Starry slate at Sundance
Film fest's card full of top names
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Also on tap are new pics directed by Thomas Vinterberg, Neil LaBute, James Foley, Campbell Scott, Ed Solomon, Richard Kwietniowski, Keith Gordon, Michael Polish, Ernest Dickerson, Frank Pierson, Larry Charles and Alex Proyas as well as Oliver Stone's doc encounter with Fidel Castro.
World Cinema, this year offering 25 recent titles from around the globe, will be joined by new sidebar, World Documentary, which fest director Geoff Gilmore initiated to expand the international reach of the event.
Opening-night attraction in Salt Lake City will be "Levity," the first feature by "Men in Black" screenwriter Ed Solomon. Sony Pictures Classics release stars Thornton as a man in search of redemption when he is released from prison after serving 19 years for killing a teenager in an attempted robbery. Freeman co-stars as a mysterious minister, while Hunter and Kirsten Dunst play two women who cross his path.
Making its world premiere will be "The Singing Detective," a bigscreen version of the late Dennis Potter's celebrated British miniseries about a writer confined to hospital with a skin disease who imagines musical numbers and strange dramas. Downey plays the leading role, with support from Robin Wright Penn, Mel Gibson (whose Icon Prods. made the film), Adrien Brody and Katie Holmes.
Other world premieres will include Vinterberg's apocalyptic sci-fier "It's All About Love," the Danish helmer's first film since the acclaimed "Celebration," starring Danes and Joaquin Phoenix; "Owning Mahowny," Kwietniowski's first feature since "Love and Death on Long Island," toplining Philip Seymour Hoffman; LaBute's "The Shape of Things," an adaptation of his own stage piece; "Masked and Anonymous," the first feature by "Seinfeld's" Larry Charles starring (and allegedly written by) Dylan as a cult musician; "Confidence," a con game drama with Edward Burns, Andy Garcia and Hoffman; and "Off the Map," an eccentric love story directed by Scott and starring Joan Allen.
Fest's other sections, including Midnight and Special Screenings, will include docs about Tupac Shakur; a family reunion with comic Eddie Griffin; and the blues, with contributions from directors Martin Scorsese, Charles Burnett, Clint Eastwood, Mike Figgis, Marc Levin, Richard Pearce and Wim Wenders.
Following are the complete lineups for Sundance 2003's Premiere, World Cinema, World Documentary, Frontier, Midnight, Collection and native Forum.
PREMIERE
"Comandante," Oliver Stone's "battle of wits" documentary about Fidel Castro, in which the American director had free rein to question the Cuban leader on any subject. HBO pic was produced mainly with Spanish coin.
"Confidence," directed by James Foley, with Edward Burns playing a cop involved in a con game in which the victim, played by Dustin Hoffman, happens to be a mob accountant. Lions Gate release co-stars Andy Garcia, Paul Giamatti, Donal Logue, Rachel Weisz and Morris Chestnut.
"Dot the I," a first feature by British helmer Matthew Parkhill, with Gael Garcia Bernal playing a Brazilian in London who becomes involved in an unusual romance.
"The Event," a Gotham-set drama starring Parker Posey as a district attorney investigating a series of suicides. Olympia Dukakis, Sarah Polley and Don McKellar also appear in this new feature by Thom Fitzgerald, the Canadian-American director of "Hanging Garden."
"Garage Days," a change-of-pace effort by "The Crow" director Alex Proyas about a Sydney, Australia, garage band trying to make it.
"Good Fences," an offbeat comic take on the American Dream from director Ernest Dickerson and producer Spike Lee, with Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg playing an upwardly mobile bourgeois black couple in '70s New England. A Showtime presentation.
"In America," director Jim Sheridan's semiautobiographical account of an Irish emigrant family's first year in New York. Fox Searchlight release, which premiered at the Toronto fest, stars Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine and Djimon Hounsou.
"It's All About Love," Thomas Vinterberg's meditative, digitally shot sci-fi drama about a future world full of dying people and the efforts to clone a star ice skater played by Claire Danes; with Joaquin Phoenix and Sean Penn.
"Masked and Anonymous," Larry Charles' debut feature, with Bob Dylan playing a musician who never made it big who is asked by a promoter (John Goodman) to play a benefit concert in Latin America. Intermedia presentation also features Luke Wilson, Jessica Lange, Jeff Bridges, Penelope Cruz, Val Kilmer, Giovanni Ribisi, Ed Harris, Angela Basset and Mickey Rourke.
"Northfork," the third entry in the Polish brothers' Idaho trilogy, after "Twin Falls, Idaho" and "Jackpot," about the residents of a small Western community forced to move to make way for a dam. Paramount Classics release stars James Woods, Daryl Hannah, Kyle MacLachlan, Nick Nolte and Claire Forlani.
"Off the Map," directed by Campbell Scott, a coming-of-age tale about a young girl whose father develops a debilitating disease at their remote New Mexico home. With Joan Allen, Amy Brenneman, Valentina d'Angelis and Sam Elliott.
"Owning Mahowny," Canadian entry directed by Richard Kwietniowski, stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as a gambling addict pursuing an extreme embezzling scheme that extends from Toronto to Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Sony Pictures Classics will release this Alliance presentation that also stars Minnie Driver and John Hurt.
"People I Know," Daniel Algrant's darkly comic look at a New York publicist, played by Al Pacino, that was put on the shelf after 9/11 but recently opened in Italy to positive critical response. Miramax release features Tea Leoni, Kim Basinger and Ryan O'Neal.
"The Secret Lives of Dentists," director Alan Rudolph's contemplative comedy/drama about a suburban dentist (Campbell Scott) trying to cope with the assumed infidelity of his wife (Hope Davis). Denis Leary and Robin Tunney co-star.
"A Soldier's Girl," directed by Frank Pierson from a Ron Nyswaner script, based on a true story of a young soldier who's killed for falling in love with a transgendered nightclub performer in North Carolina. A Showtime presentation.
WORLD CINEMA
"AKA," directed by Duncan Roy, with Matthew Leitch as a young working-class man who assumes a more upper-class identity to pursue his love life in late-'70s Britain.
"Angela," directed by Roberta Torre and one of the hit Italian entries at Cannes, about the adulterous love affair of a mob wife in Sicily. A First Look release.
"The Baroness and the Pig," a digital feature by Canadian helmer Michael Mackenzie, with Patricia Clarkson as a wealthy American Quaker wife of a French baron who takes on the cause of a wild girl raised by pigs. Shown at Toronto.
"Bend It Like Beckham," directed by Gurinda Chadha, a British hit from earlier in the year about the soccer aspirations of the daughter of a traditional family. A Fox Searchlight release.
"Benjamim," directed by Monique Gardenberg, the world premiere of a Brazilian feature about the eventful life of a male model/actor.
"Bollywood Queen," directed by Jeremy Wooding, a British-made Bollywood musical starring Preeya Kalidas, James McEvoy and Ian McShane that will make its world premiere.
"Deadend.com," a nihilistic digital drama from Canadian director S. Wyeth Clarkson about three teens who drive from Quebec City to the West Coast to commit suicide.
"Death of Klinghoffer," director Penny Woolcock's British adaptation of John Adams' opera about Palestinian terrorists who kill an Israeli man on a cruise ship in the '80s.
"Fear X," Danish helmer Nicolas Winding Refn's U.S.-shot English-language drama about a man (John Turturro) who investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murder of his wife. Also with James Remar and Deborah Kara Unger.
"Historias Minimas," new feature by Argentine director Carlos Sorin ("Eversmile, New Jersey"), about the intertwining journeys of separate travelers across the Patagonian outback. First shown at San Sebastian.
"I Love You," Chinese helmer Zhang Yuan's love story about a young woman who, after losing her first love, launches a relationship with his best friend.
"The Kite," Russian director Alexei Muradov's minimalist feature about a state executioner with an invalid son.
"Life Show," directed by Huo Jianqi, about the modernization of China that won the top prize at the recent Shanghai Film Festival.
"Long Life, Prosperity and Happiness," Canadian helmer Mina Shum's look at a 12-year-old girl who uses luck and gambling to try to improve her mother's life. With Sandra Oh.
"Madame Sata," Brazilian director Karim Ainouz's portrait of chef/transvestite/lover/father/hero/convict Joao Francisco dos Santos, aka Madame Sata.
"The Missing Gun," a digital feature from Chinese helmer Lu Chuan, about the consequences of a small-town policeman's loss of his gun. A Sony Pictures Classics release.
"Mondays in the Sun," Spanish director Fernando Leon De Aranoa's top prize-winning feature at San Sebastian, starring Javier Bardem as a dock worker who loses his job.
"Music for Weddings and Funerals," Norwegian Unni Straume's study of a lonely woman (Lena Endre) who rents her basement to a Serbian musician. Shown at Toronto.
"Open Hearts," a Dogma feature by Danish helmer Susanne Bier, about a woman who falls in love with the husband of the woman who caused the accident that paralyzed her fiance. A Toronto entry.
"Red Bear," Argentine director Adrian Caetano's study of a murderer who tries to settle accounts with his family and former partners after his release from prison.
"The Sea," Icelandic director Baltasar Komakur's drama about a fishing magnate who brings his family back to their small hometown for a surprising gathering.
"Song for a Raggy Boy," Irish helmer Aisling Walsh's telling of the true story of a radical (Aiden Quinn) who challenges the brutality rampant in an Irish reform school for boys in the late '30s.
"Thirteen Steps," directed by Masahiko Nagasawa, a Japanese drama about a released inmate who tries to impose his view of justice in a murder case. A world premiere.
"28 Days Later," director Danny Boyle's dark look at the survivors of a virus in a future Britain. A Fox Searchlight release.
"Whale Rider," New Zealand director Niki Caro's tale of a 12-year-old Maori girl's attempt to become a Whale Rider, traditionally reserved for males. Newmarket release was the audience award winner at Toronto.
WORLD DOCUMENTARY
"Balseros," a Spanish entry directed by Carlos Bosch and Josep Maria Domenec, about Cuban raft refugees to the U.S.
"Bus 174," directed by Brazilian helmer Jose Padiha, about a bus hijacking in Sao Paulo. A sensation at the recent Rio festival.
"The Day I Will Never Forget," British documentarian Kim Longinetto's look at female genital mutilation via the personal stories of Kenyan women.
"Frescos," Russian director Alexandr Gutman's look at life in an Armenian village after an earthquake and the fall of communism.
"Iran: Veiled Appearances," directed by Belgian filmmaker Thierry Michel, about the collision of extreme fundamentalism and the push for change by young people in modern Iran.
"The Passion of Maria Elena," directed by Mercedes Moncada Rodriguez of Mexico, about the search for justice by a mother in the case of her son's death.
"The Purified," a look at the Dogma movement by Danish helmer Jesper Jargil, with special attention on the "manifesto" as seen and practiced (or not) by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. To be shown with Jorgen Leth's 35-minute post-9/11 docu "New Scenes From America."
"To Live Is Better Than to Die," Chinese documentarian Weijun Chen's study of a Chinese family coping with HIV and AIDS.
MIDNIGHT
"DysFunKtional Family," directed by George Gallo, about comic Eddie Griffin's standup tour that's followed by a family reunion. A Miramax release.
"Girls Will Be Girls," a camp entry from director Richard Day about a fading starlet and her two drag queen roommates.
"The Hebrew Hammer," directed by John Kesselman, in which a Jewish superhero saves Hanukkah from an evil Santa Claus imposter. With Adam Goldberg, Andy Dick, Mario Van Peebles, Peter Coyote and Judy Greer.
"Nightstalker," director Chris Fisher's horror film take on the late-'80s L.A. murder spree.
"Rolling Kansas," a stoner comedy from director Thomas Haden Church starring Kevin Pollack and Rip Torn.
"Spun," an antic drug-fueled comedy/drama from director Jonas Akerlund featuring John Leguizamo, Mickey Rourke, Patrick Fugit, Mena Suvari and Brittany Murphy.
FRONTIER
"At the First Breath of Wind," a virtually wordless portrait of a family on an August afternoon by Italian helmer Franco Piavoli.
"Cremaster III," director Matthew Barney's third entry in a five-part series that was well received during its New York run earlier this year.
"An Injury to One," director Travis Wilkerson's experimental look at the lynching of a union organizer in Montana a century ago.
"Irreversible," French helmer Gaspar Noe's controversial Cannes entry about a brutal crime. Stars Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel.
"Silt," a walk-in environmental event in which visual images are manipulated on the spot. Created by Keith Evans, Christian Farrell and Jeff Warrin.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
"The Legend of Suriyothai," a Thai epic directed by Prince Chatri Chalerm Yukol that has been recut twice by Francis Ford Coppola and will be released by Sony Classics.
"Pipe Dreams," directed by Enzo Mileti, about aspiring Olympic skiers from Park City, Utah.
"Tupac: Resurrection," a comprehensive docu about the late rapper directed for MTV Films by Lauren Lazin.
"Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives," an HBO presentation directed by Ed Bell and Thomas Lennon in which actors read excerpts from first-hand testimonies by slaves.
"The Blues," a special compilation of segments from a seven-part docu music series directed by Martin Scorsese, Charles Burnett, Clint Eastwood, Mike Figgis, Marc Levin, Richard Pearce and Wim Wenders.
SUNDANCE COLLECTION
"Wattstax," director Mel Stuart's 1973 musical documentary that harks back to the 1965 Watts riots and includes performances by Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, the Staple Singers, the Bar-Kays, Luther Ingram and many others.
NATIVE FORUM
"Beneath Clouds," an Australian film directed by Ivan Sen about two Aboriginal youths who meet while hitchhiking on the road to Sydney.
"Cradlesong," a musically driven drama from director Darlene Naponse about the realities of a rural Native community.
"Is the Crown at War With Us?" a feature doc from director Alanis Obomsawin about the Canadian government battling the Esgenoopetitj Mi'gmaq First Nation over fishing rights.
"Pikutiskaau (Mother Earth)," a feature-length doc tracing the Cree philosophy of Mother Earth, from director Shirley Cheechoo.
