Every year the Sundance Film Festival produces one or two movies that become more than just indie favorites, they latch on with mainstream audiences. 2014 gave us two in Whiplash and Boyhood, both which ended up as Best Picture nominees. While there were a number of films that gained critical praise this year, unquestionably the biggest hit to emerge from Park City was the seemingly-familiar teen dramedy, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, the winner of two coveted awards at the festival.
The first trailer for the film has been released, giving just a brief example of how director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (American Horror Story) transcends the story beats we're accustomed to. Thomas Mann (Project X) plays Greg, a high school senior who is content avoiding deep relationships until he becomes friends with Rachel (Olivia Cooke of Bates Motel), who is dying of cancer. Sounds like something out of The Fault In Our Stars, right? Well...yes and no. There are elements of that, sure, but it's also about so much more and told in an unconventional way that works like magic. This trailer can't possibly get across everything that's great about this film, from the quirky visual cues to the tender heartfelt moments, but rest assured when the movie opens on June 12th it's going to be a hit.
It was my favorite film from Sundance, writing in my review that "when its over you'll be wanting to sit back down and watch it all over again. " Fortunately for us here in DC, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl will be part of Filmfest DC, showing on April 18th and April 25th. You can get tickets here.