NEGATIVE SPACE

Jared Hess' Neuer "Don Verdean" (Rockwell, Clement) © Lionsgate

Absteigend aufgelistet sind hier die Sundance-Filme 2015, die mich persönlich am meisten interessieren. Die eigene Vorfreude wie auch das Kritiker-Feedback vor Ort sorgen für die Abstufungen, die ich mit Sternen von fünf bis drei kenntlich mache. Der Ticker wird mehrmals täglich upgedatet:

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Most-Wanted 2015:

01. The Diary of a Teenage Girl - Marielle Heller
02. Mississippi Grind - Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck
03. Hot Girls Wanted - Jill Bauer & Ronna Gradus
04. Dope - Rick Famuyiwa
05. The Witch - Robert Eggers
06. Mistress America - Noah Baumbach
07. The Nightmare - Rodney Ascher

Kommentar: Für Sundance ist das eine sehr bescheidene Ausbeute. Irritierend auch, wie wenige Sundance-Filme auf der Berlinale gezeigt werden. Ob da ein Zusammenhang besteht? Zumal ja zum Beispiel noch die letzten Filme von Noah Baumbach und Andrew Bujalski mit Kusshand genommen wurden ...
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★★★★

"The Diary of a Teenage Girl" (Marielle Heller): "Frank, daring, funny chronicle of '70s San Francisco coming of age. Star Bel Powley sure to be a Sundance breakout." (Alison Willmore, BuzzFeed) "A fine adaptation of Phoebe Gloeckner's autobiographical novel." (Dennis Harvey, Variety) "A strikingly intimate look at a teenager's sexual life in an outstanding debut film." (Todd McCarthy, THR) "It's another Sundancefest gem + that rare American movie that doesn't punish its protagonist for her sexual curiosity." (Scott Foundas, Variety) "Lovely, honest look at teen sexuality. Won't be enjoyed by young people thanks to inevitable R rating." (Matt Patches, Grantland) "Like a Fox Searchlight remake of NYMPHOMANIAC PT 1. Sensitive, genuine & deeply mediocre. Valuable for kids." (David Ehrlich, TimeOut)

"Mississippi Grind" (Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck): "Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds give terrific performances as gambling buddies in this bittersweet, beautifully textured road movie." (Justin Chang, Variety) "Ryan Reynolds’ performance as a charming gambler in MISSISSIPPI GRIND is his best ever. This is also the best film he’s ever starred in." (Jeffrey Wells, HE) "A rambling, Southern-tinged CALIFORNIA SPLIT update that's a great time until its half-dozen endings." (Alison Willmore, BuzzFeed) "Inspired by 1970s Hollywood films such as FIVE EASY PIECES and THE LAST DETAIL." (Anthony Kaufman, Screen Daily) "A good bet for lovers of unhurried, character-driven contemplation." (David Rooney, THR) "Everyone’s favourite under-the-radar Aussie pays back the praise with a blistering turn as a gambler in this winning spin on Robert Altman’s CALIFORNIA SPLIT." (Jordan Hoffman, Guardian) "A rambling, gambling, pleasing throwback to 70's road films, with good Ryan Reynolds and a great Ben Mendelsohn." (Ty Burr, Boston Globe)

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★★★½

"Hot Girls Wanted" (Jill Bauer & Ronna Gradus): "If everyone who watches porn saw HOT GIRLS WANTED, sad, empathetic doc about the amateur industry, it'd be the biggest movie of the decade. But no one wants the reality when the fantasy sells so well. All the more reason then. Hope it gets seen." (Ty Burr, Boston Globe) "A cinéma vérité look at the disturbing, exploitative world of amateur porn and the young women it preys on." (Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times)

"Dope" (Rick Famuyiwa): "An Inglewood mixtape of RISKY BUSINESS, noir tropes, Tarantino verve & ‘90s hip-hop culture. electric but often misjudged." (David Ehrlich, TimeOut) "Sat down for DOPE expecting great '90s haircuts and a few good jokes. Left totally charmed. Audiences are going to love it." (Amy Nicholson, L.A. Weekly) " Armed with snappy dialogue, dynamic camera­work and breakout star Shameik Moore, this is a crowd-pleaser from start to finish." (Boyd van Hoeij, THR)

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★★★

"The Witch" (Robert Eggers): "A jaw-droppingly bold gift from God, THE WITCH is a major horror event on par with recent festival sensations like KILL LIST and THE BABADOOK. (David Ehrlich, TimeOut) "Malick’s THE NEW WORLD meets THE EXORCIST is as fine an elevator pitch as any." (Jordan Hoffman, Guardian) "Ye Olde CABIN IN THE WOODS. You'd think witchcraft & Satanism would always be this chilling, bleak & weird. Refreshing!" (Matt Patches, FITWR) "THE WITCH is like THE CRUCIBLE meets KILL LIST. A very impressive debut." (Eric Kohn, indieWIRE) "Most important influences on Eggers here were Kubrick's THE SHINING and Bergman's CRIES AND WHISPERS." (Todd McCarthy, THR) "An impressive feature debut with this gripping historical horror-thriller." (Justin Chang, Variety) "Often stunning, flame-licked film." (Samuel Zimmerman, STYD) "This is the breakout horror movie of Sundance. You must see it!" (Devin Faraci, Badass Digest)

"Mistress America" (Noah Baumbach): "Like FRANCES HA on adderall, Baumbach goes the full Sturges for his lightest, funniest & most winning film." (David Ehrlich, TimeOut) "Fastest spoken dialogue in an American film since Howard Hawks’s HIS GIRL FRIDAY, or else since Peter Bogdanovich’s THEY ALL LAUGHED." (Todd McCarthy, THR) "Felt labored to me for a long time, but takes off once it commits wholeheartedly to a screwball vibe. [57]" (Mike D'Angelo, TimeOut) "Lots to like, but it's such a concentrated dose of rapidfire clever Baumbach lines it becomes a little distancing." (Alison Willmore, BuzzFeed) "It's a CLUELESS for relentless millennial ambition. A hysterical, wild companion to FRANCES HA." (Matt Patches, FitWR)

"The Nightmare" (Rodney Ascher): "It manages to be terrifying and inquisitive at the same time. Like ROOM 237, a true original." (Eric Kohn, indieWIRE) "I'm now going to eat 3 lbs of espresso beans, because after THE NIGHTMARE I'm never sleeping again." (Jordan Hoffman, Guardian) "THE NIGHTMARE is both creepy fun and oddly comforting." (Sam Zimmerman, Fangoria) "sleep paralysis doc is a logical next step for Ascher, but silly/scary/sleep-ruining fun is all there is to it." (David Ehrlich, TimeOut) "I have sleep paralysis, but it's way less dramatic than what these folks describe. Fascinating, repetitive." (Mike D'Angelo, TimeOut)

Oh man, ich freu mich schon auf deinen Berlinale-Text. :-)