Festivals >> Sundance >> 2009 >> US Dramatic Competition

Adam (Director: Max Mayer; Writer: Max Mayer; Cast: Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving, Frankie Faison, Mark Linn-Baker)
A strange and lyrical love story between a somewhat socially dysfunctional young man and the woman of his dreams. World Premiere.
Full Review See: Sundance Diary: Day Eight, Interview with Hugh Dancy and Max Mayer about Adam Official Site, View Trailer

Amreeka (Country: US, Canada, Kuwait; Director: Cherien Dabis; Writer: Cherien Dabis; Cast: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Abbass, Yussuf Abu-Warda, Alia Shawkat, Joseph Ziegler)
When a divorced Palestinian woman and her teenage son move to rural Illinois at the outset of the Iraq war, they find their new lives full of challenges World Premiere.
Full Review See: Sundance Diary: Cold Souls, When You're Strange, Victoria Day, 500 Days Of Summer Official Site

Arlen Faber (Country: US; Director: John Hindman; Writer: John Hindman; Cast: Kat Dennings, Lauren Graham, Olivia Thirlby, Jeff Daniels, Tony Hale.)
A reclusive author of a groundbreaking spiritual book awakens to new truths when two strangers enter his life. World Premiere.

Big Fan (Country: US; Director: Robert D Siegel; Writer: Robert D. Siegel; Cast: Patton Oswalt, Michael Rapaport, Kevin Corrigan, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Matt Servitto)
The world of a parking garage attendant who happens to be the New York Giants' biggest fan is turned upside down after an altercation with his favourite player. World Premiere.
Full Review

Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (Country: US; Director: John Krasinski; Writer: John Krasinski, David Foster Wallace; Cast: Julianne Nicholson, John Krasinski, Timothy Hutton, Dominic Cooper, Christopher Meloni, Rashida Jones)
When her boyfriend leaves with little explanation, a doctoral candidate in anthropology tries to remedy her heartache by interviewing men about their behaviour. World Premiere.

Cold Souls (Country: US; Director: Sophie Barthes; Writer: Sophie Barthes; Cast: Paul Giamatti, David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, Emily Watson)
In the midst of an existential crisis, a famous American actor explores soul extraction as a relief from the burdens of daily life. World Premiere.
Full Review See: Sundance Diary: Cold Souls, When You're Strange, Victoria Day, 500 Days Of Summer, Sophie Barthes interview about Cold Souls Official Site, View Trailer

Dare (Country: US; Director: Adam Salky; Writer: David Brind; Cast: Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Cumming, Sandra Bernhard, Rooney Mara)
World Premiere.

Don't Let Me Drown (Country: US; Director: Cruz Angeles; Writer: Cruz Angeles, Maria Topete; Cast: EJ Bonilla, Gleendilys Inoa, Damián Alcázar, Ricardo Chavira, Gina Torres)
Two Latino teens whose lives are affected by the attack on the World Trade Center discover that love is the only thing that keeps them from drowning. World Premiere.
See: Sundance Day Four Official Site

The Greatest (Country: US; Director: Shana Feste; Writer: Shana Feste; Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, Johnny Simmons, Aaron Johnson, Mike Shannon)
After the tragic loss of their teenage son, a family is again thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a young woman. World Premiere.
See: Sundance Diary: Day Two

Humpday (Country: US; Director: Lynn Shelton; Writer: Lynn Shelton; Cast: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore, Lynn Shelton, Trina Willard)
A farcical comedy about straight male bonding gone a little too far. World Premiere.
Full Review Official Site

Paper Heart (Country: US; Director: Nicholas Jasenovec; Writer: Nicholas Jasenovec, ; Cast: Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera, Jake Johnson)
Even though performer Charlyne Yi doesn't believe in love, she bravely embarks on a quest to discover its true nature - a journey that takes on surprising urgency when she meets unlikely fellow traveler, actor Michael Cera. World Premiere.

Peter And Vandy (Country: US; Director: Jay DiPietro; Writer: Jay DiPietro; Cast: Jess Weixler, Jason Ritter, Jesse L Martin, Tracie Thoms)
Juxtaposing a couple's romantic beginnings with the twisted-manipulative-regular couple they have become, Peter And Vandy is a contemporary Manhattan love story with no beginning and no end. World Premiere.

Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire (Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire, Precious, Precious: A Novel By Sapphire) (Country: US; Director: Lee Daniels; Writer: Lee Daniels; Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Paula Patton, Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz)
The redemptive story of Precious Jones, a young girl in Harlem struggling to overcome tremendous obstacles and discover her own voice. World Premiere.
Full Review See: Sundance Diary: Opening Night and Day One Official Site

Sin Nombre (Country: US; Director: Cary Fukunaga; Writer: Cary Fukunaga; Cast: Edgar Flores, Paulina Gaitan, Kristyan Ferrer, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Luis Fernando Peña, Diana García)
A teenage Mexican gang member manoeuvres to outrun his violent past and elude unforgiving former associates in this thriller set among Central American migrants seeking to cross over to the United States. World Premiere.
Full Review See: Sundance Diary: Day Five

Taking Chance (Country: US; Director: Ross Katz; Writer: Ross Katz, Michael Strobl; Cast: Kevin Bacon, Blanche Baker)
Based on real-life events, Lt Col Michael Strobl, a volunteer military escort officer, accompanies the body of 19-year-old Marine Chance Phelps back to his hometown of Dubois, Wyoming. World Premiere.
Full Review

Toe To Toe (Country: US; Director: Emily Abt; Writer: Emily Abt; Cast: Sonequa Martin, Louisa Krause, Silvestre Rasuk, Leslie Uggams, Gaius Charles, Ally Walker)
The story of an inter-racial friendship put to the test by the intense pressures of a competitive Washington, DC prep school. World Premiere.
Official Site

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