Last year, we covered much of 2022’s Sundance virtually, and 2023 marked the first year since 2019 where things returned to Park City in full swing! Though unable to attend in person, Allison and I managed to see a few gems that we both really enjoyed. Check out our full coverage for the fest after the jump!
THE AMAZING MAURICE
Full review at the link.
BLUEBACK
When obviously fictional Avatar: The Way of Water does a better job conveying ecological messaging and portraying oceanic ecosystems, there is an obvious disconnect here with book adaptation, Blueback. As a young child, Abby goes diving with her mom (Radha Mitchell) and befriends a giant wild groper fish; as an adult, Abby (Mia Wasikowska), now a seasoned researcher, receives a call that her mother has had a serious stroke. Concurrently, we experience two different versions of Abby going through vastly different life events that do not feel complimentary to one another in any way. The beauty of the sea is also difficult to observe with how dark and washed out in color the photography appears. With the selling point being a strong mother/daughter relationship, I wanted Blueback to deliver a poignancy that it never quite reaches. By splitting narratives, the two halves feel too disparate from one another to the point of frustration. While the filmmaker’s intent is to be commended, Blueback ultimately misses the mark.
HEROIC
There are normal exploitative military dramas, and then there is writer/director David Zonana’s indulgent and often difficult to watch Sundance selection, Heroic. In aiming to show the inner workings of the corrupt military, Zonana crafts a movie so off-putting that I often had to look away. We start as Luis, age 18, is being drafted into the Second infantry company. Little does he know, his world is about to change forever. The Sergeants here make things worse than fraternity hazing, forcing recruits to endure grueling “initiation” procedures. If able to stick things out for four years, they will officially end up in the Mexican army, regardless of their race or affiliation. I was absolutely disgusted by much of the behavior here—sergeants consistently use the f-slur, encourage Luis to “choke his girlfriend hard and fuck her in the ass,” and laugh at videos of people dying. What really put this over the edge for me though was the brutal slaying of an innocent dog, as it is slashed with a knife over and over again. Perhaps somebody will enjoy Heroic—for this viewer, it was simply an exercise in torment that I could not wait to finish.
IN MY MOTHER’S SKIN
Picked up by Prime Video ahead of the premiere, any festival horror selections are typically must-watch for me. This is especially evident with Sundance, a fest with a great track record for horror that recently includes Fresh, Watcher, Speak No Evil, and Hatching. Sadly, In My Mother’s Skin lives up to none of these titles. Set in the Philippines in 1945 in the wake of WWII, the film follows a young girl Tala, who tries to find a way to provide for her sickly mother and fading family as her dad is away seeking help. There is talk of hidden treasure and the looming threat of Japanese soldiers; ultimately, it is a flesh-eating fairy that is the biggest problem. Tala places her trust in this “fairy” adorned in an elegant headdress. The direction is somewhat stellar overall, but in the end, In My Mother’s Skin emerges feeling like a bargain-bin Pan’s Labyrinth.
INFINITY POOL
Full review at the link.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls
Full review at the link.
WHEN IT MELTS
Full review at the link.
Audiences everywhere will soon be able to enjoy several of these films at their own leisure—several big movies were picked up either ahead of the fest or during it. My favorite that played this year’s Sundance was Infinity Pool, closely followed by Talk to Me, while Allison loved Cat Person, Magazine Dreams, The Persian Version, and Starling Girl the most. See you all next year!