NOTE: We ran this article in 2011 and have updated it for 2012.
The Sundance Film Festival is the best known film festival in the United States. Say the word “Sundance” to anyone, film lover or not, and chances are they’ve heard of the festival. As a movie blog though, the problem with covering Sundance is that virtually all of the movies are brand new. We haven’t heard of them, you haven’t heard of them, so why would you even care about them?
More than any of the casting news, trailers or film stills that we post on a daily basis, what happens in that small corner of Utah for a little over a week in January is probably the most important movie event of the year. Even so, talk to the most seasoned movie fan and they don’t spend half as much time focusing on what’s going on at Sundance as they do bitching about movies that came out three years ago. Plain and simple, the best films that you will see in theaters for the next 12 months are being shown at Sundance over the next week and a half. And while you probably haven’t heard of them in January, you’ll definitely have heard of them by December. Don’t you want in on the ground floor?
For the next 10 days myself and Peter Sciretta will be in Park City, Utah at the Sundance Film Festival. And while you might not be eager to click and read about a movie you haven’t heard of yet, we urge you to do so. Some of the films that people hadn’t heard of when they played Sundance in the past are films like Saw, The Blair Witch Project, Donnie Darko, 28 Days Later, Napoleon Dynamite, Memento, Bottle Rocket, Clerks, Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects. Think of all the movies that have been made since because filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino and Bryan Singer broke out at the Sundance Film Festival. Who is the breakout star this year? You’ll have to follow our coverage to find out.
Still not convinced? We’ve compiled even more films that you know and love that got their start at Sundance after the jump. Read More »
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One of my most anticipated films of the year now has a trailer and I’m over the moon about it. The film is Moonrise Kingdom, the latest from the great Wes Anderson. It stars Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman in the story of two twelve year olds (Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward) who fall in love and run away into the woods leaving an entire community on the lookout.
Read more about the film, which will be released May 25, and check out the trailer below. Read More »
Posted on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 by Angie Han
Yup, that’s Michael Giacchino striking the goofy pose in the header image, but don’t let the silliness fool you — he’s one of the hottest film and TV composers working today, and one of the main reasons you should be excited about the rest of this post. After the jump:
- Listen to ten minutes of Michael Giacchino’s score for John Carter
- Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained could be getting an unusual take on Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”
- Wes Anderson reunites with Fantastic Mr. Fox composer Alexandre Desplat for Moonrise Kingdom
- The Artist ponders a concert tour with live orchestra
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Posted on Friday, December 16th, 2011 by Angie Han
Even as I’m rushing to catch up on the 2011 films I’ve missed before the end of the year, I’m already looking forward to the crop of films that are due to open next year. Focus Features has just announced release dates for three of its upcoming releases I’m most curious about: Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom, Paul Weitz‘s Being Flynn, and Lorene Scafaria‘s Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Details after the jump.
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One year ago, the Spoke Art Gallery burst onto the scene in San Francisco with a show of art centered on the evocative and beautiful films of Wes Anderson. That show was called Bad Dads and now, to celebrate Spoke’s one year anniversary, it’s time for a sequel. The second Bad Dads exhibit opens October 29 and 30 at the Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco and we’re lucky enough to exclusively premiere several pieces from the show which are on sale now.
We’ve got three pieces by Joshua Budich, whose work you might recognize from Spoke’s Quentin vs. Coens shows as well as Crazy 4 Cult and several detailed views of the above, glow-in-the-dark piece by Max Dalton, whose work continues to be nothing short of remarkable. Check them out and find out more information on the show after the jump. Read More »
This December will mark ten years since Wes Anderson released The Royal Tenenbaums and it remains as breathtaking today as it was in 2001. The unique portrait of an eclectic New York family of artists would have been interesting on its own but mix it up with Anderson’s trademark style and it pops off the screen. A new piece by artist Rich Pellegrino does the same thing, taking Anderson’s memorable characters and immortalizing them in his trademark watercolor-esque style. Check out your exclusive first look at the full piece after the jump and find out when you can buy it. Read More »
Just when you thought the Alamo Drafthouse was done with their 2011 Texas Rolling Roadshow, they’ve added one more stop and this one has a higher purpose. The Days Inn in Hillsboro, Texas was a major location in Wes Anderson‘s feature debut Bottle Rocket and it’s in danger of shutting down. So, the Drafthouse has teamed up with several partners to host a fundraising screening for the hotel on Saturday July 9 that will be paired with a limited edition poster by Rich Kelly. Read more about the event, the hotel and see the full poster after the jump. Read More »
Posted on Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 by Angie Han
Not too long ago, it seemed like every new movie in the works was some spin on the doomed paranormal romance a la Twilight. Now, Hollywood’s new obsession seems to be wedding-themed comedies. Thanks to the recent successes of Bridesmaids and The Hangover Part II, Hollywood is apparently intent on producing any wedding-based comedy it can get its hands on. The latest project in this vein is Who Invited Her?, based on a pitch by Sascha Rothchild about a woman who tags along on a bachelor party getaway.
Reese Witherspoon is attached to star, as well as produce through her company Type A Films. Gary Foster and Russ Krasnoff are also signed on to produce. Rothchild will be writing the script, which is said to be — of course — “in the spirit of Bridesmaids.” [The Hollywood Reporter and Variety]
After the jump, Bob Balaban joins Wes Anderson’s latest.
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