2024 Sundance Film Festival Roundup: Skywalkers: A Love Story, Good One, Every Little Thing

Our 2024 Sundance Film Festival coverage continues today by sharing everything we watched on day two. Make sure you follow along throughout the festival as we share our thoughts on the movies you need to keep an eye on in 2024.

Today's coverage includes two documentaries and a feature film debut. First up is Skywalkers: A Love Story, which follows a couple who take daring risks by climbing the tallest buildings with their sights set on the Merdeka Tower. Then we have Every Little Thing, which follows one woman's love for hummingbirds. Last, we have the feature film debut from India Donaldson's Good One, which follows the story of one teenager setting out on a trip with her dad and his friend. 

2024 Sundance Film Festival review roundup

Skywalkers: A Love Story

Skywalkers: A Love Story is a riveting look at one couple's continued daring mission one after another. If you aren't fond of heights, this might not be the movie for you, as it filled me with much anxiety walking through the missions that Beerkus and Angela Nikolau set off on. This works because we are on this journey with Berrkus and Angela, who have strong personalities. Seeing this one turned into a feature film wouldn't shock me. 

Directed by Jeff Zimbalist shot the film as if it were a live-action thriller. When you see the Nikolau's powering through Warisan Merdeka Tower by climbing around a stadium, go through a half-built mall only to make it to steps where you have to hide for more than 20 hours in a little concrete nook. It's such an exhilarating ride that has many highs and lows. The end of this movie has one of the most beautiful shots you will ever see in a movie. If this gets released on the big screen, it is a must-see. Either way, it is a solid documentary with a beautiful love story intertwined throughout. 

Every Little Thing

The moment I read the synopsis of this film, I knew it would be the movie my wife would adore. She introduced me to the magic of a hummingbird many years ago when she would put out some feed outside the house for them. But watching them move is genuinely astonishing. 

Every Little Thing follows Terry Masear, who lives in the hills of Los Angeles, where she homes, rescues, and cares for hummingbirds. Masear runs a hotline where you can call in and talk to her or even bring her wounded birds. Her passion for these birds is beautiful. This passion is what makes you cling to this precious journey and root for each of these little birds to fly high once again. 

Director Sally Aitken delivers a beautiful documentary that is equally informative and magical. The world could use many more people in this world like Masear. Every Little Thing is a lovely documentary that fans of animal docs should seek out.  

Good One

The Sundance Film Festival is the birthplace of many first-time directors, and India Donaldson's Good One might be one of the best of this year's crop of films. 17-year-old Sam is backpacking with her father and his best friend. It goes about as you would imagine navigating the woods with two older men, especially with a young teenager trying to find themselves. 

There is a level of comfort in watching Sam be attentive even in the moments when she might not have felt like she needed to be. A level of maturity comes from the groundbreaking performance of Lily Collins, who has quite a bright future ahead of her in this business. Her performance reminded me of Elsie Fisher from Eight Grade. Although this is a bit more grounded, there are a lot of similarities between the characters. 

It's not the flashiest movie, but it's one of the more well-rounded films I've seen at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. I was thoroughly impressed by Wilson Cameron's work ensuring the integrity of the color pallette met the film's tone. Good One is a great first film from India Donaldson and a must-watch upon its release.