Tim grierson sundance. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:15 PM .

Tim grierson sundance. My essay is here. This coming-of-age drama has a sweetness that can't obscure the fact that, really, you've seen all this before. More polished and tightly scripted than her earlier, better films, it stars Keira Knightley as a woman who Sundance 2019: 'Give Me Liberty' Review "Like the passengers in the van which is Give Me Liberty ’s primary form of transportation, viewers of this compassionate, sometimes disjointed drama need to hang on and go along for the ride, no matter the bumps and unexpected detours that may occur. Berger), and soon they discover a powerful sexual attraction between them. Emotional, precocious, in thrall with movies, the second feature from director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon concerns a high school outcast (Thomas Mann) who befriends a classmate (Olivia Cooke) dying of cancer Sundance 2013 Review: 'A. Rockwell makes her feature debut with this story of a mother and young son struggling to get out of poverty in New York City in the 1990s and early 2000s. My review is up at Screen Jan 25, 2025 · Saturday, January 25, 2025 Sundance 2025: 'The Perfect Neighbor' Review Can one documentary encapsulate all that is wrong with America? Probably not, but The Perfect Neighbor comes close. You can read my Screen International review here. My review is up at Screen International. Posted by Tim Grierson at 4:19 PM Labels: ira sachs, kelly reichardt, list mania, michael Jan 22, 2017 · The Force premiered in Sundance’s US Documentary section, hoping to court audiences interested in the crisis of confidence that many American police forces are facing. A. But with that said, the new film is better than the first. And I was pretty pleased with what I had to say about those movies. God's Pocket isn't bad, but it is also not good. Sunday, January 24, 2016 Sundance 2016: 'Tallulah' Review When I interviewed Ellen Page last year, she was particularly excited about Tallulah, a film she executive produced that would premiere at Sundance. Also, this film is flat-out gorgeous: Director Andrew Dosunmu and cinematographer Bradford Young (who was just nominated for Arrival) give Sundance 2015: 'Strangerland' Review Nicole Kidman gives it her all in Strangerland, an Australian drama where she plays a woman (married to Joseph Fiennes) whose two children go missing one morning. Hoping to revitalize his career after the scandal, he discovered that a man in Oregon had been using his name while on the run. That's now no longer the case: Boyhood is about 160 minutes, and it justifies its running time. Now, filmmaker Sean Durkin is back with a drama that feels like a horror movie. In fact, maybe this family is evil? What ensues is a very silly, energetic action-comedy. For Screen International, I reviewed A New Kind of Wilderness. Posted by Tim Grierson at 6:23 PM Labels: documentaries, film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2018: 'I Think We're Alone Now' Review If there's a niche genre I love, it's the intimate post-apocalyptic drama. Everybody else? Well, therein lies the problem. com. Totally uneven film, but also very fun. dramatic competition, but I'm betting that Me and Earl and the Dying Girl wins the Grand Jury Prize. So maybe in some ways I was the ideal critic to evaluate Judy Blume Forever, a celebratory documentary about the author. Jan 26, 2020 · Premiering at Sundance, where Me And You And Everyone We Know won a Special Jury Prize in 2005, Kajillionaire represents July’s first feature in nine years, and the film is her most star-studded Jan 29, 2020 · The superb Sundance films ‘Dick Johnson Is Dead’ and ‘The Father’ are terrifying wake-up calls about a future we hope never arrives. Such is the case with The Alabama Solution, which features footage inside an Alabama penitentiary that was shot on smuggled cellphones by the prisoners. Posted by Tim Grierson at 9:30 AM Labels: biopics, ethan hawke, film Sundance 2015: 'A Walk in the Woods' Review It was hard not to be concerned about A Walk in the Woods, the buddy road comedy starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte as old, long-separated friends who decide to trek the Appalachian Trail together. My review is live at Screen International. It's more than just your typical rock doc, which I get into over at Screen International. It's S-VHS, the sequel to last year's indie cult sensation V/H/S. If that's your thing, you'll like this. Posted by Tim Grierson at 7:00 PM Labels: documentaries, film festivals, michael jackson, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Sundance 2012: 'Lay the Favorite' review Rebecca Hall is a good actress, but she should never, ever play a ditzy Florida stripper who moves to Vegas and ends up getting sucked into the world of professional sports gambling. Posted by Tim Grierson at 3:00 PM Labels Sundance 2018: 'Private Life' Review Private Life tells the story of a married couple (played by Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn) who are trying to have a baby. But that doesn't mean you also have to recommend the movie. Now it's been developed into a feature. Posted by Tim Grierson at 4:42 PM Labels: books, documentaries, film festivals, judy blume, movie reviews, sundance Newer Post Sundance 2013 Review: 'C. The horrendous conditions are simply appalling. I really loved Jane Schoenbrun's We're All Going to the World's Fair, but I was a little less dazzled by their new film, I Saw the TV Glow. Posted by Tim Grierson at 4:41 PM Labels: film festivals, ira sachs, movie reviews, paste, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2014: 'Infinitely Polar Bear' Review Mark Ruffalo stars as a father suffering from bipolar disorder in Infinitely Polar Bear, which is based on the childhood experiences of writer-director Maya Forbes. You can read my Magic Magic review over at Screen Sundance 2017: 'Manifesto' Review Sometimes, you want to applaud a performance full of subtle grace notes. Those realizations hit me in the middle of this Sundance, so many years later. My review of the true-life drama Rob Peace is here. But, overall, I was on board. In Manifesto, she takes on different personas while giving voice to some of the great artistic manifestos of the 20th century. You can read my review at Screen International. She also is Sundance 2014: 'The Raid 2' Review Well, this is unexpected. Critic at Screen International · Tim Grierson is a film critic whose writing appears in Screen International, the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture and RogerEbert. The movie may seem like a gimmick -- he and his cast shot the film in pieces over the span of years to capture the process of a boy's coming-of-age -- but it's wonderfully emotional and thoughtful. (He was wanted for the murder of his wife Sundance 2018: 'Colette' Review Director Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice) makes his first film since the death of his partner Richard Glatzer with Colette, a biopic about French author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. In this dark comedy (or is it really a horror film?), he plays a sweet weirdo who has much darker stuff going on in his head than we initially realize. A wonderfully pitiless tale of a land consumed by punishing drought, the film starts to become almost hypnotic in its bone-dry bleakness. It's trippy, kinky, bizarre and also a little repetitive. First up is Sly Lives!, the new documentary from Questlove about Sly Stone. I think the movie is just OK Sundance 2024: 'Your Monster' Review In Your Monster, Melissa Barrera plays a New York actress who just got dumped by her musical-theater boyfriend. Posted by Sundance 2020: 'The Nest' Review Martha Marcy May Marlene was one of the best films of 2011. I really enjoyed Almereyda's recent films Experimenter and Marjorie Prime; this one isn't as good, but it's still kinda fascinating. Were they kidnapped or did they run away? Director Kim Farrant turns this mystery into an overwrought morality tale heavy with thematic import. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:15 PM Labels: film festivals, horror movies, movie reviews, screen international Sundance 2017: 'Where Is Kyra?" Review Expect everybody to start talking about a Michelle Pfeiffer comeback. Jan 29, 2024 · Monday, January 29, 2024 Sundance 2024: Ranking the Best and Worst of the Festival My first Sundance was 2009. Uncle Frank, about a closeted gay man (Paul Bettany) in the 1970s visiting his conservative family, just got picked up by Amazon for $12 million. You can read my review over at Screen International. Posted by Tim Grierson at 2:00 PM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, screen Jan 28, 2024 · Sundance 2024: 'Rob Peace' Review Chiwetel Ejiofor has directed two movies now, and I'm sad to say that I am not convinced he's a great filmmaker. What's the cost of genius? The movie explores that question with appropriate thoughtfulness, even if its resolution isn't as Sep 16, 2025 · Tuesday, September 16, 2025 Robert Redford, 1936-2025 For Rolling Stone, I wrote about the passing of Robert Redford, the movie star and the man behind Sundance, in two ways. Stick with the original. Still, when it comes to Shelton, I forgive a lot. And, hey, it's big dumb fun, just like I hoped. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:00 AM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance, willem dafoe Jan 27, 2024 · Tim Grierson of Screen Daily believes the spell Schoenbrun "slowly weaves is intoxicating," and in his A+ review for The Playlist, Carlos Aguilar declares it an "entrancing, richly stylized trans masterpiece. I saw the film early in Los Angeles; its Lord of the Flies -esque story is pretty affecting. My rave Sundance 2012: 'Mosquita y Mari' review Two teen Chicana girls share a close personal bond in Mosquita y Mari, but does that mean they're in love with one another? That's the question at the center of this modest little drama, and the film's strongest attribute is that it never says for sure -- after all, the two girls don't even know the answer to that one. They make for interesting company, as I explain in my Screen Sundance 2012: 'Celeste and Jesse Forever' review No Strings Attached and Friends With Benefits were failed attempts by Hollywood to try to modernize the romantic comedy by suggesting that some people aren't looking for "the one": They just want to enjoy a no-pressure sexual relationship with someone they like hanging out with. She returns with a strange con-artist comedy-drama that, once you get on its wavelength, might just speak to you. Posted by Tim Grierson at 1:43 PM Labels: chiwetel ejiofor, film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Jun 30, 2025 · TV & Film Podcast · Updated Weekly · Tim Grierson and Will Leitch are lifelong best friends who have been writing and talking about the movies for 25 years. Oh boy, is she mean and nasty! She says offensive things! Hilarity only occasionally ensues. K. Jan 24, 2025 · Friday, January 24, 2025 Sundance 2025: 'Jimpa' Review Jimpa is the new film from Good Luck to You, Leo Grande director Sophie Hyde, but this one is a lot more personal. It's a drama called Exhibiting Forgiveness in which a rising painter (Andre Holland) must finally confront his father, who was an addict and abusive when he was a boy. Jan 28, 2024 · Sundance 2024: 'Exhibiting Forgiveness' Review Titus Kaphar is a renowned painter who just made his feature directorial debut. I reviewed this so-so romantic comedy for Screen International. I reviewed it for Sundance 2015: 'Mistress America' Review In recent years, writer-director Noah Baumbach has turned away from the misanthropic comedy of his earlier films to embrace a rich warmth. As you might guess, the movie plays a bit like a puff piece, but it does have its warm, charming moments. Costarring Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson, this surreal comedy-drama really got to me. The Voices ' risky mixture of tones succeeds. But the snow and the Sundance 2018: 'Blindspotting' Review Blindspotting is a mess. ) Look, if you're interested in this sort of thing, just see Old Joy, OK? I reviewed the dismal A Walk Sundance 2019: 'Leaving Neverland' Review Leaving Neverland is four hours. But it still moved me, even if it does strain a little too hard for a feel-good vibe. I admired the seriousness of purpose but really Sundance 2019: 'Monos' Review Monos received a special jury award at Sundance, where it competed in the World Cinema Dramatic competition. Critic for Screen International. Leitch i… Jan 27, 2020 · By Tim Grierson, Senior US Critic 2020-01-27T00:30:00+00:00 Jan 21, 2022 · Premiering at Sundance and picked up by National Geographic Documentary Films for theatrical release followed by debut on Disney streaming platform, Fire Of Love will benefit from big screen Sundance 2023: 'Jamojaya' Review An up-and-coming rapper (played by actual rapper Brian Imanuel) travels to Hawaii to record his major-label debut, his controlling father (Yayu A. " Jan 19, 2024 · An affecting tone poem that ruminates on the passage of time and the passing of traditions Programmed in Sundance’s US Documentary Competition, Gaucho Gaucho benefits enormously from the big screen. Posted by Tim Grierson at 8:18 AM Labels: dakota johnson, film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2017: 'The Incredible Jessica James' Review My dirty little secret is that I never thought Jessica Williams was that great on The Daily Show. Simmons. In the new film Sundance 2015: 'Ten Thousand Saints' Review If you told me a film starred (among others) Ethan Hawke, Emily Mortimer and Julianne Nicholson, I'd be down. My review of one of Sundance's most-acclaimed films is up at Screen International. Posted by Tim Grierson at Sundance 2015: 'True Story' Review True Story, as you might imagine, is based on a true story. Listen to Sundance 2025 #2, with Robert Daniels and Tim Grierson by The Film Comment Podcast for free. Posted by Tim Grierson at 11:00 AM Labels A few people here at Sundance have compared I Origins to elements of Upstream Color, which is sort of accurate but also misleading. Jun 24, 2024 · Features The Most Intriguing Festival Films Still Seeking U. I liked The Raid: Redemption a decent amount, but I wasn't prepared for how blown away I was by The Raid 2. Margaret Brown's Descendant sure is something . I reviewed the film for Screen International. Andre Holland brings immense Sundance 2013: The Must-See Movies It is, of course, impossible to know at the beginning of a festival which movies are the "must-see" ones. I was less disappointed by her follow-up film, Touchy Feely, than others were, but her latest, Laggies, is the one where I start to lose hope. That's the setup for a broad comedy, but writer-director Tamara Jenkins uses the premise for something far realer and more insightful about marriage. Posted by Tim Grierson at 9:00 AM Labels: chiwetel ejiofor, film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2020: 'Uncle Frank' Review Every year at Sundance, a few films make a splash and land big-money distribution deals. Why is she losing her mind? Nobody knows and, frankly, I didn't care. It looks great but doesn't inspire much passion. Jan 31, 2025 · Friday, January 31, 2025 Sundance 2025: 'The Legend of Ochi' Review The Legend of Ochi is a conscious throwback to the type of live-action fantasy film that many Gen-X kids grew up on. I reviewed for Screen International. V. At my first Sundance, I reviewed Dead Snow, a horror movie about Nazi zombies, and I was only too happy to check out the sequel at this year's festival. The test works, but there are surprises in store for him. He writes about film and pop culture for Screen International, Rolling Stone and Vulture. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:14 AM Labels: film festivals, miranda july, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2013 Review: 'In a World" Others were captivated by the Sundance comedy In a World, the feature debut of writer-director-star Lake Bell. But the film is more of a fun cinematic exercise than a fright fest, as I explain over at Screen International. How many years have I been going now? I can't even remember. Here ya go. Sundance 2024: 'A Real Pain' Review I did not go into Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain with high expectations. Still, plenty of laughs, which is sadly rare in most comedies. On opening night, I saw Radical, based on a true story, which chronicles an unconventional teacher in Mexico trying to reach his students. My review is up at Screen Sundance 2015: 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' Review I haven't seen every film in the U. C. Jan 23, 2018 · An unflinching look at sexual abuse and the messy path to recovery which will elicit strong reviews and online commentary Sundance 2023: 'Infinity Pool' Review Infinity Pool is a vacation-from-hell horror-thriller from Brandon Cronenberg. Jan 20, 2018 · Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a superbly enigmatic performance in The Kindergarten Teacher, a study of sadness gradually devolving into genuine mental disturbance. And in the case of something like Goats, it means sitting through a mediocre movie that features stars you Sundance 2023: 'Theater Camp' Review I think theater kids are going to eat up Theater Camp. Jan 19, 2018 · By Tim Grierson, Senior US critic 2018-01-19T07:10:00+00:00 Train Dreams aspires to be an old-fashioned American epic, telling the story of an everyman living in Idaho at the start of the 20th century. Sundance 2014: 'The Voices' Review Ryan Reynolds gives one of his best recent performances in The Voices, the new film from Persepolis director Marjane Satrapi. I reviewed this riveting, chilling film here. They're not necessarily the most artistically adventurous films, but they're probably the most commercial offerings at the fest. " That's the opening line of my review, which you can read here. Below is a ranked order of everything I consumed, whether in Park City or Jan 21, 2024 · A fractious father-son relationship splatters across the canvas of Exhibiting Forgiveness, a heartfelt drama about a painter who must finally confront his addict dad. Distribution Tim Grierson June 24, 2024 6 min read Tim Grierson Tim Grierson is a contributing editor at MEL. O. This is one of those films that Will and I covered a decent amount back during The Projector days, so I was curious about the finished product. dramatic competition, this is an elegant horror film about a luckless 1630s New England family living on their own out in the middle of nowhere. She's terrific in Where Is Kyra?, a small-scale drama about a woman drowning in debt and depression in New York City after the death of her mother. Rest in peace, sir. Jan 31, 2021 · Jockey screens as part of Sundance online’s US Dramatic Competition, where it will receive comparisons to The Rider — like Chloe Zhao’s award-winner, Bentley’s film includes plenty of Sundance 2019: 'After the Wedding' Review Susanne Bier's After the Wedding was Oscar-nominated. Posted by Tim Grierson at 4:54 PM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews I can't imagine loving anything at this year's Sundance as much as I loved Past Lives . Her film is about Flamenco guitarist David Serva, a renowned musician (and inspiration for the Counting Crows' "Mr. Mississippi Grind is about two gamblers (Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn) on a road trip to New Orleans. Jan 30, 2025 · Thursday, January 30, 2025 Sundance 2025: 'The Alabama Solution' Review Some documentaries exist to infuriate. Follow The Film Comment Podcast to never miss another show. Sundance 2020: 'Kajillionaire' Review Miranda July hasn't made a movie in nine years. We'll see if I'm right or wrong very soon. But like Faris, he can't seem to make good choices. I go into more detail over at Screen International. How can a movie with Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson and Zazie Beetz be bad? Read on. My Screen International review is here. Sundance 2019: 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' Review Chiwetel Ejiofor makes his directorial debut with this perfectly solid, slightly dull true-life drama. Michael Jackson and Harvey Weinstein were very different monsters but their strategies for praying on their victims had disturbing amounts of overlap. It tells the story of two lifelong friends -- one black, one white -- who live in an Oakland going through rapid gentrification. I reviewed The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind for Screen International. Feb 2, 2025 · As I put together my rankings of everything I saw at the festival, it became clear that this actually was a pretty great Sundance, especially in terms of documentaries. By this, I mean that he's an actor we all like whom we think should be a much bigger star than he is. Sundance 2024: 'Exhibiting Forgiveness' Review Titus Kaphar is a renowned painter who just made his feature directorial debut. His writing appears frequently in the Los Angeles Times, Vulture and Rolling Stone, and he is the author of seven books, including his latest, This Is How You Make a Movie. In the film, Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning hang out at the end of the world. Maybe that has something to do with his new creative and romantic partner Greta Gerwig. You can read my review here. I reviewed the documentary for Screen International. Posted by Tim Grierson at 8: Sundance 2019: Michael Jackson and Harvey Weinstein Face the Music For MEL, I wrote about the eerie similarities between Leaving Neverland and Untouchable. But, yes, it's also really funny. Sundance 2020: Ranking the Best and Worst of the Festival I am happy to report that Sundance 2020 was a success on all three crucial fronts: I saw a lot of films, I saw mostly good films, and I wasn't so exhausted/sick that I felt like I was dragging. Told with restraint that only Jan 22, 2023 · A tribute to musical theatre and its exuberant, sometimes foolhardy practitioners, Theater Camp will be catnip for its target audience while feeling more than a tad indulgent to everyone else Jan 31, 2015 · What's funny is that many of the best films at Sundance this year have an element of horror to them, whether it's the 17th century creepiness of The Witch, the school of the damned in The Tribe, the post-apocalyptic setting of Z for Zachariah, or the real-world terrors in the documentaries The Nightmare and Welcome to Leith. Actually, the film is called The Bronze, but it stars Melissa Rauch as a former Olympic medalist still clinging to her athletic glory years later. Assignments and scheduling can be blamed up to a point, but still I'm sad I didn't have the opportunity to see The Overnighters, Rich Hill, Love Is Strange and several others. In 2002, celebrated New York Times writer Michael Finkel got himself fired for fudging the facts on a profile piece he was writing. Swanberg, as per norm, goes for the casual, offhand observation. starts off with a funny premise but goes nowhere, unfortunately. Posted Jan 27, 2017 · The real and fictional people who stood out at this year’s festival—both good and bad Tim Grierson 7 min read · Jan 27, 2017 -- Jan 24, 2019 · Give Me Liberty screens as part of Sundance’s NEXT section, and because the film doesn’t have any big names, it will need good reviews and warm word of mouth to help find an audience. That was something other critics did — it felt too far away for me to even imagine. I wasn't prepared for how much I'd end up loving the film. I've had too many bad experiences to count. (It's based on travel writer Bill Bryson's book. Dramatic Competition, and if the jury decides to give out a prize for Best Terrence Malick Impression, this movie will win hands down. Sundance 2023: 'A Thousand and One' Review Writer-director A. Beyond their other failings, those two movies bombed because Sundance 2013 Review: 'Magic Magic' Juno Temple is the best part of Magic Magic, a trippy psychological horror movie about a young American woman who's probably losing her mind on a vacation in Chile. Sundance 2015: 'Z for Zachariah' Review My most anticipated film of this year's Sundance, Z for Zachariah isn't as violently divisive as director Craig Zobel's last movie, Compliance, was. For Screen International, I reviewed The Nest. Posted by Tim Sundance 2015: 'Digging for Fire' Review When I got out of my screening of director Joe Swanberg's Digging for Fire last night, I told a colleague that I felt like he had made his version of Eyes Wide Shut. That's when the monster under her bed from childhood pays her a visit. Still, I once again think I like it more than my colleagues do. My review is up at Screen Sundance 2016 Preview: 10 Must-Sees Sundance kicks off tomorrow. My review is up at Screen Sundance 2014: 'Young Ones' Review Michael Shannon is one of the reasons to see the futuristic, vaguely post-apocalyptic Western Young Ones, but he's not the only reason. ) What the two films have in common is a curiosity about the mysteries of life, expressed through trippy (albeit somewhat realistic) science-fiction language. W. A look at the end of the world populated by three mismatched individuals (played superbly by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie and Chris Pine Sundance 2015: 'Stockholm, Pennsylvania' Review Sometimes, you have to tip your hat at ambition. My review is live over at Screen International. It's all about mood with this movie, and the mood is incredibly funky. Posted by Tim Grierson at 9:00 PM Labels: film festivals, julianne moore, michelle williams, movie reviews, screen international, sundance, susanne Sundance 2020: 'Tesla' Review Ethan Hawke reunites with his Hamlet director Michael Almereyda for this far-from-straightforward biopic about Nikola Tesla. Sundance 2016: 'Southside With You' Review What was Barack and Michelle Obama's first date like? That's what Southside With You tries to answer: This feature film is a fictionalized imagining of that encounter in the summer of 1989. (Their last was the rather unfortunate Imogene, which was later renamed Girl Most Likely. Jan 25, 2013 · Everybody's Got One: The Home of Tim Grierson Friday, January 25, 2013 Sundance 2013: Ranking the Best and Worst of the Festival In the span of about a week, I saw 25 films at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. It was my first film festival. Posted by Tim Grierson at 7:44 AM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, paste Sundance 2017: 'The Last Word' Review A couple weeks ago, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association honored Shirley MacLaine with our Career Achievement award. Stockholm, Pennsylvania, from first-timer Nikole Beckwith, concerns a young woman (Saoirse Ronan) who has just been rescued after being kidnapped and living in a man's basement for 17 years. It's a feature, Ali and Nino, about a love story between a Muslim and a Christian during World War I. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:02 AM Labels: film Sundance 2014: 'Dead Snow; Red Vs. It had been three years, and some things had changed, including the massively built-up Salt Lake City airport, which wasn't there in 2020. Sep 14, 2025 · Since that first Sundance, I've been to Toronto, True/False, Cannes, Venice, Hot Docs and SXSW — to say nothing of the local festivals I've attended, including AFI Fest and the much-missed Los Angeles Film Festival — and invariably I will run into someone who's sour on the experience. Jul 31, 2024 · Tim Grierson is the Senior U. Unru) tagging along. What a gorgeous film . When I was younger, I assumed I would never go to a film festival. I can see why: It's a great platform for her and Allison Janney as the unlikely caregivers of a baby in New York. , but I can only hope it's as compassionate and moving as the film that's been made by writer-director Kyle Patrick Alvarez. I have to say, I'm starting to actively dread Sundance premieres of films directed by first-timers who are usually actors. (You have to see them first. Sundance 2014: 'Whiplash' Review Whiplash, the opening night film at Sundance, features great performances from Miles Teller and J. The movie has lots of heart, and yet it doesn't quite work. They return to the festival this year with Lovelace, about '70s porn star Linda Lovelace. This drama about a young man who travels to Oregon to get away from it all features a superb performance from Denis O'Hare but, really, the whole cast is Sundance 2023: 'Polite Society' Review In Polite Society, Priya Kansara plays an aspiring stuntwoman who is convinced that her older sister is making a terrible mistake by marrying a guy she just met. This comedy-drama deals with police brutality, racial profiling and economic inequality. Posted by Tim Grierson at 11:15 PM Labels Sundance 2023: 'Earth Mama' Review Savanah Leaf makes her directorial debut with Earth Mama, a drama about a single, poor pregnant mother whose children are in foster care. But it's a mess I could ultimately get behind. My review is up at Paste. Posted by Tim Grierson at 8:15 AM Labels Sundance 2023: Ranking the Best and Worst of the Festival Sundance 2020 was one of the last in-person film events before the pandemic changed everything, so there was a symbolic importance for me to return to Park City this year. It's Little Men, which is a quiet little gem. It doesn't all work, but it got to me. For Screen International, I reviewed the dreamy, meditative Jamojaya. Williams has real star power, as I explain Sundance 2014: 'Boyhood' Review Richard Linklater has never made a movie over two hours long. Posted by Tim Grierson at 7:06 PM Labels: film festivals, keira knightley Sundance 2023: 'Radical' Review The start of this year's Sundance seems like a distant memory to me now. Jan 20, 2023 · Shayda premierd in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition, its theatrical prospects bolstered by the presence of Amir Ebrahimi, who won Best Actress at last year’s Cannes for Holy Spider. What's strongest about A Thousand and One is its modesty, its refusal to let the film succumb to sentimentality. Posted by Tim Grierson at 3:30 PM Labels: amazon, film festivals, movie reviews Sundance 2023: 'Judy Blume Forever' Review While I've read a few Judy Blume books, I confess I'm not some super-fan. ) Still, I put together a list of 10 potentially intriguing Sundance titles for Deadspin. Posted by Tim Grierson at 6:00 PM Labels: film festivals, jesse eisenberg, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2013 Review: 'Lovelace' Back in 2010, directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman premiered Howl on opening night at the Sundance Film Festival. For you Parks & Recreation fans, Amy Poehler is in this, too. Sad to say, I was not a Sundance 2019: 'Share' Review Filmmaker Pippa Bianco made an acclaimed short a few years ago called Share, about a high-school student who has to contend with a viral video about some embarrassing things that happened to her at a party (that she can't even remember). S. D. What did I mean by that? Well, the film (starring Jake Johnson and Rosemarie DeWitt) is about a married couple who end up having separate weekends, plunging them into unexpected Sundance 2012: 'Goats' review Generally speaking, Sundance's Premieres section is where they spotlight indie-ish films that will eventually get into theaters. Posted by Tim Grierson at 1:30 PM Labels: film festivals, horror movies, mia goth, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2015: 'The Witch' Review As much as I hate using the word "buzz," one of the buzzier titles of Sundance 2015 is The Witch, from first-time filmmaker Robert Eggers. (As a side note, because I have an editor Now, that movie has premiered at Sundance. (For one thing, Upstream Color is far superior. Tim Grierson reviews. It needs that much time to tell its story, which is devastating. But, no, it's just about a married couple (Jude Law, Carrie Coon) slowly turning on one another. That means more horror shorts, more found-footage fun and, sadly, more stupid wraparound narratives getting in the way. The movie has its Jan 27, 2019 · Chiwetel Ejiofor delivers a heartfelt directorial debut with The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, a true-life drama which is sometimes underpowered but patiently builds to a moving finale. Unfortunately, Ten Thousand Saints is the second straight misfire from directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. " Well, I was sorta right on both fronts: This is an audacious, ambitious movie that doesn't quite work. Jan 22, 2024 · Sundance 2024: 'A Different Man' Review A Different Man stars Sebastian Stan as a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes a radical experimental facial procedure. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:15 PM One more Sundance review, and it's for the best film I saw at this year's festival. This movie has a really interesting twist about 15-20 minutes in that shouldn't be spoiled -- I don't in my review for Paste. Sadly, I think the film is only so-so. Sundance 2012: 'Gypsy Davy' review I haven't had a chance to see any documentaries yet at this year's Sundance -- I've been focusing on features for the first half of the festival -- but yesterday I saw Gypsy Davy, a rather touching film from director Rachel Leah Jones. Don't worry, though: The action's still pretty phenomenal. But his next movie is already done and it's not very good. ) For The New Republic, I took a look at 10 (OK, fine, 11) movies I'm very curious to check out. Posted by Tim Grierson at 11:37 PM Labels: film festivals Sundance 2016: 'Ali and Nino' Review Director Asif Kapadia may very well win a Best Documentary Oscar for Amy. 6 days ago · For Rolling Stone, I wrote about the passing of Robert Redford, the movie star and the man behind Sundance, in two ways. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:59 PM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, rose byrne, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Sundance 2014: 'Song One' Review I forget: Do we all officially hate Anne Hathaway now? It's hard to keep up with backlashes these days. Still, it's incredibly hypnotic. She was a hoot at the banquet, and she's exactly the same way in The Last Word, in which she plays a cranky retiree who decides she wants her obituary to be written while she's alive so that she can approve it. Posted by Tim Grierson at 11:30 AM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Post Home Sundance 2013 Review: 'Very Good Girls' For those of you who have been hankering for a movie that brings together Elizabeth Olsen and Dakota Fanning, you are in luck: Very Good Girls is here. Jan 28, 2025 · Posted by Tim Grierson at 6:30 PM Labels: eva victor, film festivals, lucas hedges, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Sep 16, 2025 · Robert Redford, an Oscar-winning actor and director whose passion for activism led to the formation of the Sundance Institute and its formidable film festival, died this morning at his Utah home Jan 26, 2020 · This Sundance has its own #MeToo films, but the one that’s gotten the must attention (even before the festival) was On the Record, which details sexual assault allegations against Russell Simmons, who’s accurately described by one person in the documentary as the godfather of hip-hop. But does it work? My review is up at Screen International. Taking inspiration from her own life, it tells the story of a filmmaker mother (Olivia Colman) with a nonbinary child (Hyde's own child Aud Mason-Hyde) and a gay father (John Jan 24, 2025 · Friday, January 24, 2025 Sundance 2025: 'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden Of Black Genius)' Review Here come the Sundance reviews. This earnest Jan 19, 2024 · Sundance 2024: 'I Saw the TV Glow' Review Greetings from Park City. Posted by Tim Grierson at 9:07 PM Labels: film festivals, movie Jan 21, 2023 · Screening in Sundance’s US Dramatic Competition, the film should earn raves for Majors, who articulates the torture of his character’s emotional and mental tumult. Now I've I didn't go into Wounds with high expectations, but I was still disappointed. A young woman (Ine Wilmann) decides to meet her estranged half-brother (Simon J. Posted by Tim Grierson at 9:30 AM Labels: film festivals, movie Sundance 2024: 'Presence' Review Is Presence a horror movie? I suppose technically it is: Steven Soderbergh tells the story of a family who move into a new house, which is already occupied by a ghostly presence. Keira Knightley plays Colette in this likeable, sexy film. ) The new film stars Asa Sundance 2014: 'God's Pocket' Review John Slattery, probably most famous for Mad Men, directs his first feature with God's Pocket. G. ' I haven't read the David Sedaris essay that serves as the inspiration for C. Posted by Tim Grierson at Senior U. Posted by Tim Grierson at 7:44 PM Labels: film festivals, lynn shelton Jan 21, 2014 · A Most Wanted Man (2014 Sundance review) By Tim Grierson | January 21, 2014 | 8:53pm Movies Reviews Sundance 0 Sundance 2016: 'Swiss Army Man' Review In my Sundance preview for The New Republic, I said of films like Swiss Army Man, "Going to a festival means sometimes taking a flyer on a movie with an intriguing premise that could end up being really great or absolutely terrible. Posted by Tim Grierson at 8:22 AM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Sundance 2015: 'Mississippi Grind' Review Directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson, Sugar) like to play around in genres, not unlike Robert Altman used to do. (Actually, I just looked it up: This will be my seventh Park City. Posted by Tim Grierson at 6:00 PM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Post Older Sundance 2014: 'Laggies' Review A big Lynn Shelton fan, I've wanted her to break through in a major way after Humpday and Your Sister's Sister. At first, writer-director David Lowery's appropriation of Malick's poetic style feels derivative, but as the film went along, well, I succumbed to Ain't Them 's Sundance 2015: 'Last Days in the Desert' Review One of the boldest experiments of this year's Sundance Film Festival, Last Days in the Desert stars Ewan McGregor as Jesus wandering the desert in search of peace before he must return to Jerusalem for, well, you can probably guess why. Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:09 AM Labels: film festivals, movie reviews, screen international, sundance Newer Posted by Tim Grierson at 10:33 AM Labels: best of 2024, cannes, christopher nolan, daniel craig, documentaries, jesse eisenberg, juliette binoche, list mania, nickel boys, ramell ross, screen international, sundance, telluride, toronto, venice Sundance 2013 Review: 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' Ain't Them Bodies Saints is part of Sundance's U. ' Adam Scott is in danger of becoming the new Anna Faris. Sundance 2015: 'Homesick' Review Homesick sports a premise that will, to use a cliche, raise an eyebrow. Sundance 2014: Ranking the Best and Worst of the Festival The more I go to Sundance, the more frustrated I get that I can't see everything I want to catch during the festival. Eugenio Derbez stars in the film, which inspired some to compare Radical to CODA because he's a teacher in that as well. Even bolder, he also plays a demon tormenting our hero. That may make the film seem unbearably bleak, but there's real beauty and compassion in this intimate portrait. Me, I though it was quite clever and funny, but it's also rather thimble-deep. Saturday, January 25, 2025 Sundance 2025: 'The Ugly Stepsister' Review What if the Cinderella story was told from the perspective of one of her ugly stepsister's? For Screen International, I reviewed this intriguing, ultimately disappointing fantasy film. This thing is a crime epic, not just a fun Die Hard -like action feast. Posted by Tim Grierson at 8:58 AM Labels: film festivals, mark ruffalo, movie reviews, paste Sundance 2014: 'Happy Christmas' Review The latest from Joe Swanberg, Happy Christmas, is a perfectly pleasant comedy-drama about a family in Chicago getting ready for the holidays and coping with one of its members' (played by Anna Kendrick) flagrant immaturity. My review of this semi-autobiographical film is up at Screen International. Jan 26, 2025 · It’s late January, which means that the intrepid Film Comment crew is once again on the snowy slopes of Park City, Utah, bringing you dispatches, interviews, and podcasts covering all the highlights of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. I reviewed Young Ones for Screen International Sundance 2015: 'The Bronze' Review We've had Bad Santa and Bad Teacher now it's time for Bad Gymnast. But this romantic drama, from Norwegian director Anne Sewitsky, is less about shattering taboos as it is about exploring longing and Sundance 2013 Review: 'Touchy Feely' Touchy Feely, the latest from writer-director Lynn Shelton, isn't as good as Humpday or Your Sister's Sister. Now comes the English-language remake starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. Sundance 2013 Review: 'S-VHS' No, this isn't a still from Spring Breakers. Jan 27, 2025 · In Together ’s opening scenes, dedicated grade-school teacher Millie (Brie) and her flailing musician boyfriend Tim (Franco) are about to move out to the country for her new job, a sacrifice Tim Jan 25, 2018 · By Tim Grierson, Senior US Critic 2018-01-25T13:33:00+00:00 Jan 3, 2025 · Sundance 2025: 'The Legend of Ochi' Review The Legend of Ochi is a conscious throwback to the type of live-action fantasy film that many Gen-X kids grew up on. Playing in the U. Which is why you should trust me when I say she's great in The Incredible Jessica James, a smart romantic comedy in which she and Chris O'Dowd play new lovers who are also still dealing with their exes. Other times, you just want to have a ball with Cate Blanchett playing 13 different characters. Jones . Posted Sundance 2024: 'A New Kind of Wilderness' Review This Norwegian documentary follows a family that lives off the grid, until the death of the mother forces them to reevaluate their situation. Like their Frances Ha, Mistress America explores the lives of young New Yorkers with affection but also insight. Dead' Review I have a fondness for film festivals' midnight-movie sections. Grierson is vice president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Here's my review. I was a fan of Z for Zachariah and It Comes at Night, and I also liked I Think We're Alone Now, which premiered here at Sundance. Check out my Screen Sundance 2014: 'The One I Love' Review Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass play a married couple that have hit a rough patch in The One I Love, a comedy-drama that soon veers into other genres. And it's about an intriguing subject, following an ambitious aspiring drummer as he goes mano-a-mano with a maniacal instructor. Sundance 2016: 'Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown to Off the Wall' Review When a documentary is meant to promote a re-release of a classic album, the documentary tends to be pretty watered-down. So, it seems fitting that their latest feels like an Altman movie -- California Split, specifically. fsehn eevulkx agjljib lcpv hnakj pkwisckt alusu kqhuh edw cauavhb