The Sundance NEXT Fest was in full swing on Friday night at the Theater at the Ace Hotel, with a screening of Noah Baumbach’s new dramatic comedy, Mistress America. Channeling the talents of his Frances Ha star Greta Gerwig along with Lola Kirke, the film is a pleasantly acerbic slice of life about Tracy, a budding writer and college freshman (Kirke) disappointed by her first semester experience at Barnard. Gerwig is her free spirited soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke – a constant source of energy and more zany half-baked ideas than adult plans. The two quickly become close as Brooke struggles to find funds to start a restaurant. The duo’s friendship, a falling out after Tracy writes of their misadventures, and their reconciliation are the backdrop for witty gems of dialog, wonderfully wacky moments of fearless screwball comedy, and a great score by Dean Warham and Britta Phillips. In classic Baumbach style, this is a film about the virtues and faults of being young in New York City, and about the energy of the city, impassioned if misguided youth, and a vibrant female Zeitgeist that infuses the film.
And after the film came more female energy in the form of Sky Ferreira and her strong backing band. Ferreira offered The Ace a strong set of upbeat alternative pop rock. Tight percussion and rhythm performers in addition to dreamy synth sounds created a good-time vibe which ebbed and flowed like the mood of the crowd. Standout singles such as 24 Hours and Boys set up catchy hooks worth downloading and repeating. The pairing of music and film were seamless, both filled with upbeat energy and a certain poignant edge.
The Theater at the Ace itself continues to be a big player in Los Angeles’ Sundance NEXT events, with great acoustics and hip, soaring art deco architecture. Check out Baumbach’s film starting up at the Landmark this week, and hit the Ace to explore this historic venue whenever you can.
- Nicole Saari, Genie Davis; all photos by Ben Saari