If it’s the middle or end of January it’s Sundance Film Festival time. The 2018 edition of America’s greatest film festival will mark my 14th straight year covering it and it’s been one long adventure.
READ MORE: Sundance 2018: The Most Anticipated Films Of The Festival
I’ve seen the height of the gifting suite madness and C-level celebrity festival crashing (which honestly deserves a documentary of its own) to some lean years after the economy crashed in 2008. I’ve driven Kristen Stewart to my outlet’s condo for a video interview and stuck around to interview Justin Timberlake for his big screen debut (RIP Anton Yelchin). I’ve seen the wonder in Terrence Howard‘s eyes as he realized the years of toiling as an actor were about to pay off and the hope in filmmakers’ faces that their film could be the next indie sensation (you might have a better statistical chance making an NBA roster). I’ve randomly sat next to my home state senator at the time (Barbara Boxer) and seen the Beastie Boys perform live for a crowd of 500 people at most. Oh, and the one constant? I’ve seen a lot of people get sick. I mean, a lot of people (including myself). Yes, Sundance can actually be dangerous for your health, but if you persevere it can provide you a lifetime of unforgettable memories.
This year’s festival seemingly has less hyped films than previous years which might be a good thing or a bad one (we’ll admit we’re slightly worried). The answer to that question will be determined sooner rather than later, but with the festival right around corner here are some quick topics to ponder before the first film reactions come in.
Let’s temper those Sundance bubble hot takes, OK?
Full disclosure, this writer has had his own share of overly enthusiastic responses to films at festivals whether it’s Sundance, Cannes or Telluride. I’m sure someone could have a wonderful time searching through my tweets for a take I’d shrug at today. That being said, it’s been a number of years since I’ve tweeted out anything from a festival I would probably argue with today. And, it should be noted, I have personally witnessed truly breathtaking premieres where the hype was absolutely warranted at Sundance in particular with “The Kids Are Alright,” “Precious” and “Call Me By Your Name” being the first that come to mind. But we have reached a point where even smart critics are raving about films on social media without any legitimate sense of perspective. I’ve actually seen critics rave about a movie and then read a review posted a few hours later that seemed to be the complete opposite of their original opinion. It happens mostly because there are too many films and too many reviews for too few critics. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with giving an opinion immediately after you see a film (hey, I still plan on doing that), but if I had a dollar for every “masterpiece” take about a film you forgot was even released 12 months later I’d be flying to Park City in a private jet. So, if I personally pledge to watch the hot takes will anyone else join me?
Will Netflix be a buyer this year or not?
Netflix has three different narrative films in the festival this time around: “A Futile and Stupid Gesture,” “Come Sunday” and “Private Life.” A year ago they surprised the festival with the opening night film “I Don’t Feel at Home In the World” which ended up taking the Grand Prize from the U.S. Dramatic Jury (and sadly disappeared on the service just a few weeks later) and acquired “Mudbound” and “To The Bone,” but will they be that active this time around? The streaming service has publicly stated it has 80 original films on tap for release in 2018. That’s an absolute ton of movies. Even if the service loves something will they really shell out for more even product? It will be one of the biggest stories of the festival if they do.
Does Park City at Midnight even matter anymore?
Do you know how long its been since a Midnight movie that premiered at Sundance turned into a theatrical box office hit? “The Babadook” made $7.5 million in 2014, but was hardly an indie phenomenon (it gained more traction over the past year as an internet meme). Before then? Good luck finding anything substantial over the past decade. This year’s slate has more comedies than previous years, but will that translate into acquisition dollars or legitimate distribution? Anything’s possible, right?
It’s same old, same old Sundance for Searchlight
What Disney/Fox merger? Right now it’s same old, same old for Fox Searchlight. The mini-major which expects to have two Best Picture nominees announced during the festival is sending up its acquisitions team and will be a buyer if they find something they like. Granted, they had bad luck with their 2017 pickups “Patti Cake$” and “Step,” but this is the studio that made millions out of “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Brooklyn,” “(500) Days of Summer” and “Waitress,” among others. Look for Amazon, Focus, Neon, A24 and Sony Classics to be active as well.
Good piece with thoughts that echo my own. My first few years I got caught up in the “festival bubble” a lot and gave average movies glowing scores. And got sick. I get sick here every year. The Sundance Flu is real, folks. Drink that free water or pay the price.