It’s time once again for another Sundance Film Festival. When the festival is at its best, it usually delivers a handful of my favorite movies of the year, while also giving me one or two of the worst. However, due to luck and timing, this year has been one of the better cinematic starts in any festival season in the dozen years I’ve been regularly attending.
The Ugly Stepsister
Elvira has always dreamed of marrying a prince and being whisked away to a life of poetry and romance. Yet, her beautiful stepsister clearly has the edge to take that opportunity away. To advance her chances, her horrible mother has her undergo body modifications to catch the prince’s eye.
Writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt has produced a movie for the greater majority of us that will never be Cinderella. It’s a Victorian telling of the classic Grimm fairytale and it doesn’t shy away from the grim. This movie has you sympathizing with the titular character because she’s a product of her environment, but you also wish she wasn’t as influenced by it all. I was blown away that this was Blichfeldt’s directorial debut, because she has crafted a beautiful and engaging take on the famous story. Also, this film marks the film debut of Lea Myren, who plays the lead. I’m not gonna lie, there is some beauty horror that had me feeling queasy and avoiding looking at the screen, but it’s all just part of this beautiful, visceral cautionary tale. B
The Ballad of Wallis Island
A off-kilter fanboy who lives alone on a secluded island, tries to make his fantasies come true by getting his favorite singer, Herb McGwyer, to perform at a special event. Herb, well out of his prime, has to come to terms with where his career is now and if he can move on from his past, all while dealing with his constant chatty guide.
Irish and British folk-musicals are my love language. They appeal to my heart in every way. This Ballad is no exception. The concept seems like it should be short lived as Charles, the fan, feels like a Michael Scott type character who you’d want to leave you alone because he never stops talking. However, he’s just so darn affable at the same time. Writer/actor Tom Basden (who plays Herb) gives such a genuine put-upon performance. He isn’t someone you’d want to spend a lot of time with, but you can’t help but want better things for. Also, having Carey Mulligan in the movie gives it immediate gravitas. This may be a bit sleepy for some, but everything from the soundtrack, the emotions, and the character arcs are my cup of tea. A-
Together
Allison Brie and Dave Franco play a couple who move to the countryside to start their new future together. Within a few days there, something strange happens that triggers a supernatural incident that drastically alters their relationship, existence, and physical forms.
I primarily attend Sundance to experience the newest voices in the horror world. Sundance has delivered some of the best and freshest horror movies out there, but some years are duds. Together is the horror MVP for the festival in 2025. It’s a codependent relationship story with elements from The Thing and riffs on Cronenberg, all while being in a Lovecraftian universe. Not only does this movie provide some great jump scares, it’s also quite funny. There is some tonal whiplash in the final act, but it also doesn’t feel out of place in such a temperamental movie. This is easily Franco’s best role and being able to see he and Brie opposite each other is so welcome in this kind of project. So far, this is the big purchase of the festival and will be in theaters in August. B+
Oh, Hi
Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac (Logan Lerman) have been going out for a few months and decide to take in a nice quiet weekend at a country house. Everything is going perfectly until Iris learns that Isaac doesn’t feel the same about their relationship as she does.
Oh, Hi is meant to be a straight up comedy. It presents a view on commitment and communication in the modern dating age, but in an insane situation. The movie is clever in exploring how the internet skews our expectations of love and how assumptions can lead to criminal behavior. Gordon and Lerman have something special together, but the movie divides their time in the movie sadly. In what could have been some great scenes full of clever dialogue breaking down trust issues and walls, instead fills in with zany characters and outlandish scenarios. It requires a ton of suspension of belief, and it didn’t totally hit with me. C
Rebuilding
After wildfires take his ranch, a cowboy named Dusty (Josh O’Connor) winds up in a FEMA camp, finding community with others who lost their homes, all while trying to form a connection with his young daughter.
Rebuilding feels like a movie that we’ve all seen before, but the setting and the character motivation feels different this time. O’Connor plays Dusty as a stoic, awkward man who quietly mourns his family’s ranch and just wants to pursue some new form of subsistence. He’s great and helped with a great cast. His daughter, played by Lily LaTorre, is honestly so genuine in her role. The standout and heart of the movie goes to Amy Madigan, who plays Dusty’s former Mother-in-law. Each of her scenes are so endearing. This modern “western” is quite slow, but had me choking back tears. B
Opus
Ariel (Ayo Edibiri) is a young wannabe journalist at a music magazine. She’s been pitching to get her foot in the door. Her life drastically changes as she is invited, along with influencers in popular media, to the compound of a long-disappeared music icon from the 90s.
Opus is already an A24 movie and isn’t necessarily indie, but I was happy to catch it at the festival. Anyone who has seen The Bear knows how dynamic Ayo Edibiri is, and the Opus furthers that. Pairing her opposite the legendary Moretti (John Malkovich) is fascinating. He’s already intimidating, so putting these characters put into a cultish compound is very uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the movie takes half of its runtime to set up the main story, and then it rushes the ending. That said, the disturbing moments within along with the humor make this a worthwhile, if not undercooked watch. B-
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