The Sundance Film Festival got underway earlier this week and another collection of great indie movies has been brought together by the organisers. This is a festival that always turns up a couple of movie gems - it was Whiplash a year ago, which has gone on to pick up a handful of Oscar nominations.
Z For Zachariah
We take a look at some of the movies to watch out for and the ones that we are really looking forward to. Will the festival uncover another movie that will go to enjoy huge success in 2015? I guess we are just going to have to wait and see.
- Z For Zachariah
Z For Zachariah is one of the science fiction films to watch out for at the festival, as Robert C. O'Brien's novel of the same name has been adapted for the big screen. The movie sees Craig Zobel back in the director's chair for the first time since Compliance back in 2012.
The movie is set in 1974 after a nuclear event. Anna believes that she is the only survivor, until two men come across her farm.
Not only is Z For Zachariah based on a terrific book, but the director has brought together a great cast as Margot Robbie, Chris Pine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor take on the central roles of Anna, Caleb, and Loomis.
Z for Zachariah will screen as part of the dramatic competition this year - it is a category that is packed with great looking movies and big named stars. However, Z For Zachariah is already being tipped as one of the possible standout movies of the festival this year.
- Slow West
Michael Fassbender is one of the most exciting and in demand actors around at the moment - no to mention he is a huge favourite here at FemaleFirst. And his latest movie Slow West will be making an appearance at the festival this year.
Slow West will premiere at Sundance as John Maclean makes his feature film directorial debut - he has also penned the screenplay. Maclean is behind short films such as Pitch Black Heist and Man on a Motorcycle but he is making the transition into feature film for the first time with this project. Fassbender worked with Mclean on those two short projects, and Slow West will mark their third collaboration.
This may be his first feature, but that has not stopped him from assembled a terrific cast as Fassbender is joined by Ben Mendelsohn and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
'Slow West' follows a 16-year-old boy on a journey across 19th Century frontier America in search of the woman he loves, while accompanied by mysterious traveller Silas. The movie will screen as part of the World Dramatic Competition programme.
- True Story
True Story was added to the Sundance line-up back in December, and it really is promising to be one of the movies that cannot be missed during the festival as Rupert Goold makes his feature film directorial debut.
Goold comes from a television background with the likes of The Hollow Crown under his belt and True Story sees him explore the relationship between journalist Michael Finkel and Christian Longo, and FBI Most Wanted List murderer. The movie is based on Finkel's memoir.
James Franco is appearing in a couple of movies at the festival this year, and he will take on the role of Longo - a man who was wanted for killing his wife and children and who lived outside of the U.S. under Finkel's name. The movie sees Franco reunite with Jonah Hill, as he takes on the role of Finkel. Felicity Jones and Gretchen Mol make up the cast list.
There are a number of British actors and directors that will have their work on show at Sundance this year, and Goold is one of them. He and True Story could be the Brit and the project that makes many of the headlines over the next week or so.
- Brooklyn
Brooklyn is set to be one of five Irish projects to screen at Sundance this year, where the movie will receive its world premiere. Brooklyn is based on the novel of the same name by Colm Toibin and has been adapted for the big screen before fellow author Nick Hornby.
Brooklyn will see Irish filmmaker John Crowley back in the director's chair for his first film since Closed Circuit back in 2013. Crowley has been behind Intermission, Boy A, and the fantastic Is Anybody There? During his career, and I am excited to see him back behind the camera.
Brooklyn is set during 1950s Ireland and New York, and follows young Ellis Lacey has to choose between two men and two countries. Saoirse Ronan will take on the role of Ellis, and is joined on the cast list by Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, and Julie Walters.
It is great to see so many Irish movies as part of the Sundance line-up in 2015, and Brooklyn is set to be one of the most exciting and boasting a truly all-star cast. Ronan is an actress whose star is continuing to rise and she has mixed and matched her movie roles in recent years.
- Strangerland
Nicole Kidman is one of the biggest acting names at the festival this year, as she leads a terrific cast in Australian-Irish drama Strangerland.
Strangerland sees director Kim Farrant leave her short and documentary roots behind her, as she transitions into live action feature film for the first time. Michael Kinirons and Fiona Seres are also aboard the project having penned the screenplay.
A family finds their dull life in a rural outback town rocked after their two teenage children disappear into the desert, sparking disturbing rumours of their past.
Kidman is on board in the central roles of Catherine Parker and is joined on the cast list by Hugo Weaving, Joseph Fiennes, Sean Keenan, and Martin Dingle Wall. The movie will receive its premiere at the festival.
- The Stanford Prison Experiment
Another movie that looks set to get everyone talking is The Stanford Prison Experiment, which is based on real life events from a well-known experiment back in the seventies. I have to say, this is one of the movies on the Sundance line-up that I personally cannot wait to see.
The Stanford Prison Experiment is the third feature film for director Kyle Patrick Alvarez, and sees Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Olivia Thirlby, Tye Sheridan and Nelsan Ellis amongst those who are on the cast list.
The movie is based on a Stanford prison experiment back in 1971, in which students took on the roles of prisoner or prison guard and was conducted at Stanford University under the watchful eye of psychology professor Philip Sambaed - Crudup will play him in the movie.
This topic was explored in a film called Das Experiment back 2001, but it is great to see this well-known story back on the big screen. I really am looking forward to seeing what Alvarez can deliver with his interpretation.
- Nasty Baby
Sebastian Silva is back in the director's chair for Nasty Baby, in what will be his fifth film to be featured at the Sundance Film Festival - the likes of The Maid and Crystal Fairy won him acclaim, while the latter saw him scoop Best Director at the festival.
Silva has penned the screenplay as well as being in the director's chair, and the film will follow a gay couple who are trying who are trying to have a baby with the help of their best friend.
Kristen Wiig will take on the central role of Polly as she continues to show that she is more than just a comedic actress. She is joined on the cast list by Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, and Alia Shawkat. The movie is also set to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
Other movies to watch out for include I Am Michael, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The End of the Tour, Digging For Fire, and Experimenter.
The Sundance Film Festival 2015 runs from 22nd January to 1st February.
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