Nobody loves an overnight success story more than us, but it’s much more satisfying when filmmakers who have put in their time in the trenches finally get their moment in the spotlight. That’s particular true in the case of Austin’s David and Nathan Zellner, who have been plugging away for more than a decade since their feature debut, 1997’s indescribably zany Plastic Utopia. In a just universe, that tale of mimes and waffles would have made them the kings of indie comedy, but after the even more bizarre follow-up Frontier (shot entirely in the made-up Bulbovian language) failed to catch on, the brothers turned their attention to short films. Slowly they’ve built up a reputation, as each of the last three Sundance festivals has showcased one of their shorts (including last year’s Aftermath on Meadowlark Lane).
The payoff arrives tonight, as their new feature Goliath premieres in Park City. As David Zellner tells the Austin American-Statesman, “It's a whole other universe than being here with a short film, when you're sort of under the radar. We're learning as we're going this time.” Here’s the trailer, featuring Dazed and Confused alum Wiley Wiggins:
Elsewhere in Sundance land, the stars were out for U2 3D, which is not the story of R2-D2’s cousin, but a U2 concert film. The band and their pal Al Gore were in attendance, the Toronto Star confirms, and the rapturous reception suggest the movie may be a step up from the dismal Rattle and Hum – either that, or as Bono notes, "There's a lot of love and Irish whisky in the air.”
The Hollywood Reporter is disappointed to report that the big bidding wars have still failed to materialize. American Teen is garnering offers in the $2-3 million range, but it’s mostly the documentaries that are generating buzz so far.