Vulture is back in Utah for what could be the penultimate iteration of Sundance in its old home, Park City. We’ll be here all weekend, checking it out Most buzzed about movies and See the sights On the main road of the festival. We’ve also set up a studio, The Vulture Spot, on Main Street, where directors, actors, producers and all their publicists are welcome to stop by and talk movies over a heated sideshow with host Jay Jordan. Keep this tab open for updates and highlights on everything happening in and out of the studio, and check out the rest of our festival coverage here.
First day
We tried to get the lay of the land
Fortunately, we found our way to the only place that really matters.
Alison Brie stopped by for coffee
The studio festivities started bright and early on Friday morning when… together Star and producer Alison Brie dropped in for a chat with Vulture senior news writer Fran Hopfner. She discussed the making of the “physically intimate” psychological thriller with first-time writer/director Michael Shanks, and co-star, co-producer and IRL husband, Dave Franco. It was her seventh time at Sundance, and she recalled the days of partying and collapsing on Ludwig Göransson’s couch. I also took some time to appreciate a shirtless Adrien Brody New York‘s Latest cover. Read the rest of their conversation here.
JimbaJohn Lithgow and Olivia Colman hold hands
They also discussed their latest film, Jimba With writer-director Sophie Hyde and co-star Odd Mason Hyde. The group reflected the recent political shift — what Lithgow called “an apocalyptic sea change” — and stressed the importance of making a film about queer joy at this particular moment in history.
Aisling Franciosi is here twin, And it’s funny
Twinlessstarring James Sweeney, Dylan O’Brien, and Aisling Franciosi is ostensibly a film about grief, centering around two men dealing with the loss of their twin brothers, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still laugh. “Both last summer Speak no evil and TwinlessFranciosi laughs a lot at pretending that something kind of absurd is actually perfectly fine and regular and not something to panic about. “Being able to have reactions of horror and laughter and the occasional double threat of horrific laughter is no mean feat,” Fran Hopfner wrote. Let Aisling Franciosi be funny!
We learned about some drama on set Omaha
She discusses her latest film Omahaalong with co-star John Magaro and director Cole Whibley, 11-year-old actress Molly Bell Wright revealed some exclusive behind-the-scenes gossip: The original dog’s actor was fired for his behavior on set and was eventually replaced by a similar dog. His crime? Being too hyper.
Cinderella scared us
Critic Bilge Ebere attended the premiere of Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt’s film ugly sister, A dark twist on classic fairy tales. Our favorite line from Review it: “Elvira swallows a tapeworm egg, and as the worms grow (and snarl) inside her stomach, she can eat whatever she wants and still fall inches. It’s like Ozempic, but alive.”
Dave Franco had to grin and bear it
Juliette Lewis remembered that time she had a chair
Juliette Lewis took on an unconventional acting challenge in her latest film, By design, From writer/director Amanda Kramer: It was a chair. Lewis stopped by the studio to discuss the body-swapping film with a twist With Kramer and her cast mates. We had a lot of questions in this conversation, and somehow, we came up with more.
Sly Stone got a doc
Bilge Ebere is out Cunning life! Feeling a deep appreciation for the legendary artist. It seems like Questlove was well suited to the task of documenting the story of Sly & the Family Stone. “The true power of Cunning life! In his presentation of Stone’s most famous songs, which Questlove often lets play throughout while his interviewees dissect the songs and the images associated with them… Frankly, it’s useful for musicians to make films about other musicians. Review it.
Flora Lau has created a film for our times
almonds It takes place in large part in the world of virtual reality. Writer-director Flora Lau stopped by the studio with some of the actors to tell us how they accomplished this feat.
The second day
Harry Hamlin had some observations about reptilian stars
Thank God Snake went to acting school.
Dating game Revealing dark societal truths
Dating gamefrom the documentary Violet Du Feng, follows dating coach Hao as he makes over three single men in Chongqing, China, in an attempt to attract mates. The documentary reveals a “bleak and bitter reality”: men in China outnumber women by 30 million, so the odds are stacked for those looking for partners. As a result, Haw resorts to deception and counterfeiting tactics in order to serve his clients’ ultimate goals. “Howe’s not exactly a clay ball. More than anything, he may be a reflection of his times.” Bilge Ebere writes in his review. “Given the fake-until-you-make-it half-reality that rules our lives on social media, there may be a dark truth running beneath the surface on display in this film. In a world that is so overtly false, who cares about being honest?
Mary Bronstein and Rose Byrne gushed over Conan O’Brien
Because who doesn’t? He’s a complete man!
Rachel Sennott did her best Charli XCX impression
Cast Oh, hello He said hello…
…to cover the star and Oscar nominee Adrien Brody.
