The Sundance Film Festival brought the goods this year. There were many amazing films to speak of but here’s a list of the five titles that truly stood out amongst the epic pack;
STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIE
This candid film gets up close and personal with “Family Ties” star Michael J. Fox. From his early days as a young actor to his breakthrough role as Alex P. Keaton to his beloved turn in the blockbuster “Back to the Future” trilogy, to his come-full-circle role on the hit show “Spin City,” Fox would become a household name in every sense of the term. And those aforementioned noteworthy titles would only scratch the surface where they would pertain to this entertainer’s success story. Of course, life has a tendency to throw us curveballs and for Fox, that unpredictable pitch would come in the form of a Parkinson’s diagnosis when the famed actor was only in his late 20s. He would conceal his illness until going public with it seven years later. From a technical standpoint, “Still” is to be commended for its skillful, clever, and altogether creative editing. The way editor Michael Harte cuts from well-executed recreations to clips from Fox’s films and tv shows (all set to Fox’s reflective voiceover), is simply masterful. While “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” is unflinching and honest in its hard look at Parkinson’s, this is far from a pity party. Fox, while still in quite the battle, is the eternal optimist, and as a documentary subject, he provides eye-opening insight and reflects on his life with absolute clarity. It should also be noted that this is a touching ode to family as well. All of these attributes make “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” the strongest film of Sundance 2023.
IN MY MOTHER’S SKIN
A young girl must provide for her sickly mother circa World War II, but her judgment is compromised when she begins to put her trust in a supernatural presence that may or may not have her best interests at heart. This is a haunting, expertly crafted, and often disturbing Philippines-set fairytale that plays like a kindred spirit to the strongest works of the great Guillermo de Toro, most notably “ Pan’s Labyrinth.” Fueled by a stellar Felicity Kyle Napuli (Seriously…This is one of the best child performances I’ve seen in quite some time), this fusion of fantasy and hard-hitting reality is a rough (and sometimes blood-soaked) watch but for all the unsettling (and brutal) happenings, there is plenty of beauty to be found in Kenneth Dagatan’s darkly magical tale of family, war, greed, and navigating hopeless situations. It’s also a powerful story about that instantly relatable transition from childhood to adulthood.
THE DEEPEST BREATH
Documentaries were all the rage at Sundance 2023 and “The Deepest Breath” certainly sits alongside “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” as the best doc the festival had to offer. From director Laura McGann comes this breathtaking (literally), harrowing, and altogether intense deep dive into the extreme sport that is free diving. Specifically, the movie delves into the lives of Italian free diving record-breaker Alessia Zecchini and Irish diver-turned-trainer Stephen Keenan as they set out to pioneer a sport that finds its participants diving to extreme depths after only a single breath. “The Deepest Breath” is a tribute to these adventurous, risk-taking athletes to be sure but rather than taking the traditional documentary route, this film is cut more like an intense thriller/rousing sports movie. Not only was my heart pounding, but my hands were sweating profusely through large stretches of this film and even if you’re familiar with the story and know where it’s headed, you’re still likely to be instantly pulled in by this undeniably immersive experience. On a final note, it should be noted that to get the full effect, see “The Deepest Breath” on the biggest screen possible! It’ll certainly add to the tension and beauty of this outstanding documentary.
YOU HURT MY FEELINGS
Sundance veteran Nicole Holofcener (“Friends With Money”) returned to the 2023 festival with the character-driven comedy/drama, “You Hurt My Feelings.” In the film, the wonderful Julia Louis-Dreyfus is novelist, Beth, a woman at a professional crossroads who is emotionally knocked for a loop when she overhears her husband, Don (Tobias Menzies), sharing his true feelings on her latest work. Confused and upset by this seemingly out-of-leftfield opinion, Beth tries to process her feelings on the matter. “You Hurt My Feelings” takes what might otherwise be typical sitcom fodder, and rings truth and honesty out of it. What’s most endearing about the movie is the fashion in which it isn’t overly showy with its relatively high concept premise. What’s more Dreyfus is delightful here as is an understated Menzies as the world’s most unassuming, mild-mannered husband. Together, this pair prove to have terrific chemistry. Bonus points for an entertaining supporting cast for adding to the effectiveness of this truthful and charming take on communication and relationships.
TALK TO ME
This high-energy Aussie import should give the horror crowd just what they’re looking for in the form of a supernatural terror ride that sort of feels like “It Follows’ meets “The Monkey Paw” for the TikTok generation. While this movie does feature a few standard tropes and while it does tread some familiar ground in terms of the overall structure, Danny and Michael Philippou (sibling directors who are most known for their beloved RackaRacka YouTube content), bring the creep factor, scares, and gross-out moments in spades in a briskly-paced horror show that has franchise written all over it. At the heart of “Talk to Me” is Mia (a charismatic Sophia Wild), a lively young woman who, when she isn’t hanging out with her best friend, is always in search of that next big thrill. In this film, that “thrill” comes in the form of conjuring spirits and serving as a conduit. Of course, when Mia takes things a little too far, she and a group of friends get more than they bargained for. In addition to shades of the aforementioned “It Follows,” there are aspects of “Talk to Me” that might also remind some viewers of the likes of “Evil Dead, ”The Blair Witch Project,” “Final Destination,” “Flatliners,” “Hereditary,” and even “Ghost.” That said, this isn’t to say that “Talk to Me” doesn’t have its own identity. It certainly does and more often than not, it delivers the goods. Even more so if you’re into gross-out gags that involve toes and or a bulldog. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
For more on the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, click here!
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