Best and Worst of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival: 'Like Crazy,' 'Bellflower,' 'The Ledge'
Did Kevin Smith's 'Red State' make either list?
From the best to the worst and back again
If you were to judge this year's Sundance Film Festival based on the amazing number of distributor acquistions, you would be inclined to believe it was a very good year for movies in Park City. In fact, there were few jaw-dropping breakouts or mind-blowingly bad films on the narrative side and the documentary selections lived up to the festival's continuingly impressive pedigree (four of the five Oscar nominees for best documentary this year debuted at the 2010 fest). Overall, it was a year of level quality with not too many highs and not too many lows. What was abundant were great performances and unconventional subject matter. So, with that in mind, HitFix's crack team of editors and critics run down our best and worst of the festival.
Which movie are you most interested in seeing? Share you thoughts below.
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupAlf
January 29, 2011 at 1:52AM EST Reply to Comment"Man on Wire," right?
Chimps have no place in human homes or in entertainment.
http://www.janegoodall.org/chimp-central-entertainment
dan Alf - Somehow I'm relieved I didn't write it as "Bird on a Wire," but yup. Fixed! Thanks...
January 29, 2011 at 2:31AM EST-Daniel
Casey
January 29, 2011 at 2:29AM EST Reply to CommentThe Ledge did totally suck. They threw every movie theme ever done into one movie in the hopes that something would work. Nothing did. Was like being hit in the head with a brick for 90 minutes.
January 29, 2011 at 4:37AM EST Reply to CommentThe Convincer may be a bad film, but the snark aimed at Kinnear seems a little out of place and unnecessarily meanspirited. He's an Oscar nominee and been in two movies nominated for Best Picture. He won a National Board of Review award for best supporting actor. He's a two time SAG award nominee. He's collaborated with Sam Raimi, Paul Greengrass, James L. Brooks, The Farrelly Brothers, Neil Labute, and Richard Linklater (twice). Kinnear started off as essentially Joel McHale and has gone on to carve out a fine career as a respected character actor.
Ovid Yeah. That may have seemed to the author like a clever little insight, but it unnecessarily tarnishes a very good actor. It's like the author was trying to demonstrate how insightful he is, rather than substantively critique the film. The piece was self-indulgent and said little about the quality of the film that was ostensibly being discussed.
January 29, 2011 at 5:57AM ESTLeonard Crestel
January 29, 2011 at 10:13AM EST Reply to CommentNot surprising at all that this year's Sundance crop of films didn't showcase a true breakout success and a bunch of middle-of-the-road, familiar, forgettable fare. The Sundance programmers are a hackneyed and exponentially narrow minded bunch who pick the same types of films every year and have no sense of diversity or true originality in their selections. Look for the best indies to have nothing to do with Sundance or Slamdance this year.