Sundance Film Festival 2013
Sundance Film Review: Valentine Road
In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the issue of firearms and classrooms has sadly become a daily topic of discussion. When you add the element of a hate crime to these unspeakable acts, it only adds fuel to the vicious fire. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Virtually Heroes
In the fashion of Disney’s “Wreck-It-Ralph”, G. J. Echternkamp’s “Virtually Heroes” trails a video game character who begins to question his pre-programmed lifestyle, but, unlike the children’s animated feature, gamers can find vulgar pop culture references embedded throughout this R-rated live-action creation. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Austenland
Directed by BYU grad, SLC local and the co-writer of Napoleon Dynamite, Austenland is big. The jokes are over-the-top, the costumes and set are gaudy, Jennifer Coolidge is practically bursting at the seams in both hilarity and bosom, and the flops, well, they’re pretty big, too. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Halley
Beto (Alberto Trujillo) is a security guard for a gym in Mexico who has an unusual health condition that forces him to resign from his post, even at the discretion of his flirtatious employer (Luly Trueba). Unbeknownst to her, Beto’s illness causes his skin and physical abilities to deteriorate to a gruesome degree unless he injects himself with an embalming fluid concoction. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Fallen City
In May of 2008, the Sichuan earthquake completely demolished the small mountain town of Beichuan, China, killing 20,000 of its citizens. Director Qi Zhao puts a magnifying glass on the lives of three Chinese families affected by loss after the earthquake in her directorial debut, Fallen City. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Dirty Wars
Director Richard Rowley shadows investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill into the secretive world of covert military operations in the Middle East as the United States attempts to win the war on terror no matter the means or consequences. It is a documentary about “the seen and the unseen” according to Scahill’s monotone and dreary narration. … read more
Sundance Film Review: When I Walk
When I Walk self-documents DaSilva’s entire journey with multiple sclerosis over the past 8 years in one of the most honest and sincere films ever to grace the Sundance silver screen. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Sound City
Foo Fighters front man and former drummer of Nirvana, Dave Grohl, takes audiences on a wild journey of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll as he energetically recounts the origins of one of the most influential recording studios of all time. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Who Is Dayani Cristal?
A man recites “A Migrant’s Prayer” in Spanish, backpack in hand, as he prepares for a treacherous journey north across the Mexican border, into the USA. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Muscle Shoals
You may have never heard of the rural village known as Muscles Shoals, Alabama, but I can guarantee you’ve heard countless tracks of the magnetic musical masterpieces that have surfaced from the wetland region. Pressed up against the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals was the birthplace of Rick Hall’s legendary FAME record studios. … read more