Day 5 at Sundance 2021
AT THE READY
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
The routine for most high school students in El Paso, Texas seem to be the same as most other teenagers in the area. But for a small group of young Mexican American leaders, high school is just a springboard for their dream job of customs enforcement. The idea of training to be a border patrol agent seems radical to some in their inner circle and a no-brainer to others. Both sides are explored without judgment and this very engaging documentary shows the hard work these kids put in to achieve their controversial goal. Director Maisie Crow treats her subjects with love and care, including in-depth looks at their home life and decision making, giving “At the Ready” a unique look at young students making bold choices for their future.
Rating: B+
A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Are we living in a simulation? Is everything we know predetermined and out of our control? These are only some of the heavy questions Rodney Ascher (“Room 237”) asks in his mostly entertaining documentary. It may be a stretch to imagine us living in a simulated version of “The Matrix” but no matter where you stand on the issue, seeing many talking heads argue the point back and forth is a delight to witness. The only problem is that the novelty wears off fast and leaves the film to repeat its thesis over and over again with no real resolution.
Rating: B-
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
The true story of Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton and the infiltration of his Chicago, Illinois chapter should make for riveting drama. But the final product can’t overcome its unbalanced tone due to scattershot editing and an overstuffed narrative. Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”) electrifies as Hampton and co-star Lakeith Stanfield (“Knives Out”) isn’t far behind as William O’Neal, a petty criminal looking to cut a deal with the FBI in exchange for a reduced sentence. The acting is doing the heavy-lifting in “Judas and the Black Messiah” with a strong assist from cinematographer Sean Bobbitt (“12 Years A Slave”), but a stronger edit could have made this film soar even higher.
Rating: B
LIFE IN A DAY 2020
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Ten years ago filmmakers Ridley Scott and Kevin MacDonald put the word out on YouTube that they were looking for anyone to shoot footage of their daily routine on a specific day. The best submissions would be pieced together into a feature documentary which would then premiere at Sundance. That experiment proved fruitful, and the filmmaking duo have tried this again ten years later. Seeing people’s lives recorded during Covid gives “Life in a Day 2020” a unique look at our current pandemic but not all of the footage is as gloomy as you might expect. There is lots of hope and energetic beauty mixed within all this footage, proving that there can be light at the end of this very long tunnel.
Rating: B
SEARCHERS
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
What makes you join a dating app? What makes you choose certain partners on these dating apps? Random strangers, young and old, are interviewed about their dating habits and personal preferences, making “Searchers” one of the most candid looks at modern romance. But the documentary overextends itself by letting some of these interviews run longer than they should. Rambling becomes an issue and weighs the film down but not enough to discourage you from giving it a chance. There are too many good stories here to dismiss “Searchers” completely, despite its uneven execution.
Rating: B-
