Judging by names like Gibney, Blitz, Poitras, Guggenheim, Stern/Sundberg and Grady/Ewing, 2010’s Sundance Documentary Competition will be stellar edition with so many return Sundance filmmakers clogging up the section. I’ll do more groundwork but off the bat, I’m automatically interested in Gibney’s exploration of Jack Abramoff and crew (the official title for the doc is Casino Jack and the United States of Money), Amir Bar-Lev moves from Kids who paint pictures to adults creating their own pictures as was the bad judgment calls from some high ranking folk in the U.S. government (I’m Pat ——- Tillman) and Jeffrey Blitz’s long awaited doc on lottery winners (Lucky). Dammit. I pretty much want to see the entire section.
“Bhutto” – Directed by Duane Baughman and Johnny O’Hara, written by O’Hara, a look at the life of the assassinated former Pakistani prime minister.
“Casino Jack and the United States of Money” – Directed by Alex Gibney, an investigation into the world of imprisoned super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cronies.
“Family Affair” – Directed by Chico Colvard, which examines resilience, survival and the capacity to accomodate a parent’s past crimes on the road to satisfying the longing for family.
“Freedom Riders” – Directed by Stanley Nelson, about civil rights activists who challenged segregation in the South in 1961.
“Gas Land” – Directed by Josh Fox, which looks at toxic streams, dying livestock, flammable sinks and people with weakened health in the vicinity of natural gas drilling.
“I’m Pat ——- Tillman” – Directed by Amir Bar-Lev, which focuses on the efforts of the family of the pro football star to take on the U.S. government after he was killed by “friendly fire” in Afghanistan in 2004.
“Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child” – Directed by Tamra Davis, a portrait of the celebrated ’80s artist.
“Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” – Directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, a forthright glimpse into the life and comedic process of the veteran comedian.
“Lucky” – Directed by Jeffrey Blitz, which examines what happens when ordinary people hit the lottery jackpot.
“My Perestroika” – Directed by Robin Hessman, an analysis of the transition of the U.S.S.R. as seen through the lives of five Muscovites who came of age at the time of communism’s collapse.
“The Oath” – Directed by Laura Poitras, lensed in Yemen, about two men whose fateful encounter in 1996 led them to Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden, 9/11, Guantanamo and the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Restrepo” – Directed by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington, for which the two filmmakers accompanied the Second Platoon in a crucial valley to reveal the soldiers’ intense labor, fights and camaraderie as they take on the Taliban.
“A Small Act” – Directed by Jennifer Arnold, which spotlights how a young Kenyan, whose life was dramatically changed when a Swedish stranger sponsored his education, later reciprocates by founding his own scholarship program.
“Smash His Camera” – Directed by Leon Gast, which uses the story of notorious paparazzo Ron Galella to examine issues such as the right to privacy, freedom of the press and celebrity worship.
“12th and Delaware” – Directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, a look at how the abortion battle continues in unexpected ways on an unassuming corner in the U.S.
“Waiting for Superman” – Directed by Davis Guggenheim, which uses multiple interlocking stories to analyze the crisis in U.S. public education.