Day 2 at Sundance 2021
HOW IT ENDS
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
An asteroid is set to end all life on Earth in less than 24 hours but Liza (Zoe Lister-Jones) would rather not panic but party until the clock literally runs out. Drugs and drinking are on the menu at a local end-of-the-year bash she’s been invited to, but navigating through hectic Los Angeles streets to get there will prove difficult. Along the way she’ll meet many weird and unnecessary strangers played by a cavalcade of celebrity cameos but the famous faces won’t matter because even they can’t distract from the empty script and matter-of-fact pacing structure. The film was co-directed by Lister-Jones (“Band Aid”) and Daryl Wein (“White Rabbit”), proving that even the end of the world can be incredibly dull.
Rating: C-
ON THE COUNT OF THREE
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Jerrod Carmichael created one of the best TV shows of the last several years, the often neglected “The Carmichael Show”, and has now made his first feature to prove that his talent is no fluke. Directing and starring in “On the Count of Three”, Carmichael plays Val, a depressed dead-end worker who at the beginning of the film has decided to drop everything and end his life. But when committing the deed proves difficult, he enlists his equally troubled best friend (Christopher Abbott) to assist in a strange and often funny murder-suicide pact that will push both men to the edge. Tiffany Haddish and Henry Winkler also star in this tensely-written story of desperation and redemption.
Rating: B
MOTHER SCHMUCKERS
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Guaranteed to disgust and offend in equal measure, “Mother Schmuckers” dares you to hate it in the vein of another Sundance favorite, “The Greasy Strangler.” Patience will be tested as soon as the film opens and we meet Issachar and Zabulon, dim-witted brothers whose idea of a fun prank is to cook human feces and try to feed it to each other. The grossness only escalates from there and yet, its convoluted sight gags are more often than not hysterically juvenile. Of course, that’s what the movie is aiming for, so you’re either on board with this wildly unique ride or you’re not. French actor Mathieu Amalric (“Sound of Metal”) shows up as the brothers’ mild-mannered dad who doesn’t stay sedentary for long before also jumping into the movie’s deep end of crazy.
Rating: B
RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Academy Award winner Rita Moreno has been wowing audiences since her star-making turn in “West Side Story” but in this new documentary, we get the full backstory of her career ups-and-downs. PBS’ “American Masters” series has put together this engaging and vibrant look at a legendary career that shouldn’t be missed by fans of Moreno’s work but also by anyone who is serious about acting. The warts-and-all tales of being typecast in Hollywood along with a scarring romance with fellow screen icon Marlon Brando are only some of the many highlights in this look at the multitalented singer, dancer, and actress who can truly do it all.
Rating: A-
ONE FOR THE ROAD
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Produced by Wong Kar-Wai (“In the Mood For Love”), “One for the Road” could easily be mistaken for one of his films. The opening scenes of fast cuts and silky silhouettes set the tone as we meet Boss, a charming New York bartender who has just been summoned back home to Thailand in order to assist a dying friend with his final wishes. Not having been back for several years, Boss is at first unsure of how to help but as the film progresses, the two men set off on a road trip to fulfill last requests and those secrets could completely change their friendship for good. Certain scenes in the second half threaten to tip “One for the Road” into melodrama but the film safely holds steady thanks to an energetic score and beautiful landscape.
Rating: B
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
While Woodstock was raging in 1969, another music festival was also taking place close by. Despite its proximity, not much has been known about the Harlem Cultural Festival until now. Recently discovered footage brings the seminal moment in African American music history back to life as we get many rare treats, including uninterrupted performances by some legendary talents. Some of these names are unknowns but they more than hold their own against the marquee titans, proving that Woodstock was not the only game in town for seismic musical performances in ‘69. Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has put together a loving tribute that will serve as a chronicle for music lovers everywhere.
Rating: B
