Sundance 2009


  1. markclarno1
  2. Mark

Inspired again by FSR

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/the-13-best-films-of-sundance-2009.php

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  markclarno1's Rating My Rating
1
(500) Days of Summer (2009,  PG-13)
(500) Days of Summer
Great! I really liked it! Zooey was perfect for the role. Loved Joseph Gordon-Levitt's smushed up smiley face and body language. Loved the soundtrack. An instant classic for me. 2 thumbs way up

Look forward to more of Minka Kelly in The Roommate (2010)
2
World's Greatest Dad (2009,  R)
World's Greatest Dad
Deeply dark, sarcastic, funny and serious dramadey from Darko Entertainment. Well made, good soundtrack. It makes me want to watch Life As A House, Dead Poets Society, The Virgin Suicides and Three O'Clock High. It kept me off balance most of the time, which was a good thing, uncomfortable.

Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait brilliantly. I did not even know he was a director or working. When I hear his name I think of 80's like Police Academy, Scrooged or stand up comedy.

Robin Williams (August Rush, Man of the Year, RV, Insomnia, One Hour Photo, Bicentennial Man, Patch Adams, Good Will Hunting, Deconstructing Harry, Jumanji, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hook, Good Morning Vietnam, Popeye, Mork) is good as usual but does he bring me something new besides his penis? Yes? His awkward romance makes me slightly embarrassed. Maybe it was just his height and age compared to the heroine. I think he is great in this because of the wide range of emotions his character goes through, almost too much for one movie for me. I do enjoy watching him get high. I wish his stoned scene would have been a little longer and wilder. I think I would like to see him in more horror and dark dramas, but the money is in comedy.

Daryl Sabara (the son/boy from Spy Kids) plays a character that is foul, rude, angry and majorly rebellious - such teen angst.

Evan Martin! Somebody give this kid more!

Alexie Gilmore (appeared in Definitely, Maybe and The Babysitters) major step up and she brings it as the TILF and the love interest.

Lorraine Nicholson good as the emo chick
3
Spread (2009,  R)
Spread
I was surprised that I really liked this. It had enough drama to the rom com to keep me interested. It is better than I thought it would be because it moves around more than I thought it would emotionally. Still it had some strong laughs that at first I thought the film was trying to be serious and I was laughing at it but as I sank into the groove I realized I was laughing with it (tongue in cheek).

Great cast! even Kutcher

If you think you might like this movie, don't shy away from it.

But please don't change your mind based on my review. See the trailer and you should know if this is for you or not. Trust your movie instincts.
4
Peter and Vandy (2009,  Unrated)
5
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009,  R)
6
The Messenger (2009,  R)
7
Moon (2009,  R)
Moon
Sam Rockwell - very good!! I liked it.
8
Mystery Team (2009,  R)
9
Lymelife (2008,  R)
Lymelife
I liked it. Sweet soundtrack. Set in late 70's. Alec Baldwin is great and he was in mind when it was written. The Culkins were very good. Cynthia Nixon was good. I loved Timothy Hutton and was surprised at how good Emma Roberts did. I wasn't blow away but she did good enough.

Good job by Derick Martini and kudos to Robert Redford (developed at the Sundance filmmaker's lab) and Martin Scorsese (executive producer).

Recommended to those who like family dramas and coming of age movies.
10
The Greatest (2009,  Unrated)
11
I Love You Phillip Morris (2010,  Unrated)
12
Don't Let Me Drown (2009,  PG)
13
An Education (2009,  PG-13)
An Education
Here we go!! Carey Mulligan's breakout performance, the predicted woman of 2009 and did i really hear someone say Oscar?!?!?!?!?!!!
14
Adam (2009,  PG-13)
15
Adventureland (2009,  R)
Adventureland
I love these teen angst, coming of age, losing your virginity, what to do with your life movies set in the 80's.

Jesse Eisenberg (The Education of Charlie Banks!!! The Squid and the Whale!!! The Emperor's Club!!) is great!!! He knocks it out of the park....again! I like his work with the director, Greg Mottola. http://us.imdb.com/media/rm3839530240/nm0609549 Does not come off as another Michael Cera (thank God one of him is enough because he is great at what he does) - even though it is reminiscent. Look forward to more of Jesse in Zombieland with Woody Harrelson.

For Greg Mottola, this is two in a row for me. Superbad was awesome and this is a very good follow up imo. I liked the flow and consistency. It is not an over the top comedy like Superbad and has a lot of drama going on even though you don't see it directly.

I liked the soundtrack a lot. http://us.imdb.com/title/tt1091722/soundtrack woo-hoo The Replacements.

Ryan Reynolds is a hawt sleezy mofo. Bill Hader is very committed and I love him for that!

Kristen Stewart (Twilight Saga) [- "oh so that's why you are watching Adventureland" -] does hardly anything for me acting wise besides major boing boing star power gravity. I mean when Em is all wet in the pool with Brennan or on stripping sitting on the kitchen counter (or was it a sink?!?) with Connell - wowy zowy! It is worth it to me! But a much better movie of Kristen Stewart's abilities are found in Speak, briefly in Into the Wild, and for sure in The Cake Eaters!

So in summary, I say smoke em if you got em and fire this joint up to the max!
16
Cold Souls (2009,  PG-13)
17
The Girlfriend Experience (2009,  R)
18
Paper Heart (2009,  PG-13)
Paper Heart
What is love?

Good mocumentary, funny, quirky and the documentary parts (interviews) were the best part, loved the couple married for 50 years. To a couple engaged still in high school. Very cute.

I like Charlyne Yi. She cracked me up. Writes and produces as well as singer-songwriter and actress. Tomboyish. Love her dorky laugh!!

I liked the puppetry sequences very much!

Unfortunately, I am way over Mike Cera (loved him in Superbad and that's it).

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