Now that the 2010 Sundance Film Festival is over, it's time for me to come along and tell you which films you should be keeping an eye out for later this year. After all, there are so many films that screen at Sundance, but only a handful will hit theaters and even less are actually worth your time, energy and hard-earned dollars. So, yeah, aren't you glad you're reading this right now? Make sure to bookmark this post, then come back at the end of 2010 and let me know what you thought of these films – all of which are sure to hit the big screen at some point this year.
HappyThankYouMorePlease
An ensemble dramedy about three couples navigating rocky romantic waters in contemporary New York City, HappyThankYouMorePlease just won the Audience Award at Sundance, which means it's a popular one with them audiences. And I knew it would be as soon as I saw it – the film is fun, light and extremely relatable. Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother) steps behind the camera for the first time (he also stars) and delivers a really accessible film about a group of people who are ready to take that next step with their relationships, and all the different pieces of baggage that come along with that big decision.
Status: Myriad Pictures as acquired international rights, so those of you out of the country will be able to see it. Still waiting to see who picks up domestic rights, though.
Release Date: TBD
Catfish
I guarantee this will be one of the more talked-about films of 2010. One of those "beware of spoilers"-type films, Catfish is a documentary about a New York photographer who strikes up a friendly, artistic relationship with an 8-year-old girl on Facebook after she sends him a painting of one of his photos. After the photographer becomes close with the girl's entire family – going so far as to begin a romantic relationship with her older sister – something very strange begins to happen.
Status: No distributor yet, though some think Paramount may pick it up and try to turn it into the next Paranormal Activity.
Release Date: TBD
The most overwhelmingly positive reviews from the festival came for The Duplass Bros. comedy Cyrus, which stars John C. Reilly as an awkward-yet-lovable single dude who meets the woman of his dreams (Marisa Tomei), falls completely head over heels for her… and then meets her ridiculously bizarre teenage son (Jonah Hill). It's a true, down-to-earth comedy wrapped in a Hollywood concept, and just when you think it's going to go all nutty, the film settles down and treats its characters as real people instead of cartoony morons. Loved this one!
Status: Fox Searchlight financed and will distribute.
Release Date: TBD
Check out our exclusive video interviews with Jonah Hill and director Mark Duplass from Sundance 2010!
Hesher
While I wasn't crazy about Hesher, an over-the-top performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt will no doubt win most audiences over, even if the story itself (as well as the supporting characters) are pretty weak. Gordon Levitt plays a wandering, homeless headbanger with massive anger and mental issues who decides to literally move in with the grieving family of a 13-year-old kid who accidentally wronged him. Rainn Wilson plays the extremely depressed father in a family that recently lost their mother, and when Levitt – as the title character Hesher – arrives, he slowly (and by going about it in a very wrong way) rehabilitates everyone. Natalie Portman also stars as a grocery store clerk who doesn't have much to do in the film but looks cute and dorky.
Status: Newmarket Films picked up Hesher for distribution.
Release Date: TBD
Probably the most talked-about film heading into Sundance, The Runaways caused quite the stir when it premiered. Good news is it didn't get ripped apart by the critics, who actually liked the performances from Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning as rockers Joan Jett and Cherie Currie respectively (even if actor Michael Shannon really does steal the show). Twi-hards and Twi-moms should be aware that the film does carry quite a bit of profanity and sexual explicitness, especially from Stewart and Fanning, who at one point make out on screen… like, a lot. Still, it's a film that takes some chances and shares some pretty kickass music from wayyy back in the day – and I'm sure will be one to watch out for when it hits theaters next month.
Status Yup, that's right – this sucker is the only film on this list that already has a release date.
Release Date: March 16th
Check out our exclusive video interview with director Floria Sigismondi from Sundance 2010!
