues) watch as many of them as we can. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, we all get to tweet and discuss these films instantly, spreading the word about what's good (or bad) to fellow film fans who are not in attendance. While everyone else around the world is going about their normal day jobs, thousands of us (various members of the press, industry, cinephiles and beyond) are packing in 3, 4, or 5, sometimes even 6 films every day. We're desperate to see something that leaves us in awe. I adore festivals. Why do we do this? Why do we subject ourselves to a few hours of sleep each night, »
- Alex Billington
Kathryn Bigelow & Mark Boal Making a Film on Detroit's Race Riots
29 January 2016 1:37 PM, PST
This sounds like it could be pretty good. After making Zero Dark Thirty, director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal were planning to make a movie about Pow Bowe Bergdahl. They've been working on it but with changes in Bowe's story and planned coverage in the upcoming second season of the podcast Serial (not to mention competing projects), they've decided to look for something else in the meantime. Deadline reports that Bigelow and Boal are next working on a film (currently untitled) that will be set around the race riots in Detroit in 1967. They're already pushing forward on pre-production with plans to release in 2017. Details are a bit sparse right now, but the other amazing news about this project is that it will be financed by Annapurna Pictures (The Master, Zero Dark Thirty, Her, American Hustle, Joy, Foxcatcher, Everybody Wants Some). Deadline states that filming will start in the summer. »
- Alex Billington
Watch: First Trailer for New Remake of Eli Roth's 'Cabin Fever' Horror
29 January 2016 1:09 PM, PST
Another day, another remake. The first official trailer for the remake of Eli Roth's 2002 horror film Cabin Fever has arrived online. I don't know why anyone felt it was necessary to remake this horror film, but they went for it anyway. Eli Roth actually executive produced this new version of his freaky horror hit, which is full of pretty people screaming and getting all bloody and chopped up. The cast includes Gage Golightly, Matthew Daddario, Nadine Crocker, Dustin Ingram, Samuel Davis, Louise Linton and Randy Schulman. Nothing I'm interested in seeing, but if you're curious about this film, give this trailer a look. Here's the first trailer for Travis Zariwny's Cabin Fever remake, found directly on YouTube: A group of five friends rent a getaway cabin in the woods and begin to fall victim to a horrifying flesh-eating virus, which attracts the unwanted attention of the homicidal locals. »
- Alex Billington
Sundance 2016: Down a Crazy Rabbit Hole in 'Tickled' Documentary
29 January 2016 12:39 PM, PST
This documentary is freakier than most horror movies. Tickled is not really a documentary about tickling, even though it is a documentary about tickling. Produced out of New Zealand, this entertaining and egaging documentary (co-directed by David Farrier and Dylan Reeve) follows Kiwi pop culture journalist David Farrier as he investigates a company that films professional tickling events. It all starts when he discovers a wacky video online of "competitive endurance tickling", and attempts to contact the people behind it. Suddenly, David is tumbling down a rabbit hole of legal threats and insane discoveries as he attempts to get to the bottom of this. It becomes a doc about the abuse of money, and how power hungry some people are. One the main reasons Tickled is so entertaining is David Farrier, as he is pretty much the star of the film (leading every new discovery) and he has a very appealing on-screen vibe, »
- Alex Billington
Watch: Kevin Spacey Plays a Cat in First Trailer for Wacky 'Nine Lives'
28 January 2016 10:53 AM, PST
"How did I get into this?!" EuropaCorp has unveiled a teaser trailer for a comedy called Nine Lives, which is a funky body switch film where Kevin Spacey ends up inside of a cat named Mr. Fuzzypants. The whole point is that Kevin Spacey plays a businessman who doesn't care enough about his family, and when they end up getting a cat (from pet shop owner Christopher Walken) he is put inside the cat in order to learn a lesson about spending time with them. The cast includes Robbie Amell, Jennifer Garner, Teddy Sears and Cheryl Hines. This is just a teaser trailer (IMDb even claims they're not done filming yet) and barely has any footage, but cat lovers (and fans of Kevin Spacey or Christopher Walken) will definitely flip for this. Here's the first trailer (+ poster) for Barry Sonnenfeld's Nine Lives, found on YouTube (via The Playlist): »
- Alex Billington
Another Full Trailer for Illumination's Amusing 'The Secret Life of Pets'
28 January 2016 10:37 AM, PST
"We can find our way home - we are descended from the mighty wolf. We have raw primal instincts that are moments away from leading us home." Universal has released another brand new, full-length trailer for Illumination Entertainment's upcoming animated movie The Secret Life of Pets, about what your pets do when you leave for work every day. We've already featured one official trailer for this previously as well as the holiday teaser, but this trailer dives more into the story and all of the characters/animals we'll meet in this movie. The main voices include Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Ellie Kemper, Jenny Slate and Eric Stonestreet. This does look fun and I'm sure it's going to be a big hit with audiences of all ages. Here's the second official trailer for Illumination's The Secret Life of Pets, direct from YouTube: For their fifth fully-animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, »
- Alex Billington
Sundance 2016: 'Swiss Army Man' is Wacky, Whimsical & Very Unique
28 January 2016 7:06 AM, PST
There's no doubt about it - this is a film you're going to either love or hate. Swiss Army Man is one of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival's most divisive films, with some of my fellow critics walking out before they could even finish it. The film is unquestionably unique, I've never seen anything like it, and while it starts out totally wacky everything clicked for me about 30 minutes in. The film opens with Paul Dano playing a man stuck on a deserted island trying to hang himself. But before he can do so, a dead body in a suit (played by Daniel Radcliffe) washes up on shore. Attempting to ignore it, the body begins to fart, then before you know it he's riding this farting body like a jet ski back to land. I told you it's wacky, but actually quite fun. For the first 20 to 30 minutes, the film is a bit confusing, »
- Alex Billington
Abel Gance's 'Napoleon' is Getting a Restored Theatrical Re-Release
27 January 2016 11:13 PM, PST
Now this film is a true classic! The BFI (British Film Institute) has announced a digitally restored re-release of Abel Gance's 1920's epic Napoleon, about the French conqueror. This project has been in the works for 50 years, with Academy Award-winning film historian Kevin Brownlow traveling the world collecting old prints of Gance's Napoleon in order to piece together this fully-restored version. The silent film runs a full 5 1/2 hours in total, and is accompanied by a live orchestra score. Ever since the previous restoration in 2000, the film version has only been screened 4 times in the UK. This announcement from the BFI is only for a UK re-release so far, but we also expect it to show up over here soon, too. It will premiere in November of 2016. The full press release (via The Arts Shelf) mentions that this new digital restoration of Napoleon will have its premiere screening with a »
- Alex Billington
Watch: Clive Owen in Official Trailer for Comedy 'The Confirmation'
27 January 2016 8:00 PM, PST
"Your dad is a good man. He's got some demons, but you know, we all do." Lionsgate has debuted a trailer for the comedy The Confirmation, written/directed by Bob Nelson. It stars Clive Owen as an alcoholic, down-on-his-luck carpenter who must take care of his eight-year-old son Anthony, played by Jaeden Lieberher, while his mother and her new husband go to a Catholic retreat. As much as that doesn't sound like a comedy, there is some levity in the dialogue after the situation they find themselves in when Walt's toolbox is stolen. Also starring Patton Oswalt, Robert Forster, Tim Blake Nelson, Matthew Modine & Maria Bello. This looks better than I was expecting, but not sure if it'll be that good. Take a look below. Here's the first official trailer for Bob Nelson's The Confirmation, high def on Apple: Clive Owen shines in this comedy as Walt, a down-on-his »
- Alex Billington
Full Us Trailer for Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 'Cemetery of Splendor'
27 January 2016 7:39 PM, PST
"Cinema as the stuff dreams are made of..." Strand Releasing has unveiled an official Us trailer for Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul's latest film Cemetery of Splendor, which has been playing at film festivals since last year. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, played at Tiff and the New York, Busan, Vancouver and Denver Film Festivals, and is now playing at the Sundance Film Festival this year, arriving in theaters in March. This dream-like, mesmerizing Thai film is about a lonely housewife (Jenjira Pongpas) who tends to a soldier with sleeping sickness that "falls into a hallucination that triggers strange dreams, phantoms, and romance." Those who are fans of "Thai Joe" and his films - this is his latest must-see feature. Here's the official Us trailer for Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Cemetery of Splendor, high def on Apple: Soldiers with a mysterious sleeping sickness are transferred to a temporary clinic in a former school. »
- Alex Billington
Sundance 2016: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte's Impressive Debut 'As You Are'
27 January 2016 4:51 PM, PST
As Aristotle once explained, every story is either a tragedy or a comedy. This film is a tragedy – in the true sense of that word. It's very depressing, and sad, but depressing in a good way, if that's possible to imagine. I say that because it captures some very beautiful, intimate moments of connection among friends dealing with the hardship of young life. As You Are is the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, premiering at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and it will hopefully give Miles the break he needs to make more films - because he seems to be a very talented storyteller. While it's not the best film of the fest, it does show quite a bit of potential, and it's a powerful story about love and what it makes you do. As You Are (which I still think is an odd title for this feature) is about three friends - Jack, »
- Alex Billington
Review: Jacob Gentry's 'Synchronicity' is Familiar But Exceptional Sci-Fi
27 January 2016 3:21 PM, PST
Through the hazy light that seeps in via Venetian blinds and in the midst of the cold, dark hallways that make up the world in Jacob Gentry's Synchronicity, a mind-bending, sci-fi love story unfolds. Much of what plays out rests in familiar territory. The general design of the futuristic (but not quite future?) world is more than a little reminiscent of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. But that familiarity in structure only serves the love story Gentry is telling, the greater of the two mysteries with which the filmmaker presents. With focus, determined pace, and nice swaths of dry humor, Synchronicity emerges as more than the sum of its influences' parts. Gentry succeeds in creating the world, implications and subtext of the story he's telling. At the head of Gentry's story is Jim Beale (Chad McKnight), a physicist who believes he has the key to the greatest, scientific discovery in history. »
- Jeremy Kirk
Watch: Full Trailer for Laika's Stop-Motion 'Kubo and the Two Strings'
27 January 2016 2:58 PM, PST
"It's time to follow my own path... My name is Kubo - this is my story." This looks awesome, seriously! Focus Features has unveiled a new trailer for the Laika stop-motion animation film Kubo and the Two Strings. We featured the first official teaser trailer late last year, and this new full-length trailer looks even better, sharing so many intriguing moments (the giant wave, the birds and the snow). I love that Laika is embracing this kind of dark, fantastical adventure, and I can't wait to see this. Art Parkinson voices Kubo, and the full cast includes Rooney Mara, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa & George Takei. I'm more and more impressed by Laika every film they make. Here's the new full-length trailer for Travis Knight's Kubo and the Two Strings, direct from YouTube: In the epic fantasy, scruffy, kindhearted Kubo ekes out a humble living while »
- Alex Billington
Meet Mighty Eagle in Second Trailer for Sony's 'The Angry Birds Movie'
27 January 2016 2:41 PM, PST
"Can anyone see what's going on here?" Sony has unveiled a second trailer for their upcoming animated The Angry Birds Movie, which even features a Michael Jackson song, because what better way to sell this junk than connect it with Michael Jackson. This animated movie is based on the popular video game series and it seems about as completely brainless as the games, without much of an interesting story. The voice cast includes Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Josh Gad, Danny McBride and Peter Dinklage as the voice of Mighty Eagle. This doesn't look like it's worth seeing unless you have kids, but give it a look anyway in case anyone is curious to see how they turned this into a movie. Here's the second official trailer for Clay Kaytis & Fergal Reilly's Angry Birds movie, direct from YouTube: The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, »
- Alex Billington
Sundance 2016: Nate Parker's 'The Birth of a Nation' is Sensational
26 January 2016 3:40 PM, PST
It's time to rise up, to revolt, and to inspire real change. The Birth of a Nation is the feature directorial debut of actor Nate Parker, who has been working on this project for the last seven years. Parker writes, directs, produces and stars in this cinematic story of Nat Turner, a real-life slave in the 1800s who leads an uprising in Virginia. His legacy is meant to inspire "change agents", and for years his story was covered up to prevent this from happening. But now the story has been told (again after being published in books), exquisitely, and Parker's take on Nat Turner is a triumph. It's a sensational, riveting film that spends less time on the revolt itself, more on the man that realizes he is the one who must passionately lead an uprising. Nate Parker stars as Nat Turner, a fairly humble, hard-working slave who is taught »
- Alex Billington
Sundance 2016: John Carney's New Film 'Sing Street' is Utterly Joyful
26 January 2016 12:53 PM, PST
There's nothing like great music that makes you so happy you want to get up and dance. The latest film from John Carney, the Irish director who broke out with the musical Once at Sundance in 2007, is called Sing Street and it's utterly joyful. It's almost an Irish version of School of Rock amped up to 11, but there's such an unique, energetic, exciting vibe to it, I think it's time to proclaim Sing Street as the new winner of the Battle of the Bands. Sing Street so much fun to watch, but it's also genuinely passionate about encouraging the weirdos and oddballs to be whatever they want. Sing your heart out, fight against authority, be someone. The film is another story that connects directly to the life of director John Carney, who introduced the world premiere at Sundance by telling the story about how he was living in his parents house, »
- Alex Billington
Watch This: Gareth Evans' Kick Ass Home-Made Samurai Short Film
26 January 2016 11:35 AM, PST
This is badass! The Raid 1 & 2 director Gareth Evans has released a short film online that he produced entirely on his own. It's a short samurai film shot in Wales that is a test sequence to prove that they can film action similar to The Raid films but with a PG-13 rating. The main cast includes Hannah Al Rashid, Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman. This isn't anything more than a test sequence, but it's awesome to see and hopefully good inspiration for filmmakers trying to figure out how to shoot action. I dig the black & white style, as it allows the viewer to appreciate the composition. I'm a fan of Gareth Evans (watch my interview from a few years ago) and I think he's one of the most talented action directors making films today. Enjoy! Storyline from YouTube: In a time of civil war, a young warrior is given the »
- Alex Billington
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