Some first looks from Sundance 2011: Margin Call and Terri

It is upon us. The Sundance Film Festival that is.

Between January 20-30 film goers will spend ten terrific days in Park City, Utah schmoozing and checking out the must-see movies for 2011. The official site for Sundance has been rolling out new stills and info for them films that will be playing at the festival. For those of you going, we are jealous. I’m talking about you Chris Bumbray.

Here’s what I have for today. Stills from J. C. Chandor’s MARGIN CALL and Azazel Jacobs’ TERRI. MARGIN CALL was a script that spent some time on the Blacklist for quite awhile. Finally someone decided to give it the time of day and production began. The film stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci. TERRI was one that flew under the radar for me, but when I saw that John C. Reilly was in the lead my eyes were wide open. Plus, Creed Bratton is in it. “Hey guys, somebody making soup?”

Take a look at the stills with corresponding the synopsis.

MARGIN CALL

“Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, Margin Call is a thriller entangling the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When entry-level analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster. Expanding the parameters of genre, Margin Call is a riveting examination of the human components of a subject too often relegated to partisan issues of black and white.”

TERRI

Orphaned to an uncle (Creed Bratton) who is ailing, mercilessly teased by his peers, and roundly ignored by his jaded teachers, Terri finds himself alienated and alone. But when the dreaded vice principal, Mr. Fitzgerald (John C. Reilly), sees a bit of himself in the boy, they establish a friendship that encourages Terri to consider the possibility that life is something to be shared, even enjoyed, not just endured.
Wonderfully enacted, perceptive, and honest, Terri perfectly captures the lonely life of an outcast. But we don’t pity or laugh at him; we relate to him. Remaining true to himself in the face of adversity, Terri becomes an unlikely hero. Filled with heart and humor, Terri is a comedy about feeling alone, and discovering there are others who feel the same way.