The 2023 Sundance Film Festival is here and with so many films to watch, there just isn’t enough time to commit to full reviews for every single film I see. With 16 on my watchlist, I want to still give love to all of the projects that I set my eyes on. Today I am recapping four films that I have seen and breaking down their scores including: Other People’s Children, To Live and Die and Love, L’Immensita and A Little Prayer.
To Live And Die And Live: Directed by Qasim Basir
This is a beautiful film, tackling themes of depression, addiction and grief. The intentions were absolutely there, but it just didn’t stick the landing. The best part of this film is by far the performance from Amin Joseph. He is absolutely incredible showing a range of emotion that is just heartbreaking. The supporting cast is good, but nothing to really write home about. It is Joseph who steals the show. The direction from Qasim Basir is also really well done, making Detroit into a character of its own that I really enjoyed. Shot beautifully as well. Writing is the weakest point. The project examines a lot of really interesting ideas but doesn’t have any direction to it. With more structure this film could have been elevated even more than it already was.
15 for Writing: 9
15 for Performances: 12
10 for Entertainment: 6
10 for Direction: 8
10 for Emotions: 7
5 for Cinematography: 4
5 for Score: 4
5 for Pacing: 3
15 for Technical: 11
5 for Rewatchability: 3
5 for Automatic: 5
To Live And Die And Live: 72/100
Other People’s Children: Directed by Qasim Basir
This was an emotional ride from the very start to the very end. I had trouble at first getting invested in the story and the characters, but once Leila enters into the equation and we start to understand what our main character is going through, it becomes a lot more interesting. Virginie Efira’s character is written so excellently and with such care and with the beautiful performance, it’s a home run. This is a story about love and the longing for love. Watching her story continue to evolve and change is heartbreaking and when we meet our end we are left with both sadness, but also hope. Doesn’t reinvent the filmmaking wheel, but it tells a heartbreaking story with a killer performance.
15 for Writing: 11
15 for Performances: 12
10 for Entertainment: 6
10 for Direction: 8
10 for Emotions: 8
5 for Cinematography: 4
5 for Score: 3
5 for Pacing: 3
15 for Technical: 11
5 for Rewatchability: 3
5 for Automatic: 5
Other People’s Children: 74/100
L’immensità: Directed by Emanuele Crialese
Penelope Cruz really did COOK here. I have to start with her because she is the best thing about this film far and away. She brings all of the emotion and charm and acting to the screen. She proves again that she’s a force. The story, while very familiar and following a lot of the generic family drama beats, excels with the style. The vision is really interesting and the musical sequences are neat. The writing, like I’ve already covered, is a bit formulaic, but it is a really nice dual story. One is a story of a mothers love for her children and the other is a child trying to find their sexuality. Both have beautiful moments that simmer. A solid outing.
15 for Writing: 10
15 for Performances: 12
10 for Entertainment: 6
10 for Direction: 7
10 for Emotions: 9
5 for Cinematography: 4
5 for Score: 3
5 for Pacing: 4
15 for Technical: 13
5 for Rewatchability: 3
5 for Automatic: 5
L’immensità: 76/100
A Little Prayer: Directed by Angus MacLachlan
I fell in love with this film and this family. The dynamic between the father and daughter-in-law was so sweet and the family drama aspect tore my heart out. Jane Levy is excellent but David Strathairn might have one of my favorite performances in all of Sundance. The film is easy enough to follow due to the simplicity of the writing, but that ease doesn’t mean it’s bad. It makes it much more heartbreaking when we reach the conclusion. I literally loved everything about this and think it will be a big hit for a lot of people.
15 for Writing: 14
15 for Performances: 13
10 for Entertainment: 8
10 for Direction: 9
10 for Emotions: 9
5 for Cinematography: 4
5 for Score: 4
5 for Pacing: 5
15 for Technical: 12
5 for Rewatchability: 5
5 for Automatic: 5
A Little Prayer: 88/100
The Music City Drive-In 
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