Day 5 at Sundance 2020
PALM SPRINGS
Photo courtesy of Neon
A Palm Springs wedding turns disastrous for outcasts Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) in this new existential comedy with a "Groundhog Day" twist. After a rocky first meeting, outside forces trap the duo into reliving the same wedding day over and over again to mixed results. "Palm Springs" is the latest production from The Lonely Island ("Hot Rod, "Popstar") and another comedic winner.
Rating: B
ON THE RECORD
Photo from “On the Record”
The Me Too movement has exposed countless sexual predators since its inception, and the new documentary "On the Record" focuses on women of color telling their stories of rape and impropriety. The central person of interest in the film is music mogul Russell Simmons, and the women documented are far from shy in telling their stories to documentarians Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. "On the Record" has been a hot button documentary at Sundance, and it will leave you speechless.
Rating: B
WENDY
Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
Peter Pan by way of Terence Malick is the best way to describe the new film "Wendy." It’s an original take on the classic tale that succeeds in short bursts thanks to a charismatic young cast and a terrific score by composer Dan Romer. He and director Benh Zietlin previously collaborated on 2012's "Beasts of the Southern Wild", and while "Wendy" is not in the same class as "Beasts," it's still strong enough to stand on its own.
Rating: B-
THE NEST
Photo from “The Nest”
In need of financial stability, a family of four moves to the English countryside to start over and, in the process, uncovers dark skeletons in their closet. Jude Law and Carrie Coon play the parental figures of the disjointed family and are the standouts in director Sean Durkin's follow-up to "Martha Marcy Mae Marlene." Jude Law in particular gives a mesmerizing performance that rivals some of the best work of his career, and Durkin creates a claustrophobic sense of dread that engulfs the entire movie.
Rating: A-
INTO THE DEEP
Photo courtesy of Netflix
When a journalist goes missing while interviewing entrepreneur Peter Madsen, all signs point to the eccentric inventor. But as this documentary progresses, the facts behind the disappearance are stranger than anything you can imagine.
Rating: B
THE FATHER
Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Anthony Hopkins commands the screen as an aging man slowly losing his grip on reality. Olivia Colman ("The Favourite") plays his caring daughter who only wants the best for her stubborn father amidst many roadblocks along the way. "The Father" is based on a stage play by the film's director Florian Zeller, and the film has a theatrical vibe at times, but that's of little importance. Zeller puts us in the head of the titular father as he navigates his sanity, and the results are heartbreaking. Anthony Hopkins hasn't been this good in decades and reminds us why he is such a national treasure.
Rating: A
