I’ve never sat down to come up with a top ten list before in my life. Thankfully, when the list you’re compiling consists only of 10 films seen for a column such as this, it makes things far easier. While choosing which films to see while braving the weather in Park City, Utah over opening weekend of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival (coincidentally celebrating its 25th anniversary this year) one can read all they want into synopses but it may never fully prepare you for what you’re in for.
While some of these have already been picked up for distribution, there are many that may never see a national release and could head straight for a deserved direct-to-video death (at least in one case). A few will undoubtedly be picked up in the long run and rightly deserve so while others probably won’t but more than deserve to. I have tried to come up with the best way to lay out the list and think the best way to go about things is to split it in half and start with the bottom of the heap…
10. Southern District (Zona sur)
The less said about this, the better. Here is a film so rancid, contrived, and flat-out boring that even if writer/director Juan Carlos Valdivia had centered his entire movie around the voyeuristic sex scenes it would rightly earn itself the ultimate death of the MPAA’s much dreaded NC-17 rating. If you think sitting around listening to the rich whine and moan about how hard life is or how much it sucks that your mom would never understand why you would rather live life as a poor outcast lesbian in Bolivia is enjoyable, then you desperately need to have your head examined. This is such a disgusting display of humanity that even a somewhat interesting cinematic technique can't save it. (The camera literally seems to be positioned on a lazy Susan and just slowly spins around the room while characters do whatever they think is necessary to carry the scene to another dull fadeout where you wish it was you fading out instead.)
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Article comments
1 - J.Sal
What the hell are you doing in Sundance, to be there and to write about it you have to know something about cinema, and clearly you are as ignorant as Jason Friedberg
2 - Sundance 2010
Fashion Designer John Robert Holbrook ( J.R. Holbrook ) selects the 5 best and worst dressed celebrities that attended the 26th annual Sundance Film Festival January 21-31, 2010.
5 BEST
1 RYAN REYNOLDS - This man has golden era movie star style and looks! Why is he married again? He could be the new Warren Beatty!
2 KATIE HOLMES - Elegant, slender, talented and TALL! I wondered if she smacks Tom around? Her film "The Romantics" was a lot of fun! Katie's game is ON!
3 JOAN RIVERS - She is the original funny girl and style guru! She is a hard act to follow. She is the reason I started The Sundance Fashion Review in 2002!
4 MARISA TOMEI - A graceful, ageless beauty that has great taste. Her clothing brought out her beautiful skin, hair and smile!
5 JESSICA ALBA - The Sundance home run hottie! Amazing coat over a warm, elegant casual outfit! Loved it! Her film, "The Killer Inside Me", traumatized me for days!
5 WORST
1 ADRIAN GRENIER - The line from "Devil Wears Prada" came to mind when I saw him, "I asked for clean, athletic and smiley and they sent me DIRTY, TIRED and PAUNCHY! He acts to big for his britches and there are many examples of his bad manners throughout the festival!
2 BILL GATES - He is the worst dressed billionaire! He was dancing at a house party trying to be hip and cool and it was totally not natural for him. The girls at the party were laughing at him and it took him right back to high school! Sorry Billy.
** On an amazing note, Bill Gates donated 10 billion dollars today to immunize the world children! Awesome!
3 KRISTEN STEWART - She looked great in the movie "The Runaways" but her personal clothing choices were off. She was always hiding her face from the crowd like a vampire. I guess that is what happens when you have a shy actress portray a fearless musician!
4 TILDA SWINTON - I would have liked to have seen her in more feminine clothing to offset her extremely masculine features.
5 MARK RUFFALO - Guy-rilla! Did you make your own clothes on your family compound!? He looks like one of the cast members of "BIG LOVE"! Pull it together!!!
BEST COUPLE
Fergie & Josh Duhamel - All I can say is GLAMOROUS! They are the new Brangelina!
WORST COUPLE
Tommy Lee Jones & Chris Cooper - A lot of talent that looks TIRED! I did love their film "The Company Men"!