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Another Sundance Film Festival is in the books. Though the 2022 festival was virtual—marking the second year in a row Sundance has gone online due to the COVID-19 pandemic—the quality of the films made up for the lack of festival atmosphere. (Plus, no standing in line in the snow? A bonus.)
As Decider’s senior film reporter, I had a chance to screen over a dozen Sundance movies from the comfort of my couch. And what a year at Sundance it was! Opening night saw the directorial debut of actor Jesse Eisenberg, a biting comedy featuring the festival’s most unlikeable characters, titled When You Finish Saving the World. That weekend saw the premiere of Lena Dunham’s return to filmmaking after 12 years—Sharp Stick—and, like the filmmaker herself, the film proved to be immediately divisive. Emma Thompson made a splash by daring to share skin at the age of 62, in her joyous, sex-positive comedy, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.
All in all, it was a week jammed-pack with movies, some good, some great, and some only so-so. Check out Decider’s 2022 Sundance movie reviews below for a reaction highlight of 14 Sundance films this year.
'When You Finish Saving the World'
Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Cast: Finn Wolfhard, Julianne Moore
Two sentence review: Jesse Eisenberg proves himself to be a formidable filmmaker in his directorial debut—adapted from an audio drama Eisenberg wrote in 2020—about the relationship between an upper-middle-class liberal mother and her influencer teenage son. You’ll need a high tolerance for cringe, to be sure, but ultimately When You Finish Saving the World is a fascinating, empathetic study of two deeply flawed people.
'The Worst Person in the World'
Director: Joachim Trier
Cast: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum
Two sentence review: This Norwegian romantic comedy, which first premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, is already a favorite for Best International Film at the Oscars, and for good reason. Just when you think you know where this cynical (and hilarious) take on romance is going, this gorgeous film surprises you with an unapologetic bout of tender sincerity—a judgment-free celebration of human relationships.
'Emergency'
Director: Carey Williams
Cast: RJ Cyler, Donald Elise Watkins, Sebastian Chacon
Two sentence review: Director Carey Williams (who also directed the 2020 Sundance film, R#J) put together a strong cast to bring to life KD Dávila’s script, a feature adaptation of their 2018 short film, with a particularly strong performance from RJ Cyler. The concept is a clever attempt at a more meaningful, urgent version of stoner comedies like Superbad—cops may be bumbling idiots to white kids like McLovin, while to two Black college students, the threat is all too real—but somewhere along the way, the movie loses momentum.
'Call Jane'
Director: Phyllis Nagy
Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Mara, Chris Messina
Two sentence review: Phyllis Nagy, best known as the writer of 2015’s Carol, dives into the world of underground abortions in 1960s Chicago in this sometimes-cheesy but often-stirring drama. Elizabeth Banks, at her very best, plays the transformation from housewife-to-radical-feminist-organizer perfectly, and one brilliant scene in particular both captures the weight of, and destigmatizes, one of society’s most taboo procedures.
'Good Luck To You, Leo Grande'
Director: Sophie Hyde
Cast: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack
Two sentence review: Written by Katy Brand, this heartfelt comedy about an older woman who hires a male sex worker feels more like a play than a film, but with two extraordinary performances from Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack, that’s not a bad thing. Much of the movie is simply frank conversations about attraction, sex, shame, and pleasure—and then, as if to put her money where her mouth is, director Sophie Hyde films some of the most celebratory, joyous sex scenes in years.
'Sharp Stick'
Director: Lena Dunham
Cast:Kristine Froseth, Jon Bernthal, Scott Speedman, Taylour Paige, Lena Dunham
Two sentence review: Lena Dunham’s first feature in 12 years, after her first film Tiny Furniture, is bizarre, beautiful, sexy, and uncomfortable. Froseth is compelling as an emotionally stunted 26-year-old woman who had a hysterectomy when she was 17, and explores sex with a married man (Jon Bernthal), in an uneven but gutsy coming-of-age film.
'Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul'
Director: Adamma Ebo & Adanne Ebo
Cast: Regina Hall, Sterling K. Brown
Two sentence review: Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall are hilarious together in a biting, mockumentary-style satire of for-profit mega-churches, which is very funny until it suddenly isn’t anymore. While slow at times, the Ebo twins, a Nigerian-American sibling filmmaking duo, have an eye for specificity, and Brown in particular shines with a hysterical but complicated performance.
'Master'
Director: Mariama Diallo
Cast: Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, Talia Ryder, Amber Gray
Two sentence review: Master, an unsettling thriller about racism in academia, has a lot to say, and while it doesn’t always say it in the most coherent way, it successfully unnerves and intrigues. Keep your eye on Zoe Renee, because this charming break-out star surely has a bright career ahead of her.
'Downfall: The Case Against Boeing'
Director: Rory Kennedy
Two sentence review: Documentary director Rory Kennedy (Last Days in Vietnam) keeps things basic, simple, and straightforward in her clear-headed investigation into Boeing, following the fatal plane crashes of two Boeing commercial flights in 2018 and 2019. It’s not reinventing the genre, but it is a gripping and informative deep dive into how the company—which was once renowned for its reliability—took its eye off safety, cut corners, and outright lied, all in the name of increasing stock prices.
'After Yang'
Director: Kogonada
Cast: Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Justin H. Min, Haley Lu Richardson
Two sentence review: Korean writer/director Kogonada, best known for his 2017 film Columbus, has constructed a fictional world so deeply beautiful, so acutely precious, that you’ll never want to leave. Part sci-fi futurism and part family drama, After Yang is a loving tribute to life, told through the memories of a robot—and will remind you why you love Colin Farrell.
'Am I OK?'
Director: Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno
Two sentence review: Coming out as gay, no matter at what age, will always feel a little bit like growing up, and Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne successfully capture that feeling in this “coming of age” film about a woman in her 30s (Dakota Johnson), who finally admits to herself and her best friend (Sonoya Mizuno) that she likes women. It’s lighthearted and sweet in the way queer films rarely get to be, and Johnson is next levels of charming, adorable, and funny.
'Lucy and Desi'
Director: Amy Poehler
Cast: Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, Bette Midler, Carol Burnett
Two sentence review: Amy Poehler’s Amazon documentary on the beloved TV husband-and-wife duo, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, is a perfect complement to Aaron Sorkin’s biopic, Being the Ricardos (also an Amazon film), from earlier this year. Featuring voice-over narration from Ball herself, from archived interview tapes saved by her daughter, it is, at heart, a love story, and is an emotional watch for anyone who loves Lucy.
'Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy'
Director: Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah
Two sentence review: Only the first part of this three-part documentary series about the rapper Kanye West—these days known only as “Ye”—was available to Sundance attendees, which features intimate behind-the-scenes footage shot by Ye’s friend and former Chicago public access TV host Coodie. Though it may be hard to believe now, back in 2002 nobody cared about Kanye West, and it’s fascinating to watch him struggle for attention—even if Coodie’s lack of sophisticated narrative highlights the pitfalls of documentary filmmaking between buddies.
'Fresh'
Director: Mimi Cave
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan
Two sentence review: This dark comedy horror-thriller is not for the faint of heart. But if you can stomach some of the most disgusting close-ups you’ll see all year, you’ll be treated to a satisfying (though repulsive) modern horror story, featuring two delectable performances from Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones.
