Festivals >> Sundance >> 2008 >> Premieres

Assassination Of A High School President (Country: USA; Director: Brett Simon; Writer: Kevin Jakubowski; Cast: Reece Thompson, Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, Michael Rapaport, Kathryn Morris, Josh Pais)
A rookie journalist for the school paper unravels a mysterious plot involving the class president, drugs, and a ring of stolen test scores in this noir caper set at a quirky Catholic High School.

Be Kind Rewind (Country: US; Director: Michel Gondry; Writer: Michel Gondry; Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz, Sigourney Weaver, Irv Gooch, Chandler Parker, Arjay Smith, Quinton Aaron, Gio Perez, Basia Rosas,Tomasz Soltys)
After accidentally wiping all the tapes in the video store where they work, two enterprising clerks decide to re-shoot the films themselves. Full Review See: Jack Black press conference on Be Kind Rewind Official Site, View Trailer

CSNY Déjà Vu (Country: US; Director: Neil Young; Writer: Neil Young, Mike Cerre; Cast: David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Mike Cerre)
The war in Iraq is the backdrop as the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young "Freedom of Speech Tour" crisscrosses North America. Echoes of Vietnam-era anti-war sentiment abound as the band connects with today's audiences. Full Review Official Site

The Deal (Country: Canada; Director: Steven Schachter; Writer: William H Macy, Steven Schachter; Cast: William H Macy, Meg Ryan, LL Cool J)
A long-time Hollywood producer on the verge of suicide cons a major studio into financing a $100-million film based on a non-existent script, starring a black action star who has converted to Judaism. See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day Six

Death In Love (Country: USA; Director: Boaz Yakin; Writer: Boaz Yakin; Cast: Josh Lucas, Jacqueline Bisset, Adam Brody, Lukas Haas)
A self-assured but neurotic 40-year-old bachelor attempts to make sense of his complicated life as he negotiates his sexual relationships in the shadow of his mother’s concentration camp experience. See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day Seven

Diminished Capacity (Country: USA; Director: Terry Kinney; Writer: Sherwood Kiraly; Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda, Virginia Madsen, Dylan Baker)
Learning that his senile uncle harbors a priceless baseball card, Cooper embarks on a road trip intent on selling it to save money for his uncle's later years. He and his friends become entangled in the oddball world of baseball memorabilia and love.

The Escapist (Country: UK; Director: Rupert Wyatt; Writer: Rupert Wyatt, Daniel Hardy; Cast: Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Damian Lewis, Dominic Cooper, Seu Jorge, Steve Macintosh, Liam Cunningham)
A prison inmate must break out to make amends with his dying daughter. Full Review See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day Six

The Great Buck Howard (Country: USA; Director: Sean McGinly; Writer: Sean McGinly; Cast: Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks, Steve Zahn)
When a law school dropout answers an advertisement to be a personal assistant he unknowingly signs on to work for a belligerent has-been magician struggling to resurrect his career. This leads to a journey across the country staging the comeback of a lifetime.

The Guitar (Country: USA; Director: Amy Redford; Writer: Amos Poe; Cast: Saffron Burrows, Isaach De Bankole, Paz De La Huerta)
The life of a woman is transformed after she is diagnosed with a terminal disease, fired from her job and abandoned by her boyfriend. Given two months to live, she throws caution to the wind to pursue her dreams.

Hamlet 2 (Country: USA; Director: Andrew Fleming; Writer: Pam Brady, Andrew Fleming; Cast: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Joseph Julian Soria, Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole, Melonie Diaz, Arnie Pantoja, Michael Esparza, Natalie Amenula, Marshall Bell)
In this rambunctious comedy, a high school drama teacher injects love and passion for theatre into his students by creating a musical sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Henry Poole Is Here (Country: USA; Director: Mark Pellington; Writer: Albert Torres; Cast: Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, Cheryl Hines, Adriana Barraza)
Henry Poole abandons his fiancée and family business to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. The discovery of a "miracle" by a nosy neighbor ruptures his solitude and restores his faith in life.

In Bruges (Country: UK, Belgium; Director: Martin McDonagh; Writer: Martin McDonagh; Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Jordan Prentice, Clémence Poésy, Eric Godon, Ciaran Hinds, Zeljko Ivanek)
No country for hitmen. Full Review

Incendiary (Country: UK; Director: Sharon Maguire; Writer: Sharon Maguire, based on the novel by Chris Cleave; Cast: Michelle Williams, Ewan McGregor, Matthew Macfadyen, Sidney Johnston, Jonathan Andrews, Ehti Aslam, Sasha Behar, Robin Berry, Gavin Brocker, Nicholas Courtney, Natalie Dormer)
A spirited young mother juggles grief and love in the aftermath of a dramatic terrorist attack in London. Full Review See: Sundance 2008: Day Three, Sundance 2008: Day Four, Sharon Maguire interview on Incendiary View Trailer

The Merry Gentleman (Country: US; Director: Michael Keaton; Writer: Ron Lazzeretti; Cast: Michael Keaton, Kelly Macdonald, Tom Bastounes, Mike Bradecich, Debbi Burns, Maritza Cabrera, Bobby Cannavale, William Dick, Jay Disney, Sean Fortunato, Shaun Gayle)
After fleeing an abusive marriage, a young woman sets off to start a new life. When she finds herself an unwitting witness to a murder she stumbles into a curious friendship with a depressed hit man. Full Review See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day 2 Official Site, View Trailer

A Raisin In The Sun (Country: USA; Director: Kenny Leon; Writer: Paris Qualles; Cast: Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, Sean Patrick Thomas)
Will is the eldest son in a family with a strict moral and religious view and has never been allowed to mix with other people, listen to music or watch TV. That is until he finds himself caught up in the extraordinary world of Lee Carter, the school terror and maker of bizarre home movies.

Savage Grace (Country: US; Director: Tom Kalin; Writer: Howard A Rodman; Cast: Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne, Elana Anaya, Simon Andreu, Anne Reid)
A daring dramatization of the disintegrating psyche of '60s socialite Barbara Baekeland, Savage Grace brilliantly showcases Julianne Moore at her most haunting. Insulated by wealth and abandoned by her husband, Baekeland falls into tragic dysfunction with her adoring son. Based on a true story. Full Review Official Site, View Trailer

Sleepwalking (Country: USA/Canada; Director: Bill Maher; Writer: Zac Stanford; Cast: Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb, Charlize Theron, Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, Deborrah-Lee Furness)
A young man ill-equipped to raise his abandoned niece is forced to take responsibility when faced with the prospect of losing her to a foster home.

Smart People (Country: US; Director: Noam Murro; Writer: Mark Jude Poirier; Cast: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes)
An acerbic and self-absorbed literature professor has alienated his son and turned his daughter into an overachieving, friendless teen. When his brother unexpectedly shows up at his door, the man is forced is to confront his own life. Full Review Official Site, View Trailer

Towelhead (Nothing Is Private) (Country: USA; Director: Alan Ball; Writer: Alan Ball; Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Toni Collette, Summer Bishil))
The life of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl is illuminated as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and sexual awakening. See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day Five

Transsiberian (Country: UK/Germany/Spain; Director: Brad Anderson; Writer: Brad Anderson, Will Conroy; Cast: Woody Harrelson, Eduardo Noriega, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Kate Mara, Thomas Kretschmann)
Mystery on the Tran Siberian Express. Full Review See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day 2

U2 3D (Country: US; Director: Catherine Owens, Mark Pellington; Cast: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr)
The Irish mega-band take it to the Imax. Full Review Official Site, View Trailer

The Visitor (Country: US; Director: Thomas McCarthy; Writer: Thomas McCarthy; Cast: Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbas, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira)
An ageing, lonely man rediscovers his love of life when he visits New York and shares his home with two strangers. Full Review See: EIFF Diary Episode Two, Interview with Tom McCarthy, Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass about The Visitor Official Site, View Trailer

What Just Happened? (Country: US; Director: Barry Levinson; Writer: Art Linson; Cast: Robert De Niro, Robin Wright Penn, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Bruce Willis, Michael Wincott, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro)
A comedy about a desperate movie producer who is trying to survive a crazed director, a shameless actor, a clueless executive, a battered agent, and above all a broken second marriage while struggling to maintain a shred of dignity. Full Review See: Sundance 2008: Day Three Official Site, View Trailer

The Year Of Getting To Know Us (Country: USA; Director: Patrick Sisam; Writer: Patrick Sisam, Rick Velleu, Ethan Canin; Cast: Jimmy Fallon, Chase Ellison, Sharon Stone, Lucy Liu, Tom Arnold, Illeana Douglas, Armando Acevedo, Christian Andreas, Karl Anthony, Eugenie Bondurant, Connor Boyle)
A commitment-phobic man reunites with his estranged, ailing father and comes to terms with his own childhood. See: Sundance Film Festival 2008: Day Five

The Yellow Handkerchief (Country: USA; Director: Udayan Prasad; Writer: Erin Dignam; Cast: Maria Bello, William Hurt, Eddie Redmayne, Veronica Russell)
A recently released convict and a pair of disillusioned young people, three strangers of two generations, bound by loneliness, reach out to one another, embarking on a road trip through Louisiana.

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