“Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” picture courtesy of Sundance
5 MUST-SEE MOVIES AT SUNDANCE 2023!
– By Adam Mast –
After two years, Sundance returns for its first in-person festival since 2020 and as expected, programmers have assembled an amazing lineup to commemorate the occasion. Countless features and shorts of multiple genres from all around the world. Watch for Sundance coverage here at The Independent throughout the festival which runs from January 19th thru January 29th.
Here’s an alphabetical list of 5 films we’re excited to see at this year’s epic fest;
BAD BEHAVIOUR
In what sounds to be a decidedly dark comedy, Jennifer Connelly is Lucy, a one-time child star who sets off on a journey of enlightenment by way of a silent retreat at a resort in the mountains. While there, she attempts to navigate a turbulent relationship with her stunt-performing daughter (played by the film’s writer/director, Alice Englert), and before long, the title of the film comes into play. “Bad Behaviour” also features Ben Whishaw as Lucy’s spiritual leader.
FLORA AND SON
John Carney, the director behind the outstanding music-based gems “Once” and “Sing Street” returns with “Flora and Son,” a Dublin-set story about a single mother who attempts to better her relationship with her son by way of a discarded guitar and the undeniable power of music. With a cast that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eve Hewson (daughter of U2 frontman Bono), “Flora and Son” looks to be yet another winner from the gifted Carney.
INFINITY POOL
You know that old saying “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” Well, if Brandon Cronenberg’s “Possessor” was any indication, that saying definitely applies because clearly, he looks to be a chip off the old block. But make no mistakes…This storyteller has carved out a path that is very much his own. With his new effort “Infinity Pool,” the son of David tells the sci-fi-tinged tale of a novelist suffering from writer’s block who finds himself in hot water after tragedy strikes while he’s on a getaway at an exclusive resort in the middle of nowhere. I think it’s safe to assume that if you’re looking for horror, violence, and a heaping dose of satire then you’ve come to the right place.
ONYX THE FORTUITOUS AND THE TALISMAN OF SOULS
Based on a viral internet character he created, online entertainment titan Andrew Bowser crafts a movie for the midnight crowd in this throwback to the likes of beloved 80s genre gems like “Fright Night,” “Evil Dead,” and “House.” The story finds the title character joining a group of eclectic individuals on a trip to the mansion of one Bartok the Great where they all engage in a ritual to raise the spirit of an ancient demon. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize things are going to go south, fast! This one looks like a lot of fun and gets bonus points for the inclusion of “Re-Animator” lead, Jeffrey Combs.
YOU HURT MY FEELINGS
Writer/director Nicole Holofcener (“Friends With Money,” Can You Ever Forgive Me?”) returns to Sundance with “You Hurt My Feelings.” Julia-Louis Dreyfuss stars in this comedy about a novelist who gets knocked for a loop when she overhears her husband sharing his true feelings on her latest book. Holofcener is quite the observant storyteller and her last collaboration with Dreyfuss resulted in the underappreciated gem, “Enough Said.” Suffice it to say, “You Hurt My Feelings” is a film well worth looking forward to.
Of course, these five titles barely scratch the surface. For a look at the entire Sundance lineup and info on how to purchase tickets for the fest in-person or virtually, click here.
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