Sundance 2012: Heavyweight Auteurs Spike Lee, Rodrigo Cortés, James Marsh and Stephen Frears Populate Premieres Section

Sundance will have some heavyweight auteurs in the shape of Spike Lee, Rodrigo Cortés, James Marsh and Stephen Frears for the Premieres Section. Among the 15 selected titles, worth highlighting are Leslye Headland’s debut, “Bachelorette” which stars Kirsten Dunst, we’ve got Julie Delpy’s 2 Days in New York and a Blacklist favorite in Celeste and Jesse Forever. Count on Lee’s Red Hook Summer, Cortés’ Red Lights, Marsh’s Shadow Dancer and Frears’ Lay the Favorite to garner the most buzz.

 “2 Days in New York,” France (Director: Julie Delpy, Screenwriters: Julie Delpy, Alexia Landeau)
Marion has broken up with Jack and now lives in New York with their child. A visit from her family, the different cultural background of her new boyfriend, her sister’s ex-boyfriend, and her upcoming photo exhibition make for an explosive mix. Cast: Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau, Alex Nahon.

 “Arbitrage,” U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nicholas Jarecki)
A hedge-fund magnate is in over his head, desperately trying to complete the sale of his trading empire before the depths of his fraud are revealed. An unexpected, bloody error forces him to turn to the most unlikely corner for help. Cast: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Laetitia Casta.

“Bachelorette,” U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Leslye Headland)
Unresolved issues between four high school friends come roaring back to life when the least popular of them gets engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in New York City and asks the others to be bridesmaids in her wedding. Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden, Adam Scott, Kyle Bornheimer.

 “California Solo,” U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Marshall Lewy)
A former Britpop rocker has long settled for an unfettered life working on a farm outside of L.A. When he’s caught driving drunk and faces deportation, he must confront past and current demons in his life to stay in the country. Cast: Robert Carlyle, Alexia Rasmussen, Kathleen Wilhoite, A Martinez, Danny Masterson.

 “Celeste and Jesse Forever,” U.S.A. (Director: Lee Toland Krieger, Screenwriters: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack)
Celeste and Jesse met in high school, married young, and at 30, decide to get divorced but remain best friends while pursuing other relationships. Cast: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Ari Graynor, Chris Messina, Elijah Wood, Emma Roberts.

“For A Good Time, Call…,” U.S.A. (Director: Jamie Travis, Screenwriters: Katie Anne Naylon & Lauren Anne Miller)
Lauren and Katie move in together after a loss of a relationship and a loss of a rent controlled home, respectively. When Lauren learns what Katie does for a living the two enter into a wildly unconventional business venture. Cast: Ari Graynor, Lauren Anne Miller, Justin Long, Mark Webber, James Wolk.

 “Goats,” U.S.A. (Director: Christopher Neil, Screenwriter: Mark Jude Poirier)
Ellis leaves his unconventional desert home to attend the disciplined and structured Gates Academy. There, he re-connects with his estranged father and for the first time questions the family dynamics. Cast: David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Graham Phillips, Justin Kirk, Ty Burrell.

“Lay The Favorite,” U.S.A. (Director: Stephen Frears, Screenwriter: D.V. DeVincentis)
An adventurous young woman gets involved with a group of geeky older men who have found a way to work the sportsbook system in Las Vegas to their advantage. Cast: Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rebecca Hall.

 “Liberal Arts,” U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Josh Radnor)
When 30-something Jesse is invited back to his alma mater, he falls for a 19-year-old college student and is faced with the powerful attraction that springs up between them. Cast: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, John Magaro, Elizabeth Reaser.

“Price Check,” U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Walker)
Pete is having trouble resolving a happy marriage and family life with rising debt and a job he hates. When his new boss pulls him into the maelstrom that is her life, money and opportunities come his way, but at what price? Cast: Parker Posey, Eric Mabius, Annie Parisse, Josh Pais, Cheyenne Jackson.

“Red Hook Summer,” U.S.A. (Director: Spike Lee, Screenwriters: James McBride, Spike Lee)
A young Atlanta boy spends his summer in Brooklyn with his grandfather, who he’s never seen before. Cast: Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith, James Ransone, Thomas Jefferson Byrd.

“Red Lights,” U.S.A., Spain (Director and screenwriter: Rodrigo Cortés)
Psychologist Margaret Matheson and her assistant study paranormal activity, which leads them to investigate a world-renowned psychic. Cast: Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones.

“Robot and Frank,” U.S.A. (Director: Jake Schreier, Screenwriter: Christopher Ford)
A curmudgeonly older dad’s grown kids install a robot as his caretaker. Cast: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler. (Salt Lake City Gala Film)

“Shadow Dancer,” United Kingdom (Director: James Marsh, Screenwriter: Tom Bradby)
When a widowed mother is arrested in an aborted bomb plot she must make hard choices to protect her son in this heart-wrenching thriller. Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, with Gillian Anderson and Clive Owen.

“The Words,” U.S.A. (Directors and screenwriters: Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal)
Aspiring writer Rory Jansen finds another man’s haunting memories in a collection of lost stories and claims them as his own, propelling him to literary stardom. Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde with Zoe Saldana. (Closing Night Film)

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