Thompson on Hollywood

'Jobs' Sundance Review Round-Up: Ashton Kutcher Nearly Pulls Off Steve Jobs Impersonation (VIDEO)

Reviews

"jOBs", directed by Joshua Michael Stern, is a straight-forward biopic, following the visionary's journey from hippie college dropout to ruthless technology czar. The movie, which closed the Sundance Festival on Friday, features Ashton Kutcher as the Apple genius - a role he acknowledged was a big risk for him. At the premiere, Kutcher said: “I knew I was throwing myself into a gauntlet of criticism, and this became the most terrifying thing I have done in my life.” Many critics think that he deserves lampooning, but others praise the natural physicality he brings to the role.

By Maggie Lange
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January 28, 2013 5:30 PM
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Slamdance Winners 2013: 'Dirties,' 'Hank and Asha,' 'Bible Quiz,' 'My Name is Faith' and More

Festivals

Winners of the 19th Slamdance Film Festival are announced below. Audience and Grand Jury prizes were given to feature and short films at the Park City festival. Slamdance's Peter Baxter states, "We are pleased to be celebrating these extraordinary films from this year's truly powerful slate of vanguard cinema."

By Sophia Savage
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January 28, 2013 12:46 PM
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Sundance Awards: Both Ryan Coogler Drama 'Fruitvale,' Doc 'Blood Brother' Nab Grand Jury and Audience Awards UPDATED

Festivals

At the Sundance Film Festival Awards ceremony on Saturday, director John Cooper broke down in tears. Why? Because it was such a damned fine festival, where so many filmmakers were discovered and lauded. We are in a sweet zone for indie cinema, and Sundance helped to make that so.

By Anne Thompson
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January 27, 2013 1:43 PM
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Oscar Talk: 'Argo' vs. 'Lincoln,' PGA, DGA, SAG Predicts, Sundance Recap

Awards

Kris Tapley and I go toe to toe in this week's post-Sundance, pre-PGA, SAG and DGA Oscar Talk.

By Anne Thompson
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January 25, 2013 4:52 PM
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Linklater, Hawke and Delpy Return to Sony with "Before Midnight'

News

John Sloss did the right thing. The Cinetic Media chief was pacing the second floor of Zoom in Park City Monday night as his annual Sundance Film Festival party raged around him. He was weighing the offers that had come pouring in for "Before Midnight," the third film in Richard Linklater's trilogy about Celine and Jesse, who first met 18 years ago in "Before Sunrise," and reignited their romance nine years ago in "Before Sunset," which nabbed an Oscar nomination for Adapted Screenplay.

By Anne Thompson
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January 25, 2013 2:46 PM
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Sundance Review Roundup: 'Blue Caprice' an Eerie Thriller Exploring the 2002 Beltway Snipers

Reviews

Critics are raving about Sundance NEXT section entry "Blue Caprice," directed by Alexandre Moors and based on the 2002 sniper attacks in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The film is an "eerie, disquieting, veritie-style exploration" of the killers' psychologies, while refusing any easy thrills. Roundup below.

By Beth Hanna
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January 25, 2013 11:40 AM
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Sundance Review Roundup: Documentary 'After Tiller' a Sensitive Look at Third-Trimester Abortion

Reviews

Critics generally agree that Martha Shane and Lana Wilson's documentary "After Tiller" is an intelligent, nuanced and sensitive portrait of the last four remaining doctors in the U.S. who perform third-trimester abortions. Roundup below.

By Beth Hanna
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January 24, 2013 12:06 PM
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Sundance Her Infinite Variety Panel: Women Writer-Directors Talk Turkey

Festivals

“I couldn’t find the things going on in my life up on the screen, so I wrote this to fill that void,” said Oscar-nominated screenwriter Naomi Foner ("Running on Empty"), who made her directing debut 20 years after writing "Very Good Girls," which premiered at Sundance Wednesday night.

By Valentina Valentini
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January 24, 2013 6:14 AM
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Sundance Entry 'Escape from Tomorrow' Builds Buzz on Disney Controversy

Reviews

First-time director Randy Moore's "Escape From Tomorrow" is a weird piece of work. Moore went undercover at Disneyworld to turn the idea of "the happiest place on earth" upside down, as a troubled father (Roy Abramsohn) freaks out all over the iconic Orlando landmark while on vacation with his wife and two young children.

By Anne Thompson and Nora Chute
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January 24, 2013 12:59 AM
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Sundance Review: Doremus' 'Breathe In' Disappoints

Reviews

Drake Doremus's relatable 2010 Sundance Dramatic Competition Winner "Like Crazy" showed us the wondrous yet ephemeral nature of young love. This year's "Breathe In" also tackles this view of love, but without the same ease.