Dear Wags,
Hollywood limps into the Sundance Film Festival, wondering what calamity might strike next—shall we have locusts, frogs, or perhaps another spot of plague?
Four years of turmoil that included a pandemic and multiple strikes have left some bruises. Let’s recap: Film and TV production in L.A., already sagging, took a body blow from the wildfires. After nominees are announced tomorrow, the Academy Awards will have to weave catastrophe into the run-of-show. (No, the March 2 festivities won’t be canceled. No, they won’t turn into some charity telethon.) Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s stance toward the entertainment industry seems to be: How can we hurt you? So, it’s an odd time to traipse around Park City, catching new movies.
But if Hollywood could weather the Great Depression and World War II, these woes might just be a hiccup. From the C-suite perspective at Netflix, rocky times only deepen a collective yearning for escape, which means it’s time to jack up subscriptions. How people avoid reality might be changing, but a hunger for fantasy never fades. And so, executives still flock to Utah, prospecting.
Of all the festivals, Sundance has positioned itself as a wellspring of IP for streamers. As traditional distribution models continue to erode, the celebration of independent film and emerging talent has taken on new relevance. Even with AI threatening to stir up all kinds of mischief, great original stories have to come from somewhere. And they’re still in abundance here. Here are a few to keep an eye on.
Yours Ever,
Marcello Rubini
Rebuilding
The timing of Max Walker-Silverman’s second feature is uncanny: It centers on a rural community devastated by a wildfire. Rising star Josh O’Connor stars as a rancher and family man who has lost everything. The supporting players include Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, and Amy Madigan.—Sarah Brown
Sly Lives! Aka the Burden of Black Genius
Questlove won a 2022 Oscar for his last documentary, Summer of Soul, so expectations are high for his latest project—a portrait of the complex funk pioneer Sylvester Stewart, better known as Sly Stone. In the late 1960s, Sly and the Family Stone skyrocketed to the top of the charts with their revolutionary funk sound, but the genius behind the music was nearly broken by the pressures of fame. At 81, he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. Period footage, interviews, and an banging soundtrack make for a vivid tribute.—M.R.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Manuel Puig’s acclaimed 1976 novel has already been adapted into a 1985 drama that earned William Hurt an Academy Award, as well as a 1992 Broadway musical that won Chita Rivera a Tony. Now, Bill Condon adapts the Kander and Ebb musical, with Diego Luna playing a Marxist imprisoned during Argentina’s Dirty War and Tonatiuh as the gay hairdresser who befriends him behind bars. Jennifer Lopez steps into the role of the movie idol the prisoners fantasize about in captivity.—M.R.
Peter Hujar’s Day
Sundance veteran Ira Sachs (Love is Strange) wrote and directed this exploration of the life of avant-garde photographer Peter Hujar, whose work was largely ignored until after his death from AIDS in 1987. Ben Whishaw stars as the struggling New York artist, with Rebecca Hall portraying his confidante, writer Linda Rosenkrantz, in a poignant depiction of a lost downtown Bohemia.—S.B.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Motherhood is no picnic—especially when you can’t find good parking. Mary Bronstein’s dark comedy follows an overwhelmed woman (Rose Byrne) juggling an absent husband, a child with a mysterious illness, and a therapist who might be out to get her. It’s a Diary of a Mad Housewife for a new generation of women caught between glossy expectations and endless chores. Conan O’Brien and A$AP Rocky add to the chaos.—M.R.
Opus
An ambitious journalist (Ayo Edebiri of The Bear) lands the scoop of a lifetime: She’s invited to the remote retreat of a reclusive pop superstar, played by John Malkovich (so, naturally, he’s not creepy at all), to hear his first album in decades. What could possibly go wrong? Mark Anthony Green’s debut is a rock ‘n’ roll horror show, with its heroine navigating a dark and twisted labyrinth. The eerie entourage includes Murray Bartlett and Juliette Lewis. Remember: You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. —S.B.
Rabbit Trap
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