Searchlight Purchases 3 Films at Sundance
Thomas on January 24th, 2007
A comedy, a horror film and a tear-jerker have each found their home with "the little studio that could." Read about each of them below.
WAITRESS
Searchlight announced this week that it had acquired worldwide rights to the comedy WAITRESS, the Sundance debut from uniquely gifted actor and filmmaker, the late Adrienne Shelly. Written and directed by Miss Shelly, WAITRESS stars Keri Russell, Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillion and Andy Griffith.
The LA Times wrote a glowing review of the film, which you can access through their site here. Among other compliments they gave it: "A tender, loopy, uplifting comedy ... the kind of film whose giddy festival debut usually proceeds uninterrupted through its theatrical release."
We got the chance to interview some of the cast from WAITRESS while at Sundance -- watch the video here.
JOSHUA
Searchlight's second purchase in Park City was the compelling psychological thriller JOSHUA, which had its world premiere in the "Dramatic Competition" at Sundance. JOSHUA stars Sam Rockwell and was directed and co-written (with David Gilbert) by George Ratliff. It is scheduled to be released this summer. It's the tale of Manhattan parents whose lives begin to crack after the birth of their second child.
Check out the poz review from Ain't It Cool News here: "Riding the line between bizarre black comedy and great horror, I love love LOVED it."
UNDER THE SAME MOON
Searchlight's third (and final!) purchase this past week was UNDER THE SAME MOON ("LA MISMA LUNA"). Directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Ligiah Villalobos, "LML" is the touching story of a boy in Mexico who stows away to cross the U.S.-Mexican border illegally.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to pin down Justin Chang's review on Daily Variety's Web site, so below's at least a taste of what he described:
- "Emotionally rich ... a stirring tale"
- "As evidenced by the rapturous standing ovation the film received at its Sundance world premiere, helmer Patricia Riggen and scribe Ligiah Villalobos touch some mighty powerful chords with their highly accessible story of a woman and her son separated by the U.S.-Mexico border."