MCN: 10 Days of Sundance Sales Chart

Standing O for audacious portrait of abused girl; vivid performances by Mo'Nique and wacky supporting cast (Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz). A TWC/BET partnership one of several possibilities; hoped-for close before awards ceremony.

... but how long will it take? And how do you sell it? Both buyers and sellers carefully weighing release strategy for tough material

1/16, 8p, Racquet Club

Ad industry study getting good word of mouth; could it be this year's "Helvetica?" Growing sales buzz.

Amidst interest, some are questioning commercial appeal

1/16, 5:30p, Prospector

Rare inside look at the alleged inspiration for "The Devil Wear's Prada," Vogue's Anna Wintour; some positive buzz and interest ramping up..

Sellers still have to convince buyers it's as theatrical as its subject and that there's enough Devil with the Prada.

1/16, 6:30p, Rose Wagner

Tearjerker with Brosnan and Sarandon called "as fine a debut as we can present"; packed an emotional wallop for many and said to be moving. Buyers interested, could be tears of joy soon, if talk is to be believed.

Son dies in car accident: not a great sales pitch.

Two words: Michael Cera. Sale of flawed all-star "Brooklyn's Finest" bodes well; some in audience responded well ...

... some, not so much. Response at premiere didn't improve muted reaction to screener much

1/17, 8p, Racquet Club

Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt and director of "Downfall"

Violence in Northern Ireland. Good times.

1/19, 6:30p, Egyptian

Giamatti, Strathairn, Watson, Ambrose in a unique "metaphysical tragi-comedy"; Canadian rights acquired by E1 Films Canada; more screenings warming things up a bit

Chilly response from some south of the border, but buyers may be warming to it.

1/17, 5:15p, Racquet Club

Sometimes humorous, very topical struggle of Palestinian mom on West Bank; some positive reviews could make for a late pickup

No stars, Iraq war backdrop, and some not as enthusiastic; will need more critical response

1/17, 12:15p, Eccles

Latino high schoolers in post-9/11 romantic drama; getting some very positive reaction and potential awards traction

No stars, premise depressing on paper.

1/18, 12:15p, Eccles

Good cast (Hurt, Ejiofor) in South African apartheid thriller garnering a few good reviews

Did anyone get to see it? CNN currently chock full of other real-life political thrillers

Robin Williams in another dark comedy from Bobcat Goldthwait. Some loved it, and said to be momentous ...

... others felt it was just crass with flawed execution of good idea. Buyers won't kill themselves if they don't get it.

1/18, 5:30p, Library

Harried-mom comedy with Thurman, Edwards, Driver

Urban anxiety can make for anxious audiences; may be a bit slower than hoped for in finding the right parents.

Some good buzz behind Manhattan romance with Sundance "Teeth" award-winner Weixler

Unclear if played well enough to break out, overcome lack of star power

1/19, 8p, Racquet Club

"In Treatment" has proven the appeal of therapy dramas

Spacey's star power has shrunk; Hollywood inside baseball? Experiencing some shrinkage

1/20, 11p, Holiday Village II

Talented scribe Oren Moverman's directing debut, and some seem to like it

Another Iraq war drama; Ben Foster, Harrelson have spotty track records

Some champions for dark sports fanatic spoof directed by "The Wrestler" scribe. Manohla likes.

Others not such big fans; momentum slowing. Despite good performance, star Patton Oswalt an unproven commodity.

1/18, 8p, Racquet Club

Hot star John Krasinski directing, starring and adapting from David Foster Wallace novel

Response not hideous, but not great

Daniels, Graham, Pucci in romantic tale of reclusive author

Mixed-to-negative reactions.

1/18, 5:15p, Racquet Club

Psychological thriller with compelling premise and solid indie cast slayed some audience members ...

... while others feel it's a pretentious "Saw"; could middling response kill theatrical chances?

1/16, 11:30a, Prospector

Tough portrait of emotionally damaged man; getting some good buzz

See "Pros"; very Sundance, and appears more dour on paper than it really is.

1/17, 8:30p, Library

Sex-charged teen romance featuring Emmy Rossum

1/19, 5:15p, Racquet Club

Thornton, Leoni, McLachlan in what could be the Polish Bros' Coen Bros moment with a '60s period comedy

Polish Bros artiness sometimes overwhelms all else; lives up to title for some.

Quirky Aussie claymation from Oscar-winning director good enough to attract Hoffman and Collette

Too quirky for many at the opening night screening, garnering mixed reactions

Potential sleeper with foul-mouthed teens; could hit right chord; got some good reviews.

Others not as enthused by comedy troupe's feature as their online shorts. No-name cast.

1/17, 11:30p, Library

Complicated relationship between two female high school teammates; interracial issues a hot topic. A few good reviews.

No stars, also very Sundance. Sales buzz not strong, but is this the kind of movie the jury will go for?

Ashley Judd sinks her teeth into bipolar role, and can sell some ancillary

Seems to be depressing buyers, and audience response is tepid; living up to its name for some.

Compelling 2001-style sci-fi thriller getting good buzz from two P&I screenings. Sony Pictures WW Acq Group has English language rights and was quietly looking for theatrical partner, but went for in-house SPC.

Perennial Sundance fave Sam Rockwell, the only on-screen talent, not a box office draw. If that good, why was Sony looking to partner?

One of the hottest selling rappers in a hurting music biz, Lil' Wayne.

Not much rapping among buyers, but the fest is young; will the audience for this film go to the theater or wait for DVD? Or copy the DVD making the rounds at the festival?

1/17, Midnight Eccles

If every black hair magazine reader buys a ticket to producer/star Chris Rock's comic, celeb-filled take on the topic, it's a hit. Great early reaction.

Interest in niche topic could be hair today, gone tomorrow

Spectrum: Docu Spotlight

Spike Lee filmed this unconventional, Tony-nominated musical, and both names will help sell the project: some good initial word growing

Still has to show its theatrical pull

1/16, 2:30p, Library

Fascination with dolphins may propel sale of this dark tale; some very emotional audience reactions and sold-out screenings

Animal Planet shows wade in similar waters

Stranger than fiction dot-com boom art experiment from Web entrepreneur; living up to some initial hype/

Must rise above Discovery Channel audience interest to sell

A New York Times reporter's valiant attempt to put an African crisis on the map speaks volumes about the state of journalism today

Most political docs have had a tough box office ride

Indie vet Tom DiCillo unveils all-original footage of The Doors

Video sales assured, but will it break on through to theatrical? Some not loving it two times ... or even once.

Spectrum: Docu Spotlight

Family undertakes controversial experiment to live a year with no carbon footprint; could tap "An Inconvenient Truth" audience

Another inconvenient truth: many socially conscious docs have no theatrical impact

1/16, 11:30a, Library

Robert Townsend interviews a Who's Who of top comedians. The next Kings of Comedy?

DVD co. is a producer, so no pressure for theatrical sale

1/17, 5:30p, Prospector

Slovenian man's attempt at record swim could be Michael Phelps meets "Grizzly Man"

Senator Ent
& Sony Pictures

Good response leads to overnight sale.

May be too culty for its own good, but at 2 million a safe bet.

1/18, 11:30p, Library

Straight best buds link for gay porn; those who loved it really have a hard-on for it...

No stars, a premise not for the squeamish, and failed to turn a few on

1/16, 12:15p, Eccles

Sony Picutres Classics

'60s coming-of-age romance from scribe Nick Hornby with Sarsgaard, Molina, Thompson and a breakout Mulligan

Despite the pedigree, still no bankable stars.

James Gandolfini in satire of war and politics could be a sleeper hit; seemed to live up to initial promise for most

1/19, 11:15a, Yarrow

Female "Bad News Bears" dramedy centering on high school basketball team, Emma Roberts, late add like top-seller "Hamlet 2"; some found very charming ...

Sam Rockwell films sell big at Sundance, but haven't performed.

1/19, 8:30p, Library

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