The Best of Sundance 2017: 'An Inconvenient Sequel,' 'The Big Sick,' '…

There were a ton of worthwhile films that screened at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, but which ones were our favorites? Over the next few days we’ll tell you all about them, including when you’ll be able to watch them either at your local theater or at home.

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

When you can see it: July 28, 2017

Watch our review:

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A bit more: Considering the constraints the current administration is putting on the climate crisis in terms of the distribution of information, films like this are incredibly essential for the conversation to continue moving forward. As dark and dismal as certain aspects of the Inconvenient Truth sequel are, there is a tremendous amount of hope coursing through its cinematic veins. Hope that what appeared to be an impossible-to-beat inevitability ten years ago is now entirely beatable assuming the world continues to come together. As Al Gore said following the film’s premiere, this issue is now much bigger than any one person. 

The Big Sick

When you can see it: TBD, Amazon picked up the film at the festival and will announce their plans for it soon

Watch our review:

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A bit more: Easily one of the festival’s biggest crowd pleasers this year, what’s great about The Big Sick is how it finally puts Kumail Nanjiani center stage, highlighting just how funny and talented he is. And while Nanjiani (and cowriter Emily V. Gordon, who is played by Zoe Kazan in the film) are clearly the film’s greatest champions, it’s actually Ray Romano and Holly Hunter (playing Emily’s parents) who truly steal the movie.

Wind River

When you can see it: TBD, the Weinstein Co. will likely handle distribution for this film.

Watch our review:

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A bit more: Taylor Sheridan is easily one of the most exciting storytellers right now, and Wind River also proves his filmmaking chops are spot on, too. There are a few scenes in Wind River — like the tense search of a crack house and a confrontation between police and oil workers — that are so well shot and scripted, one can’t help but become a huge Sheridan fan. This is a guy who is telling stories no one else is telling in places no other films are going. We’re lucky to have received three films written by him in the span of like 18 months, and hopefully many more are yet to come. 

I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore

When you can see it: February 24, 2017, on Netflix

Watch our review:

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A bit more: Our review (above, which also combines our thoughts on another Netflix film, The Discovery) touts Macon Blair’s directorial debut, but those familiar with Blair and his work with writer-director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room) will definitely see how Saulnier’s ability to flip from mundane to insane in the span of a few scenes is rubbing off on Blair. I Don’t Feel at Home… is a much funnier film than anything Saulnier has done, though — especially in the ways it honestly and hilariously depicts just how awful people are in everyday situations (and yes, even the dick-ish dude who cuts in front of you at the supermarket gets a mention).

Also, Elijah Wood is so great in this film as the weird neighbor who thinks he’s tougher and way more skilled than he really is, we almost want to see an entire movie dedicated solely to his ninja star-throwing character. Who can make that happen? Netflix? 

Stay tuned for more of our Sundance 2017 picks later this week.

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