The first weekend of Sundance 2019 closed with some big name films and stars all across town in Park City. Jake Gyllenhaal’s newest film Velvet Buzzsaw was one of the hottest tickets of the festival, while the crowds buzzed about the Ted Bundy film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Ty and Nathan caught several films and are ready to give you their Take 3 for Sundance Day 4.
Nathan’s Best Thing He Saw Today:
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile was one of my most anticipated films of the festival but my expectations were not high. The dramatization of one of the most monstrous men to ever walk this planet was something that could easily be mishandled and I wasn’t sure if it could be original. I was wrong. I absolutely loved this film. The story structure of being told by Ted Bundy’s longtime girlfriend creates a fresh take on a serial killer movie. From her perspective you don’t see any of the murders, and instead are introduced to a man that couldn’t possibly be capable of these gruesome accusations. But as the film goes on, we discover the true man he is and the real horrors come to life. The film is full of outstanding performances. Lily Collins is outstanding as Bundy’s girlfriend but it is Zac Efron who makes a career defining performance and is haunting and perfect as Bundy.
Ty’s Best Thing He Saw Today:
Having lived in Taiwan for over 5 years now, I’ve been hard pressed to find movies that successfully explore the differences between Eastern and Western cultures. Thankfully, Lulu Wang’s new film The Farewell does just that. It’s a delightful comedy that deals with the complex family dynamics that exist in the East. Rising star, Awkwafina really stepped into her own on this one, proving that she definitely needs some more lead roles.
Nathan’s Sundance Moment of the Day:
We were privileged to attend Kia’s Supper Suite for the party of the release of Light from Light. These dinner parties are the best at Sundance. It’s a wonderful break from fast food, granola bars and coffee,, which is the usual diet of a film festival. But there we were tonight with out free drinks, steak fillets and carrot cake. And also we got to have dinner with Jim Gaffigan. Not a bad Sunday.
Ty’s Sundance Moment of the Day:
For me, the best moment of the day was watching the endless scores of people walking out of Makoto Nagahisa’s film We Are Little Zombies. From the plot description and trailer alone, it should have been clear from the get go that this film was going to be absolutely bonkers. Watching the tense, anxious looks on the faces of people leaving was almost more entertaining than the movie itself (which by the way is great).
Nathan’s Lasting Thought of the Day:
The incredible weight of emotion The Farewell gave me. A hilarious comedy that delivers a gut punch throughout and especially the end. As the credits rolled I had to hold back a flowing stream of tears. After I achieved that, I ran outside to call my Nana to tell her I loved her. This film was so good and could be a big hit following in the footsteps of Crazy Rich Asians.
Ty’s Lasting Thought of the Day:
The weekend coming to a close means that it’s time for the real work to begin. With most of the big premieres having already taken place over the last weekend, festival-goers are now free to start digging for the true gems of the fest. As much as I liked Honey Boy and Late Night, I can’t help but think there is something better hiding out in the lineup, just waiting to be discovered.
