Sundance 2011: Career rehab
By Emily Christianson, Los Angeles Times
Any star looking for a career comeback or a little image rehab knows the place to be is the Sundance Film Festival. The who’s who of
Like many savvy celebs before them, Kristen Stewart (pictured at right) and
Where she’s been: Holmes will always be the quintessential girl-next-door Joey to her “Dawson’s Creek” fans. But Holmes can’t play the good girl forever.
Where she’s going: Mrs. Tom Cruise launched her post-”Dawson’s” career with a trip to Sundance in 2003 with “Pieces of April.” The indie comedy about a girl who invites her dying mother over for Thanksgiving gave Holmes a chance to establish herself in the film world. Now, she’s back at the fest with the gritty cop drama “Son of No One.” Genre-jumping from lighter comedies such as “Mad Money” and mega-blockbusters like “Batman Begins,” the actress plays Channing Tatum’s onscreen wife in the film about the unsolved murder of two young boys in Queens. Indie favorite Dito Montiel, best known for “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” directs. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
Where she’s been: Her roles in “Down to the Bone,” “The Departed” and “Up in the Air” put Farmiga on the map as a serious actress and awards competitor. With her career established, she’s taking her star power behind the scenes.
Where she’s going: Farmiga will launch her directorial debut, “Higher Ground,” as a contender in Sundance’s dramatic competition. Farmiga stars in the emotionally charged drama as Corinne, an insecure woman pulled into a fundamentalist spiritual community along with her boyfriend, Ethan. Unsettled by the conservative members of the group, Corrine faces a crisis of faith. (Molly Hawkey / Associated Press)
Where he’s been: Liotta is best known for playing coarse characters -- mobsters, ex-cons, rough-around-the-edges cops and the like. In “Goodfellas” as well as “Date Night,” he was the go-to guy for grit.
Where he’s going: The New Jersey actor returns to Sundance with two movies this year. The first, “The Details,” follows a suburban couple (Elizabeth Banks and Tobey Maguire) as their life begins to unravel. What starts with raccoons taking over the backyard ends with murder in this dark comedy about married life. His second film, “Son of No One,” is a is a bounce back to his bread-and-butter character type, but the film brings an indie factor that sets it apart from his bigger studio films. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
