Sundance Entry A WALK IN THE WOODS Sounds And Looks Amazing

The Sundance Film Festival announced a bunch of new films to its slate today. This is not really a festival for me and my lowbrow interests, so I don’t pay that much attention to these announcements. I did, however, happen to see some info on one of the films, and it has my attention in a big way.

A Walk in the Woods sounds relatively simple. Robert Redford and Nick Nolte are estranged high school buds who walk the Appalachian Trail together. That’s about it. Emma Thompson, Mary Steenburgen, Nick Offerman, and Kristen Schaal are in the film as well, possibly as trees.

But I mean, it’s Robert Redford and Nick Nolte walking the Appalachian Trail together. I’m sure Redford’s character is all decked out in the latest gear, making it very possible to imagine this as a swell All is Lost prequel. Unless he dies at the end. In which case, it’s a sequel!

My fascination goes even deeper than that, however. A couple of padcasts ago, Phil and I discussed how much better All is Lost would have been if instead of Redford’s unwavering stoicism in the face of utter disaster, we got a grumbly, drunken Nick Nolte. It’s like the movie gods heard that conversation and faxed us this probable masterpiece. I am super excited to hear reports about this one.

The Sundance Film Festival takes place from January 22 to February 1. If you’re going, let me know what you think!